Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository

Mission :

The Alutiiq Museum’s mission is to preserve the prehistoric and historic cultural traditions of the Alutiiq people and promote greater public awareness of the rich cultural legacy of all the indigenous societies of the Alaskan Gulf coast. In pursuit of these goals, the museum collects and preserves archaeological, ethnological, and archival materials from the Alutiiq Nation in a repository that is accessible to the public. The organization supports research on Alutiiq culture and history, and disseminates the results through exhibits, publications, and scholarly presentations.

History :

The Alutiiq Museum grew out of the Kodiak Area Native Association’s (KANA) Culture and Heritage program. In 1987, the KANA Board of Directors resolved that the exploration and celebration of Alutiiq heritage was essential to the health of Alutiiq communities, and they initiated a set of heritage programs designed to promote awareness of Alutiiq history, language, and arts. Efforts to establish a professional museum were realized in 1993 when KANA received a $1.5 million grant from the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council to develop a state-of-the-art repository and regional research facility. The Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository opened to the public on May 13, 1995.