For those hoping to experience Tlingit Native culture while visiting Sitka, the Naa Kahidi dancers perform several times each week during the summer in the iconic Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi community house next to the Pioneers Home on Katlian Street.
Dancers range from young to elderly and perform in the beautifully decorated clan house to the steady beat of a drum and the sweet aroma of burning cedar. Their dances tell stories that have been handed down through countless generations.
Established in 1994, the group includes dancers from different clan houses and tells stories about Tlingit history, the Tlingit language and more.
Tribal Tours manager Dale Lindstrom emphasized the cultural significance of the dance routines.
“It’s a very unique Tlingit cultural experience in a traditional clan house, one of the largest in the Pacific Northwest. You will get to see the beautiful Tlingit regalia, robes, paddles, dance staffs, different vests and headdresses,” Lindstrom said. “You will hear the stories of the Sitka Tlingits and how we came to Sitka and then you’ll get to hear the language, you’ll get to see the dancers perform.”
The group performs once or twice daily during the summer although the schedule varies month-to-month. Tickets are for sale at the door up to half an hour prior to a show.
Private performances for groups larger than 25 can be scheduled by calling Sitka Tribal Tours at (907) 747-7137. There is a gift shop at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi building, and Tribal Tours offers bus and foot tours as well. More information and the full schedules are available at sitkatours.com.
