The Haines Borough Public Library invites the community to learn about Tlingit, Haida, Athabascan and First Nations culture through the Cultural Exchange program on Monday and Tuesday.

Both days are filled with presentations, workshops, traditional music, dancing, games and food that are meant to teach locals about Native culture.

Jessie Morgan, library education and cultural coordinator, said she is looking forward to hearing from Norma Shorty, who received her Ph.D. in indigenous studies from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Shorty will speak about indigenous foods and share recipes in a session called “Indigenous Foods Our Saving Grace” at 4 p.m. on Monday. She will also run a session called “Knowing Who You Are Through Research and Education” about identifying clan and self through a mother’s family history at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

Morgan also hopes to attract children to the cultural exchange program when Haida singer, performer and author Sondra S. Segundo will read from her children’s book on Monday. Other presenters include traditional dancers and storytellers Ida Calmegane and Mike Smith, library systems engineer Erik Stevens, Richard Smith from the Da Ku Cultural Center in Haines Junction, Haines artist Wayne Price and Whitehorse artist William Carlick.

Morgan said this will be the library’s fourth cultural exchange. She said the library’s connection with First Nations people in Canada started with the Chilkat Valley Story Board Project when the library needed to get in contact with Native language experts to identify the Tlingit name for places in Haines and Canada.

Morgan said there were trade routes that went into what is now Canada that Natives used to trade grease for furs. “There’s always been a connection there,” Morgan said.

She said the library hopes to keep that connection alive between Native peoples here and across the border in Canada.

The Cultural Exchange program is free of charge and open to the public.

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