Tanana-Yukon Historical Society
Sharing the history and continuing story of Fairbanks and Interior Alaska
2026 TYHS ANNUAL MEETING
The Tanana Yukon Historical Society Annual Meeting is to take place via Zoom on Saturday, December 12, 2026 at 10:00 AK time. Please request the Zoom link by emailing tyhs@alaska.net.
This is an important meeting for all members to attend. The TYHS Board of Directors have approved an amendment of the bylaws to add a dissolution clause that would govern how any remaining assets of the organization would be dispersed in the event TYHS ceases to exist. A dissolution clause in the bylaws is also necessary to comply with Internal Revenue Service guidelines for a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax exemption, and the application for a State of Alaska gaming permit required to sell non-profit fundraising raffle tickets. For more information, click here.
The TYHS has an active schedule of speakers at our free monthly public lectures. The lectures start at 7 PM, unless otherwise noted, on the third Wednesday of the month. Unless otherwise noted, all lectures are held at the Mining Hall Museum, 406 Cushman Street, next door to McCafferty’s Coffee Shop. More information about our 2026-2027 lectures is will be posted here when available.
The next lecture will take place on Wednesday, 18 November, 2026 at 7 PM at the Mining Hall of Fame. Chris Cannon is our featured speaker. Chris is an Assistant Professor and Chair of the Center for Cross-Cultural Studies at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Chris has worked with Northern Dene Elders and communities across Alaska and Canada since 2008. His work has been featured in the New York Times, a recent PBS/NOVA documentary on Dene star navigation, the PBS/WGBH Series “Molly of Denali”, and in his recent book, “In the Footsteps of the Traveler: The Astronomy of Northern Dene.” Chris also serves on the editorial board for the Alaska Native Language Center and on the Board of Trustees for the University Press of Colorado.
Indigenous astronomies provide centuries-old models of knowing, being, and relating to the world. In this talk Chris Cannon will share his 17-year immersive experience learning from Northern Dene Elders across Alaska and Canada about their traditional astronomical knowledge. At the center of these knowledge systems is a Traveler figure who journeyed around the world in Ancient Time before incarnating among the stars as a massive constellation. The Traveler constellation is a gamekeeper, a teacher, a guardian, and the spiritual embodiment of all things. The Traveler bridges the divide between earth and sky, instilling balance and instructing people on how to live with each other and their environments.
All TYHS events are free and open to the public.
For more information about this and other lectures sponsored by the Tanana-Yukon Historical Society, please call 488-3383, or e-mail tyhs@alaska.net.
Check out our website: www.tananayukonhistory.org or “friend” us on Facebook: Tanana-Yukon Historical Society
Click here to to view Wickersham House.
Click here to view Eagle Courthouse.
Click here to view TYHS Juneau.
Mary F. Ehrlander with Hild M. Peters have now published their new book “Hospital and Haven. The Life and Work of Grafton and Clara Burke in Northern Alaska”. For more information about the book, click here. The book is available at Bison Books, University of Nebraska Press. For 40% off while ordering, use code 6AF23.
We wish to thank our donors, some of whom have been extremely generous this past year. The Tanana Yukon Historical Society depends upon this kind of support and every donation is welcome, no matter its size. With these contributions, we have been able to carry out some projects and acknowledge vital members of our community who have passed on. BUT we need some ideas of how to spend your money. If you have a history-related project in mind please contact us! tyhs@alaska.net.