Tlingit dancing in afterschool class

Tlingit dance infuses education for Juneau kids

By Sarah DayChildren with Tlingit headpieces, paddles and raising voices danced their way through the halls of Gastineau Elementary on a Friday evening.

The Gastineau Tlingit Dancers held a celebration in honor of Elizabeth Peratrovich, along with the Alaska Native Sisterhood and Alaska Native Brotherhood on March 4.

"Without the work of those activists and organizations, we wouldn't be able to do this together," said Mary Folletti, Tlingit language instructor.

Folletti leads the dance group, which has about 30 participants, every Tuesday after school. This is the second year of the program.Comment:  For more on the arts in education, see Aboriginal Storytelling Via 3D Software and Lummi Music Camp.