Sharing Our Knowledge

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“Probably for the first time ever, practitioners [of indigenous cultures] came together with scholars as equals to discuss their mutual knowledge of and experience with the cultures of people indigenous to this part of the world.“

Andy Hope’s description of the first conference in the book documenting presentations made at Haines/Klukwan: Will the Time Ever Come: A Tlingit Source Book, published 2000.

Andrew Hope III

It was Andy Hope’s idea to hold a conference of Tribes and Clans indigenous to Southeast Alaska, including related groups living in western Canada. Richard and Nora Marks Dauenhauer signed on early and provided much organizational help. Andy, Richard and Nora were founding members of Tlingit Readers, Inc., the non-profit organization that was to sponsor the first and later conferences. 

The three have since passed away: in 2008 (Andy), 2014 (Richard), and 2017 (Nora).

Andy had been pushing for this type of conference for well over a decade prior to 1993. He organized conferences of tradition bearers (elders), including Canadian Tlingits living in northern British Columbia and the Yukon, to create a list of clans and clan houses that became the “Traditional Tlingit Country” poster (now in its sixth printing).

The first of the Sharing Our Knowledge conference, held in Haines and Klukwan in May 1993, proved to be a break-away success. Hundreds of people attended and participated in presentations by dozens of experts, indigenous and academic. Raven and Eagle host clans held culture nights and Klukwan welcomed conference participants on tours of clan houses with displays of priceless regalia and clan art.  As Andy said amid the tumult, “There’s a hunger for this!”

In the “founding documents,” the newspaper op-ed columns published in 1992 and 1993, Andy describes his vision of the gathering he was organizing and, in an afterword in July 1993, an appreciation of the grand collaboration that became the Sharing Our Knowledge conferences, now going strong for over a quarter of a century since Andy brought his idea into being.

  • 1992 (July 29) – Canadian, Alaska Tlingits explore common ties

    Canadian, Alaska Tlingits explore common ties

    July 29, 1992

    The Inland Tlingit of the Yukon are a forgotten people in many ways and, on a recent trip to Teslin, I was eager to learn about how they deal with the challenges of contemporary society and how they view their Tlingit relatives in Southeast Alaska.

    There… Read More

  • 1992 (Sept 23) – Manuscript to be key element of clan conference

    Manuscript to be key element of clan conference

    September 23, 1992

    The Southeast Tribal Council voted in August to sponsor a Conference of Clans in April 1993. SEATC is a consortium of tribal governments, most of which are organized pursuant to the Indian Reorganization Act. The conference will be hosted by the Chilkat Indian village… Read More

  • 1992 (Nov 18) – Keepers of Tlingit language a dedicated group

    Keepers of Tlingit language a dedicated group

    November 18, 1992

    Development of the modern Tlingit spelling system or orthography began in the early part of this century. Franz Boas, the father of modern anthropology, and Louis Shotridge, a Tlingit from Klukwan, provided the basis for the orthography with their 1917 article “Grammatical Notes on the… Read More

  • 1993 (Feb 2) – Tlingit Tribes and Clans conference history bound

    Tlingit Tribes and Clans conference history bound

    February 10, 1993

    The Conference of Tlingit Tribes and Clans is set for May 5-8,1993 in Klukwan and Haines. The conference will include Tlingits from Alaska, British Columbia and the Yukon Territory.

    Volunteer committees have been organized in Klukwan, Haines,Ketchikan, Sitka and Juneau to’ plan for the conference…. Read More

  • 1993 (March 10) – Haines, Klukwan to host Tlingit Tribes and Clans

    Haines, Klukwan to host Tlingit Tribes and Clans

    March 10, 1993

    Ed Hotch is President of Klukwan Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) Camp #8. He will serve as Evening Program committee chair for the Conference of Tlingit Tribes and Clans scheduled for May 5-8, 1993. The conference will take place in Haines and Klukwan. Ed is… Read More

  • 1993 (July 14) – Clan conference to sponsor more workshops

    Clan conference to sponsor more workshops

    July 14, 1993

    There was a good feeling from the time we boarded the ferry in Juneau on Wednesday, May 5. The Tongass Tribe dancers were performing in the forward lounge. The weather improved as we pulled out of Juneau and just kept getting better and better. It was… Read More

  • Founding Documents

    • 1974 Tlingit Readers Inc. Brochure
    • Andy Hope’s newsletters 1979-1996
    • Andrew Hope’s op-ed
    • 1993 (July 14) – Clan conference to sponsor more workshops
    • 1993 (March 10) – Haines, Klukwan to host Tlingit Tribes and Clans
    • 1993 (Feb 2) – Tlingit Tribes and Clans conference history bound
    • 1992 (Nov 18) – Keepers of Tlingit language a dedicated group
    • 1992 (Sept 23) – Manuscript to be key element of clan conference
    • 1992 (July 29) – Canadian, Alaska Tlingits explore common ties
    PDF of Andy Hope Articles
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