Chickaloon Village Traditional Council Presents Ts’utsaetne’: Honoring Our Ancestors at the Wasilla Museum
Contributed by Selena Ortega-Chiolero
Chickaloon Village Traditional Council (CVTC) invites community members and visitors to experience Ts’utsaetne’: Honoring Our Ancestors, a temporary exhibit now on display at the Wasilla Museum through August.
The exhibit shares the stories, histories, and cultural knowledge of the Ahtna people while honoring the generations who came before. Ts’utsaetne’, meaning “honoring our ancestors” in the Ahtna language, reflects on the lives, resilience, and enduring legacy of Ahtna ancestors and the knowledge they passed down to future generations.
Developed by CVTC’s Culture and Historic Preservation Department, the exhibit represents an important milestone for the Tribal Nation. Ts’utsaetne’: Honoring Our Ancestors is the first community-voiced exhibit created by CVTC, meaning the stories and perspectives shared throughout the installation come directly from Tribal citizens, Elders, and community knowledge keepers.
Through photographs, archival materials, and cultural narratives, the exhibit explores themes of family, place, and cultural continuity, highlighting the deep connections between the Ahtna people and their homelands. “This exhibit is about honoring the people who came before us and recognizing that their teachings continue to guide our community today,” said a representative from CVTC’s Culture and Historic Preservation Department. “It is also meaningful because it is the first time our community has had the opportunity to share our history and perspectives in a museum exhibit in our own voices.”
By bringing these stories into a public museum space, CVTC hopes to foster greater understanding of Ahtna culture and history while celebrating the strength and resilience of the community across generations.
Visitors will also find opportunities to engage with Ahtna culture through interpretive materials and hands-on learning elements that encourage reflection and curiosity. Community members, families, educators, and visitors are warmly encouraged to attend.
Ts’utsaetne’: Honoring Our Ancestors is on display at the Wasilla Museum, 121 W. Swanson Avenue in Wasilla, now through August. Museum hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. For more information, please visit the Wasilla Museum.