Collaborations

With Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities

This project is a first for the Tanana-Yukon Historical Society. Aside from the collection of treasures inside Wickersham House Museum, we’ve never owned much. Now, we’re the owners and custodians of the James W. Dalton Interpretive Sign, located at Mile 1.1 of the Dalton Highway.

The Society is proud to have been part of the project to design, construct, and install the sign, a joint effort by Mr. Dalton’s family, civil engineer Clark Milne, architect Patricia Peirsol, and the Alaska Dept. of Transportation.

Until 2028, the Society is responsible for maintaining the sign in its pristine condition, as best we can – removing any graffiti, stickers, or other unwanted ephemera.

With Students

001-CongressionalDelegation_2015 — Congressional delegation and students at National History Day 2015. (Alaska Historical Society)

The Society supports students on National History Day (NHD), a year-long academic organization for elementary and secondary school students that focuses on the teaching and learning of history. More than a half million students across the nation participate each year. History Day in Alaska is the Alaska affiliate of the NHD program. TYHS provides awards annually on National History Day to students researching local topics. The Jane Williams Prize and Niilo Koponen Award are awarded to students for their best local history exhibit displayed on National History Day.

History Day

In 2020, the Tanana-Yukon Historical Society Award at History Day went to Desiree Moore, Lilah Mahan and Macyn Parker of Two Rivers School for their project “Elizabeth Peratrovich: For the Rights of All”. Congratulations Desiree, Lilah and Macyn.

The Tanana-Yukon Historical Society annually recognizes exemplary History Day projects on local or Alaska history; Justina received a certificate and book store gift card for her project.

With Alaska Native Groups

Community Photo — Government-to-Government meeting between consulting tribes and the US Army Garrison Alaska [USAG-AK], Nenana Tribal Hall, 06 June 2019: Standing: Bertha Rickman, Tribal Administrator, Healy Lake Traditional Council; Dan Rees, Natural Resource Specialist, USAG-AK; Christina Stewart, Tanana Chiefs’ Conference; Christopher Denny, Tanacross Village Council; Lisa Fisher, wife of: Col.Sean Fisher, USAG-AK Commander; Cmmd Sgt. Major Juan Cornett, USAG-AK CSM; Victor Lord, Nenana Native Council; Donald Charlie, 2nd Chief Nenana Native Council; Elizabeth Cook, Cultural Resources Manager & Native Liaison, USAG-AK; Seated: Katherine Quirk, Tribal Family & Youth Services, Healy Lake; Elizabeth Cook, Meeting Facilitator, Tanana Yukon Historical Society; Debra Lynne, Tanana Chiefs’ Conference; Virginia Charlie, Nenana Native Council

The Society facilitates the government-to-government process between Alaska Native groups and the U.S. Army Garrison Alaska by serving as a facilitator of formal meetings with tribal entities affected by past, present and future Army activities. Meetings are held 2–4 times per year in Tetlin, Northway, Tok, Tanacross, Dot Lake, Eagle, Healy Lake, Nenana and on Fort Wainwright, and generate a small amount of profit for the Society. As facilitators, we:

Contract for air transport when necessary
Cater meetings
Reimburse tribal government representatives for their travel costs
Document meetings with minutes and photos

With the Military

We also work with the Army to discover and maintain Alaska history on military lands by:

Digging through abandoned dump sites looking for historic treasures
Exploring the architecture of WWII buildings at Fort Richardson (Anchorage) and the Ladd Army Airfield National Historic Landmark area of Fort Wainwright
Creating signage to allow visitors to understand military history in Alaska
Helping the Army manage its public land