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Several non-profit and educational organizations are holding an Alaska Native Book Fair Sept. 13, 2019 to promote reading, writing, and knowledge of Alaska Native cultures. We’ll have author and poet readings at noon and 4 p.m. Participants can visit with published Alaska Native authors and illustrators and buy autographed books. Young ones can draw and write their own books. The event is free and open to the public. Please feel free to share information (PDF file) about the event.

Date: Sept. 13, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Administration Building
Atrium, 4000 Ambassador Drive (near Elmore and Tudor in Anchorage, AK).

To get a taste of the 2018 Alaska Native Book Fair, watch for a video of panel discussions on 360 North on your local public television station.

Alaska Native Book Fair sponsors include the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Alaska Pacific University, Atwood Foundation, Best Beginnings, and the Alaska Native Media Group, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization created in 2015.

The Alaska Native Media Group’s mission is to:

• Encourage and promote Alaska Natives in all fields of media and journalism
• Strive for fair, accurate and relevant representation in reports on rural and urban Alaska Natives
• Promote public understanding of Arctic issues and the history, culture and issues of Alaska Native peoples
• Connect Alaska Natives who work in media and journalism by sharing ideas and concerns
• Engage all people interested in our endeavors.

For more information, please call (907) 258-4686, or email jmestus50@gmail.com. Thank you.

Have you heard about the book we’re working on?

While the topics of the submissions we publish may vary, we are particularly interested in stories about Alaska Natives who have made significant contributions to our people but haven’t received much recognition. This could be someone in your family, someone you know, or someone you have heard stories about.

You can use the questions below to help you start writing your essay. Pretend you are talking to a friend, and don’t worry about making it perfect; our editors will help with the final product. And don’t forget about pictures to accompany the essay.

• Who is this person? Where and when were they born? Are they still living?
• What was their life like? Did they grow up in the village or in the city? How were things different during their time?
• Why is this person important? What kind of change did they create? What kind of problems did they solve? How did they make a difference?
• Explain a specific event in which this person made that difference. Were there any hurdles or roadblocks? Did they almost give up? Why did they continue their work?
• How do you know the person and what is your relationship to him or her?
• How did this person impact your life or the lives of other Alaska Natives? Try to give a specific example.
• If you’re having a hard time writing the end of your essay, think about what you want people to understand after they’ve read it. What should they learn from this person? What was the overall impact of this person’s life?

Good luck! And if you need more help, you can always contact us.