Category: Kim

I do believe that August is the rainy season for Alaska. Checker at the grocery store, Fred Meyer(which is a combination of Target and Dierbergs) reminded me of that last night. 🙂  Good news is that the sun came out today and I feel like a new woman.  And on top of that, I saw 2 rainbows tonight(big, bright ones). I feel good even with it raining again. Now that I have said my peace about the weather, I can fill you in, on our day today.  We started the day at the Alaska Native Heritage Center.  It is a cultural center that shares the heritage of Alaska’s 11 major cultural groups.  We started with learning about the Native Games they played, then got a basic introduction of the native cultures, followed by a dance performance.  Then we took the tour outside where they have traditional village sites representing each native culture around a man-made pond.  It was fascinating learning about the different cultures and how they lived and where they lived.  I always think of tepees, for a native american homes, but in Alaska, the native americans built their homes, so that most of home was underground(kind of like a sod house-except made from wood).

Also, it amazes me how they would use every part of an animal.  They only take what they need to survive from the land.  For example, a seal: meat was a staple in winter, fat was used for oil for light, skin was used for clothing(raincoat for kayak to keep water out), seal bladders to make floats to attach to harpoon lines, bones for tools and utensils, etc.  Great learning for us all today!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ate lunch back at the RV, then headed to the sixth largest waterpark, H20, in the USA.  The kids could barely contain their excitement!  They could not wait!  They had a blast!!