Recent Native gatherings in Alaska brim with ‘big auntie’ energy

Attendees like Koyukon Athabascan beader Lisa Krol see earrings as part of her personal style and fashion, and also part of her Native culture. “I have some earrings that I didn’t make that I’ll be wearing throughout the course of AFN,” said Krol, who was selling her own handmade beaded earrings at the Elders and Youth conference, including pairs made of salmon leather and cow leather with traditional beaded edging. She said her most popular items sold were beaded earrings depicting the “Hello Kitty” character. Krol was excited to wear her earrings at the AFN and check out other people’s earrings. “It’s kind of like, it almost feels like a fashion show sometimes over here.”

Alaska Native skin sewers and ivory carvers were among the artists selling their handmade traditional and contemporary creations at booths at both the events. Shaax’Saani, a skin sewer who is Tlingit and owns Indigenous Princess, had booths at each conference. She said she had a large collection of earrings to sell this year, which included pairs with seal skin, mink fur, salmon vertebrae and walrus ivory. Shaax’Saani said each year she enjoys seeing all the different types of earrings people wear to the conferences.

“I love it because we can always recognize other people’s artwork because everyone has their own unique developed style,” she said.

Some artists said their skills were handed down from family members from one generation to the next, while others learned in school, cultural classes or through friends. Tlingit artist Naats Tla’a, who is Shaax’Sanni’s daughter, said she learned her skills from her mom.

“I’m learning from my mom how to skin sew, but I’m also in the process of learning how to weave,” said Naats Tla’a. That day, Naats Tla’a was wearing some abalone hoops with pearls, which her mom made. She said their most popular earrings at the Elders and Youth conference was their “Native” take on the evil eye made with crystal and black mother of pearl.

Youth conference attendee Luxi Gillian purchased a pair of hooped earrings with shiny beads from a seller called Happy Hippie. She said they complemented her traditional attire.

“They matched my kuspuk, and I wore them when I was performing on stage…Yupik dancing,” said Gillian. “I’m a part of the Yupik immersion.” Gillian said she also liked the earrings because she planned to share them with her sister.

At the AFN convention, a group of women shared a table to sell their earrings. Mother and daughter beaders Makenzie and Dani Frye, Yup’ik, were selling their antler and rhinestone earrings.

“We are big on the big auntie earrings,” said Makenzie. “We like to add some bling to it, some rhinestone, a little touch of Louis Vuitton in the back, some Chanel, and some fish skin and seal. The bigger the better, the more rhinestone and the blingy, the better.” The duo said they bond while crafting together, and that doing so is also part of reconnecting to their Alaska Native culture.

“She’s obviously raised in urban Alaska and I was raised in rural Alaska, so I was raised around this although I didn’t grow up doing crafts, and I wish I did,” said Makenzie. “So, I love the fact that she has embraced it.” Dani Frye said she is proud of her culture and wants to learn more. “I like it just because it’s like relaxing, and it’s fun because it’s like you’re learning your culture, and so like you just get to experience more things.”

Crissy Peratrovich-McCoy, Yup’ik, Tlingit, Northern Cheyenne and Sioux, was among the women sharing the table at AFN. She also said the art reconnects her to her Native heritage.

“This helps revitalize not only traditional knowledge and teachings,” said Peratrovich-McCoy. “I get to teach other people and continue that knowledge and share it not only with friends and family, but at work.” Peratrovich-McCoy said she hosts events and teaches her coworkers how to bead.

Attendees at the conference acknowledged that across Native communities, aunties are often known for their earrings and bringing that big auntie energy, which often comes with advice. “I would say buy three. Buy three earrings,” said Shaax’Saani. “We’re always supposed to be buying for somebody else. You can wear all three, try them on, sit with it, and then keep one for yourself, give the other two for gifts.”

Krol’s advice is to keep learning: “Everybody has something to teach and everybody has something that they can learn.”

Yupik beader Casey McDonald was also sharing the AFN booth with Peratrovich-McCoy and the Fryes. McDonald was selling her beaded antler earrings, and fur pom pom pairs.

McDonald said as a crafter of earrings, it is important to maintain a good attitude and make sure good energy is going into the things being created. Her advice: “If you’re just not feeling great during the day, if you’re not feeling super juicy in the morning, put on a pair of aunty earrings and you’ll feel amazing.It changes your day.”

Peratrovich-McCoy agreed. “When you wear your big earrings, you have the energy,” she said. “You walk around proud, you walk around taller, you walk around happy, and then you get compliments and you get to engage in community and talking about earrings.”