Anchorage, Alaska, Nov. 3, 2021—The Alaska Native Heritage Center (ANHC) is joining the Global GivingTuesday Movement to raise $10,000 to fund one Cultural Tourism Summer Intern for the 2022 season. Hear from former ANHC Intern and current ANHC employee, Tatiana Ticknor (Dena’ina, Lingit, and Deg Hit’an) about the importance of our internship program.
My name is Tatiana Ticknor. I am Dena’ina, Lingit, and Deg Hit’an and I was born and raised here in Anchorage, Alaska. I am 22 years old—as old as the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where I now work as the Unguwat: Resilience & Connections Program Coordinator. I have grown up at the Alaska Native Heritage Center; my mom worked here with the High School Program when I was born. I came with her and learned how to dance and experienced dancing from a young age. I danced with ANHC Dancers and spent time at the village sites with various hosts, who overtime, I began to call my aunties and uncles.
Growing up, I visited ANHC on multiple occasions and later attended the high school program. The ANHC high school program had three classes, Alaska Native Art, Dance and Games. I attended the dance class and became a dance intern. Through this, I went on many work trips, including my first time going out of state to dance for Alaska’s legislature in Washington, D.C.. The high school program and internship had a big impact on me; because of the high school program, I graduated with 31 credits and am currently in college attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
I now have a 2-year-old son named Sage that is now following my footsteps. He comes and fills the office full of joy and happiness. He also goes to ANHC dance performances and drums with the drummers, which makes our performances 10x more worth it. ANHC is a family friendly workspace and support the next generations to come to carry-on our traditions. I believe they are the carriers of our people; they are our future. Please join me and the team at ANHC on on #GivingTuesday, November 30, 2021, and help ANHC raise $10,000 to fund one Cultural Tourism Internship for one of our future leaders.
GivingTuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. This year, Giving Tuesday falls on November 30, 2021.
