Celebration 2026 opens in Juneau with canoe arrivals, cultural speeches

Sealaska Heritage Institute opened Celebration 2026 in Juneau on Wednesday with traditional canoe arrivals from eight Southeast Alaska communities and speeches that framed the gathering's theme, Enduring Strength, as a response to both external political forces and internal community challenges.

Celebration is a biennial gathering of Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian peoples that has been held every other June since 1982. Sealaska Heritage Institute describes it as one of the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples. The 2026 event runs through Saturday and is being broadcast locally and webcast worldwide.

Canoes arrived from Wrangell, Petersburg, Kake, Ketchikan, Sitka, Angoon, Hoonah, and Haines. Karen Tog, a Sealaska Heritage Institute trustee, said the Petersburg canoe was the first from that community in 100 years and that she traveled in a traditional dugout canoe carved by Wayne Price.

In opening remarks, a speaker said the theme Enduring Strength was chosen to reaffirm that Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people have the strength to overcome adversities and current challenges from national political forces that seek to undermine culture and civil rights. The speaker also acknowledged grief within the community, saying some challenges have come from within with the unnecessary loss of many loved ones.

Sarah Dybdahl, President of Sealaska Corporation, spoke about Celebration beginning in villages and homelands before people come together in Juneau. Dybdahl said it starts in homelands and villages, and then people come together to share.

Richard Reinhardt, chair of the Sealaska Corporation board of directors, announced that the House of Representatives had passed legislation for five landless communities after 11 attempts. The announcement drew applause.

Mary Peltola, former U.S. Representative and 2026 U.S. Senate candidate, spoke about the resurgence of cultural practices that were once suppressed. Peltola said Native people across Alaska started dancing again and bringing out regalia in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. She noted that carving was not common when she was growing up. Peltola said master carvers younger than her are now practicing.

Peltola also spoke about the return of traditional canoe practices. She said many people who paddled to Juneau did not grow up doing so, and she is thankful the practice has returned. Peltola called it part of a wellness plan.