By Bonnie Hedrick

The village of Klukwan will receive more than $356,000 over the next two years to train residents for a cultural tourism program.

The economic development grant was announced recently by the Administration for Children and Families, a branch of the federal Administration for Native Americans. Statewide, $7.3 million was awarded to Native groups "to promote economic self sufficiency and strengthen healthy marriages," according to agency spokesman Steve Barbour.

The local grant aims to preserve cultural values of the valley’s largest Tlingit community while allowing its residents to tap in on the growing tourism trade.

Under the grant, 20 village residents would become artist trainees in either carving, basketry or weaving.

Working with the University of Alaska Southeast, the artisans would complete at least four projects during the two-year apprenticeship, developing skills to produce Native art for sale while also earning certificates from the college.

The grant also provides funding for 10 residents to be trained as "cultural hosts," receiving lessons in Alaska and local history, Tlingit language and other areas such as public speaking and customer service.

One trainee will be tapped for administrative duties and grant training, to allow the program to grow in future years.

"It’s pretty exciting," said village council president Kimberley Strong.

"Our goal is to build a cultural center and museum, and have tours through the center, including the traditional knowledge camp," she said. "We’re trying to develop the foundation for that and develop the resource, which is our culture."

She said village residents have worked more than 20 years toward building a cultural center, and were buoyed this year by a $1.23 million pre-construction grant from the state Legislature.

The federal grant will move the village one step closer to getting money to build the structure, she said.

"This grant was a key component, in my mind, to catapaulting us forward... It will show we have the human resources to move forward," she said. "We’re working very hard to pull all the pieces together that say we’re ready to build."

The grant also aims to alleviate high unemployment in the village of about 120 residents.

"We’re trying to make sure that we can use the people living here, and not have to go outside of Haines and Skagway to get people to work at the cultural center," Strong said.

The village has pledged a match of $113,932 for the federal funds, which will be disbursed in two increments: $196,098 in the first year and $160,135 in the second.

Klukwan also is making infrastructure improvements, including an electrical upgrade this summer, to accommodate the planned heritage center.

"It’s been a slow process, but the end (product) will be something we all want and can be proud of," Strong said.