Arts & Culture

When The Wind Was A River

Description

When the Wind Was a River was held from January 30 to June 30, 2026. This project wove together four interconnected elements—fire, food, photography, and poetry—to create opportunities for youth and Elders to gather, exchange stories, build creative skills, and reinforce cultural identity.

The project consisted of three primary components:

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Photography Workshops. This component focused on analog film photography, encouraging youth to slow down, observe their surroundings, and develop a deeper connection with the island landscape. Guided walks inspired participants to document land and seascapes, subsistence activities, family life, and everyday experiences. The photographs they created became the foundation of the shoreline exhibition.

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Communal Cooking. Elders led workshops on traditional food preparation, seasonal harvesting, preservation techniques, and the cultural significance of shared meals, providing opportunities for intergenerational learning through making and cooking together.
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Public Gathering and Exhibition. The project concluded with a large community gathering. Photographs created by youth were exhibited along the shoreline, where they interacted with the wind, sea, and surrounding landscape. Youth and Elders prepared and shared food with community members. Throughout the celebration, Elders, youth, and local writers presented original poetry in both Unangam Tunuu and English, honoring language, memory, and place.

Timeline

January 30, 2026 to August 16, 2026

Funding

RurALCAP Foundation Grant –
$5,000

Muktuk Marston Foundation Fund Grant –
$5,000

Alaska Council on the Arts & National Endowment for the Arts –
$4,500

Creative West Living Traditions Grant –
$1,000

Artists

Rural Territory, a hybrid research and creation platform dedicated to new forms of dwelling, hospitality, and communal living in rural contexts.

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