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Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina

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Tribe celebrates Easter with gathering

April 10, 2023

The Easter Bunny (sometimes known as Santa Claus or Jonny Wilson) poses for a photo with Chantilly Baye’s baby Gretta Hileman during the Easter party.

This year’s Easter party was truly a multi-generational event as Kenaitze and Salamatof families gathered for the annual celebration.

The Tribe’s Traditional Values Wheel is embedded in the floor of the gathering area, where activities and the Easter meal took place.

“This is a generational event,” said Sharon Isaak as she watched children and teens swarm the Kahtnuht’ana Duhdeldiht Campus playground in search of Easter eggs. “Elders are hopping along, and trying to keep up with those grandkids.”

Katherine Juliussen said she is not able to attend many Tribal functions, but was attending the Easter party with her daughter and grandkids.

Children play the Saran Wrap game. Prizes fall out as children take turns unrolling the ball of plastic wrap.

“I see a lot of friends that I haven’t seen in a long time,” Juliussen said.

Juliussen said it was her first time in the Kahtnuht’ana Duhdeldiht Campus, but her grandchildren go to school there.

Children take turns taking a swing at one of several piñatas.

“It’s nice,” she said of the facility, which opened last fall.

Isaak said the building provided a perfect venue for the event. Tables and activities were set up in the large Gathering Space, the buffet-style meal was served in the dining area, and the Easter egg hunt was held on top of the crusted snow on the playground.

Cassel Miller picks out glitter for Easter art he was creating with his dad Nathan Conner.

“To be able to use this facility, it really accommodates the opportunity to do this,” Isaak said.

Isaak said she could feel the excitement in the air.

“Just listen to the chatter and enthusiasm as they’re getting ready to bolt for those eggs,” Isaak said.

Nevaeh Lout poses with eggs she decorated during the party.

Adam Segura said Easter is his 10-year-old daughter Portia’s favorite holiday.

In addition to his wife and children, Segura said he saw plenty of familiar faces and lots of extended family at the event.

“It’s very family-oriented,” he said.

Michael and Sarah Segura said they appreciated all of the activities geared toward kids. There was a piñata, face painting, cookie and egg decorating, and pictures with the Easter bunny, among others. There were also raffle drawings for people of all ages.

Children scramble for eggs during the Easter egg hunt held on the playground.

Michael Segura said their 2 1/2-year-old daughter Sophie wasn’t quite old enough for last year’s party, but now with 2-month-old Oliver added to the family, it might be the start of a new family tradition.

Children scramble for eggs during the Easter egg hunt held on the playground.

Isaak said she was especially grateful for the Tribe’s employees who put on the event. Staff were involved in planning the party, putting together Easter baskets and prizes, preparing and serving the meal, facilitating activities, and setting up and cleaning up after the event.

“This is great. My kids look forward to it each year,” Adam Segura said.

 

 

Filed Under: Stories

Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Locations

Kenaitze Administration • (907) 335-7200
Dena'ina Wellness Center • (907) 335-7500
Early Childhood Center • (907) 335-7260
Yaghanen Youth Programs • (907) 335-7290
Tyotkas Elder Services • (907) 335-7280
Na’ini Family and Social Services • (907) 335-7600
Kenaitze Tribal Court • (907) 335-7219

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Heidi King, NCAC II, CDCS

Recovery Support Manager/Counselor
Heidi has eight years of experience in the chemical dependency field. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Women’s Studies, from the University of Alaska. She is a nationally accredited Chemical Dependency Clinician, and a state accredited Chemical Dependency Clinical Supervisor.

Heidi has a background in providing residential chemical dependency counseling. She is certified as a Conflict Resolution and Relapse Prevention Trainer with the National Association of Addiction Counselors. She is also a certified Peer Supports Trainer and Supervisor through the Alaska Commission of Behavioral Health Certification.

When she’s not serving un’ina, Heidi teaches yoga as a certified and registered instructor. She also enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time with her child, spouse, and numerous pets, camping all over Alaska.

Heidi provides chemical dependency counseling services in group settings and individual sessions.

Heidi can personally relate to chemical dependency and is passionate about helping those seeking recovery supports. For Heidi, healing is community, and community is an important part of connection with one’s self. She sees the positive ripple effect that healing can provide throughout the community.

Fridrik Rafn Gudmundsson, MSW, LCSW

Recovery Support Manager
Fridrik has earned his master’s degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He studied massage therapy in Iceland, and became fascinated with the mind-body connection. He completed his undergraduate degree in philosophy with a psychology minor.

Fridrik has had the opportunity to live in four countries and to travel to many others. He counts finding and marrying the love of his life and adopting his son among his greatest accomplishments. He is grateful to be able to live in this beautiful and sacred part of the world and to serve the Tribe and un’ina, “those who come to us.”

When he’s not serving un’ina, Fridrik loves spending time with his family, hiking, kayaking, camping, fishing, traveling, and having fun. He enjoys learning, listening to music, and taking time for spiritual practice.

Fridrik provides assessments and individual, family and group psychotherapy at Chuq’eya Qenq’a, Birch Tree House.

For Fridrik, coming to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe felt like coming home. The more he learned about the Tribe and its history, as well as the history of the Alaska Native people, the more he knew he had found a place to be of service.

Teresa A. Ford, MSW, LMSW

Behavioral Health Clinician
Teresa earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Limestone University in South Carolina, and her master’s degree in Social Work from Campbellsville University in Kentucky. Teresa’s experience includes serving homeless and other disadvantaged populations, as well as work in outpatient rehabilitation, hospice, chemical dependency, adult and adolescent counseling, and prevention.

Teresa appreciates the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s traditional values. She sees them as a driving force in how we treat ourselves and others, and how we serve those in need of help.

When not serving un’ina, “those who come to us,” Teresa spends her time bonding with her family, creating and traveling. She also enjoys learning about Alaska Native culture, exploring new hobbies, and gardening.

Teresa provides individual, family, and group therapy services. Teresa takes a variety of approaches to therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Teresa has always been a helper at heart. Being able to overcome the things she experienced growing up in South Carolina empowered and inspired her to help others navigate through their life journeys.