Alaska News

Tlingit history wins book award

Authors Richard and Nora Dauenhauer of Juneau have won the 2008 American Book Award for "Anóoshi Lingít Aaní Ká: Russians in Tlingit America -- The Battles of Sitka 1802 and 1804," published by Sealaska Heritage Institute and the University of Washington Press this year.

The award, given by the Before Columbus Foundation, was created to provide recognition for outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America's diverse literary community. The purpose is to recognize literary excellence without limitations or restrictions. More than a dozen authors this year received the award, which will be formally given today in Berkeley, Calif.

The conflict between Tlingits and Russians over Sitka saw the bloodiest fighting in Alaska's recorded history until the Japanese invasion in World War II. The Russian side of the story -- which may be summarized as settlement, massacre, retaliation and final defeat of the Indians -- has received much ink and become to a great extent the received version.

The Tlingit view of the war, extrapolated from oral histories and supporting written documentation, is understandably different, more complex and probably more credible. It's a story of invasion, resistance, betrayal, siege and a brilliantly executed strategic retreat followed by campaigns of attrition that led eventually to a long-lasting business arrangement that proved beneficial to both sides.

Aspects of this version have been published before in an essay, by the late Tlingit leader Herbert Hope, for example. But the Dauenhauers' remarkable book, a collaboration with the late Russian history scholar Lydia Black, is the first full-length scholarly treatment of the battles to effectively include the Tlingit accounts.

New York critic likes Alaska performance

Alex Ross, the New Yorker magazine's classical music critic, has selected John Luther Adams' sound-and-light installation, "The Place Where You Go to Listen," as one of the 10 best performances he heard in 2008.

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"The Place" is really a room at the University of Alaska Museum of the North in Fairbanks, described in a Daily News article on March 20, 2006. Computer generated tones are determined by the position of the sun and moon, temperature, weather conditions, seismic and electro-magnetic data.

Ross also included two performances by pianist Mitsuko Uchida in his list. Old-timers will recall the very young Uchida performing Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 22 here with the English Chamber Orchestra at West High in 1986, an Anchorage Concert Association event. Tickets were as low as $9 -- half-price for students.

Ross' list is online at www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/tny/2008/12/alex- rosss-ten-best-performanc. html.

Artist sought

The Alaska Railroad Corp. is soliciting submissions for its 2010 print, poster and lapel pin. Over the years, this has been some of the most popular artwork produced in the state, becoming a favorite among rail fans and Alaska art collectors.

Ideas should be presented as a single thumbnail sketch no bigger than 11-by-17 inches and must have an Alaska Railroad theme to be considered. The railroad has traditionally produced 750 signed and numbered prints, 4,000 posters and a large number of lapel pins. Visit www.alaskarailroad.com to see samples of previous prints.

The artist chosen to design the 2010 print will be paid $3,000 and be given 10 artist proofs and 20 posters. The artist must agree to appear at a signing in Anchorage and in Fairbanks. The Alaska Railroad will pay for the artist's travel expenses. In return the Alaska Railroad retains all rights to the artwork.

Mail or deliver the sketch to Amy Cockerham at Bern-holz & Graham, Inc. no later than Feb. 20 at 433 West Ninth Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501. If you are dropping off the sketch in person, do so between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Artwork can be retrieved between April 8 and April 10. Submissions must include a self addressed, stamped envelope in order to be returned by mail. If submissions are not picked up or returned by April 10, they will be discarded.

If you feel you need access to Alaska Railroad property for your research, please contact the Alaska Railroad's Public Affairs office at 265-2695. Other questions should be directed to Amy Cockerham at Bernholz & Graham Inc. at 561-4488, or e-mail amy@bernholzandgraham.com.

New York Life donates funds to documentary

The New York Life Insurance Co. has given $175,000 to the University of Alaska Foundation to support the production of the documentary "Mr. Alaska: Bob Bartlett Goes to Washington." The film chronicles the life and political achievements of Bob Bartlett, the man many historians say was most responsible for Alaska's successful bid to become the 49th state.

Born in Seattle, Edward Lewis Bartlett -- universally known as Bob -- attended the University of Alaska in Fairbanks, became a reporter, then a civil servant, then a politician. As Alaska's nonvoting congressional delegate, he directed the Washington, D.C., end of the statehood battle and became one of the new state's first two senators, being re-elected in 1966. Ted Stevens was appointed to fill out Bartlett's term when the old warrior died suddenly on Dec. 11, 1968.

Find Mike Dunham online at adn.com/contact/mdunham or call 257-4332.

By MIKE DUNHAM

mdunham@adn.com

Mike Dunham

Mike Dunham has been a reporter and editor at the ADN since 1994, mainly writing about culture, arts and Alaska history. He worked in radio for 20 years before switching to print.

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