Preserving Alaska Native Heritage: Skin Sewing Workshop in Petersburg

In the heart of Petersburg, Alaska, a three-day workshop from July 25–27 brought together a group of enthusiastic students to sew otter and beaver hides.

This event took place inside the Hallingstad–Peratrovich Building and was led by Aanutein Deborah Head, an experienced instructor from Craig on Prince of Wales Island.

Sealaska Heritage Institute organized the workshop to help keep the Alaska Native tradition of skin sewing alive.

Participants learned how to make hats and scarves from these valuable hides, finding a meaningful connection to their cultural heritage.

The Significance of Skin Sewing in Alaska Native Culture

Skin sewing isn’t just a craft; it’s a vital part of Alaska Native culture.

This tradition has passed down through generations, serving as both a practical skill and a form of artistic expression.

For many, like instructor Aanutein Deborah Head, it’s a calling.

*It’s what I was supposed to do in my life,* she reflects, highlighting the joy she finds in teaching traditional skills—leather and fur sewing, weaving, even spruce root gathering.

Connecting with Heritage

For participants like Scott Horchover, the workshop offered a chance to deepen their connection to their heritage.

He’s attended classes with different instructors and says he appreciates the unique techniques and insights each teacher brings.

This diversity in instruction keeps the learning experience fresh, making every class feel like a new adventure in cultural discovery.

Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Role

The Sealaska Heritage Institute plays a crucial role in preserving and promoting the cultures of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples of Southeast Alaska.

By organizing workshops like this, the nonprofit helps ensure that traditional skills get passed on to future generations.

The institute provided sea otter hides, each valued at $450, for the class, and also beaver hides for those who don’t meet the federal blood quantum requirement.

The Legal and Environmental Context

Sea otters are federally protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, so their harvest comes with specific regulations.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service says individuals who are at least a quarter Alaska Native or members of a coastal Alaskan tribe can harvest sea otters.

This regulation tries to balance cultural practices with conservation efforts, which isn’t always simple in practice.

Population Control and Environmental Impact

In recent years, the sea otter population in Southeast Alaska has surged, leading to calls for population control measures.

The growing number of otters has impacted local crustacean populations—crabs, for example—so some people suggest hunting as a solution.

Horchover, one of the workshop participants, said he’d like to hunt otters to help relieve this environmental stress, though his wife just finds the animals too endearing to hunt.

Harvesting and Crafting

Deborah Head harvested all the otter pelts used in the workshop herself.

This practice of harvesting and creating clothing from animal skins is a traditional way of life for many Alaska Natives.

For Head’s grandmother, it was also a way to earn a living.

*I remember looking over at her table, and she would be chewing on the fronts of the moccasins that she had tanned herself,* Head recalls, showing just how deep the connection runs between crafting and livelihood.

Reviving Suppressed Traditions

Throughout much of the 20th century, Alaska Native cultures faced suppression, especially in boarding schools where Indigenous languages and practices were often punished.

This history makes the renewed interest in traditional skills like skin sewing feel even more significant.

Many adults today want to reconnect with their heritage, since they missed out on cultural education as kids.

The Healing Power of Tradition

For many, engaging in traditional crafts isn’t just cultural—it’s healing.

*In the early 60s, things weren’t taught. Things were still shoved into closets for many different reasons,* Head explains.

She’s seen firsthand the empowerment and healing that come from reclaiming these skills.

*I’ve heard so many comments in the last probably five years of the power that it’s given to various individuals that they didn’t realize they possessed, and how healing it can be,* she adds.

Community and Continuity

One of Head’s hopes is that the Petersburg community will keep teaching and learning skin sewing from each other, even after she returns to Craig.

*You don’t need Debbie Head to be here for you to have a class,* she emphasizes, encouraging the community to use the knowledge and skills already among them.

Supporting Local Journalism

Local journalism brings stories like this to light. It highlights the importance of cultural preservation and community activities.

When you support local journalism, you help keep these stories alive. That means more chances to understand and appreciate different cultures and traditions.

Curious about the skin sewing workshop and its impact? Check out the full article on KFSk.