Healthy Portraits captures traditional northern dugout canoes in two southeast communities
March 12, 2018
In the final grant year of Healthy Portraits, the Alaska Native Epidemiology Center, located within the ANTHC’s Community Health Services, visited two southeast Alaska communities to share health success stories of the traditional northern dugout canoe.
Tlingit and Haida ancestors made a very reliable canoe for Alaska waters. The people of Hoonah and Haines are using indigenous watercraft as a way to boost mental health and build stronger communities. Under the guidance of Tlingit master carver Wayne Price of Haines, these communities have built seafaring canoes using the traditional methods of their ancestors.
These canoes will be used for generations to come, bringing the traditional healthy lifestyles of the past into the present.
The Healthy Portraits project highlights health success stories through photography. It celebrates communities making positive changes towards health and wellness. This project focuses on documenting and sharing culturally relevant community-based stories that make a difference to health.
View more photos and learn about the Healthy Portraits project at HealthyPortraits.org.
