Alaska State Museum

𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞 𝗦𝗜𝗚𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚
& 𝗘𝗫𝗛𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

FRIDAY, JUNE 5

Book Signing 4 – 5 pm
First Friday 4– 7 pm

"𝘈𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 serves as a long-overdue celebration of Grant, who has long advocated for the intersection of cultural pride, style, and a maintaining of tradition.”
—Vogue

Join us at the museum for a book signing with world renowned Haida fashion designer Dorothy Grant. 𝘈𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 is the first monograph to celebrate her trailblazing career. This book surveys the past four decades of Grant’s journey building her legacy making Haida fashion since her first clothing collection, 𝘍𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳, debuted in 1989. It features new photographs of her garments, modeled both in a studio and in natural settings in Vancouver and Haida Gwaii. Early sketches, traditional button robes, and spruce-root weaving are included alongside personal stories shared by Grant. “The journey to here and now has been a wild and great ride! These photographs have helped me remember all the nuances of pasttimes: the moods, locations, events, and, most importantly, the people.” Essays by Royal BC Museum Curator India Rael Young, curator and artist Kwiaahwah Jones, Executive Director and Curator of the Haida Gwaii Museum, Taa.uu ‘Yuuwans Nika Collison, and Haida repatriation specialist and museologist Sdahl Ḵ'awaas Lucy Bell, share insight and memories.

Dorothy Grant will be at the museum in person on Friday, June 5 to sign her book, 𝘋𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵: 𝘈𝘯 𝘌𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥, from 4:00 to 5:00 pm. Books are $40, scarves $60. Cash preferred.

Don’t miss the opportunity to see the exhibition, 𝘋𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵: 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦. The museum will be open for extended hours on Friday, June 5, and free from 4:00 – 7:00 pm.

The exhibition is at the Alaska State Museum through October 17, 2026.

DOROTHY GRANT RETROSPECT: RAVEN COMES FULL CIRCLE
𝐶𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑏𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 40 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝐻𝑎𝑖𝑑𝑎 ℎ𝑎𝑢𝑡𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒

The exhibit showcases Dorothy Grant’s 40-years career in haute couture, from traditional regalia to contemporary fashion and her critical role in bringing Indigenous fashion to a world stage.

𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 will be on exhibit at the Alaska State Museum through October 17, 2026.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘎𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘪 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘢.𝘶𝘶 ‘𝘠𝘶𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘕𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯

Photographs by Brian Wallace:
- Raven Takes the World Haida Wedding Dress by Dorothy Grant. Courtesy of the National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian Institution. NMAI 412998, NMAI 413000, NMAI 412999. Partial gift of NMAI’s New York Board of Directors and Ann Rockefeller Roberts.
- Gallery view showcasing Dorothy Grant's Gold Label
- Gallery view showcasing Dorothy Grant's Feastwear Label

𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧
Saturday, May 2, 1:00 pm in the APK Lecture Hall

Please join us at the museum for a talk by Dorothy Grant on her career as an internationally renowned fashion designer celebrated for her critical role in bringing Indigenous fashion to a world stage.

𝘋𝘰𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘺 𝘎𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘙𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘵: 𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 celebrates 40 years of Haida haute couture. On exhibit at the Alaska State Museum through October 17, 2026.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘎𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘪 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘢.𝘶𝘶 ‘𝘠𝘶𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘕𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯

Image:
Dorothy Grant models a Raven Creation Tunic, FEASTWEAR, 1986/1990; Farah Nosh photo

DOROTHY GRANT RETROSPECT: RAVEN COMES FULL CIRCLE
𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 40 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦

𝗘𝗫𝗛𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚
Friday, May 1, 5:00 pm
Introduction by Rosita K̲aaháni Worl
Followed by the Yées K̲u.oo Dance Group

𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧
Saturday, May 2, 1:00 pm in the APK Lecture Hall

The exhibit showcases Dorothy Grant’s 40-years career in haute couture, from traditional regalia to contemporary fashion and her critical role in bringing Indigenous fashion to a world stage.

𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 will be on exhibit at the Alaska State Museum through October 17, 2026.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘎𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘪 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘢.𝘶𝘶 ‘𝘠𝘶𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘕𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯.

Image: Raven Swing Coat by Dorothy Grant, photo by Farah Nosh.

The first large ship of the season arrived this afternoon but we’re still on winter hours. We’ll be open 7 days a week starting May 1st!

Due to illness, there will be no organ performance during the lunch hour at the State Office Building today (4/24).

We anticipate performances to resume next Friday and hope to see folks there.

DOROTHY GRANT RETROSPECT: RAVEN COMES FULL CIRCLE
𝘊𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 40 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦

𝗘𝗫𝗛𝗜𝗕𝗜𝗧 𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚
Friday, May 1, 5:00 pm
Introduction by Rosita K̲aaháni Worl
Followed by the Yées K̲u.oo Dance Group

𝗟𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗨𝗥𝗘 𝗪𝗜𝗧𝗛 𝗗𝗢𝗥𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗬 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗧
Saturday, May 2, 1:00 pm in the APK Lecture Hall

𝘙𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘊𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘍𝘶𝘭𝘭 𝘊𝘪𝘳𝘤𝘭𝘦 showcases Dorothy Grant’s 40-years career in haute couture, from traditional regalia to contemporary fashion and her critical role in bringing Indigenous fashion to a world stage.

Skil Da ‘Yuuwans Dorothy Grant belongs to the Yahgw Janáas clan of the Haida Nation. An internationally renowned fashion designer, she is celebrated for her unique design and critical role in bringing Indigenous fashion to a world stage. Grant’s artistic journey began with ceremonial works in the early 1980s, when she began making button robes and learned spruce root weaving from master Haida weaver Florence Edenshaw Davidson. In the mid-1980s, rising to a challenge by celebrated Haida artist Bill Reid, Grant set her sights on bridging the world of Haida art and regalia with that of western fashion and haute couture. Pursuing a formal fashion education at the Helen Lefeaux School of Fashion Design, she debuted her first label, Feastwear, in 1989 with a fashion show in Vancouver that featured 55 pieces, garnering great excitement. This event marked the beginning of Dorothy Grant’s multi-decade career in fashion.

Grant's garments, imbued with the Haida philosophy of yahguudang (respect), are worn by many walks of life in a variety of settings, from Potlatches to the Oscars. She continues to be celebrated for her lasting legacy in art, fashion, and business, and for her role in opening the door for future Indigenous fashion designers.

𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘻𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘏𝘢𝘪𝘥𝘢 𝘎𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘪 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮, 𝘤𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘛𝘢𝘢.𝘶𝘶 ‘𝘠𝘶𝘶𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘴 𝘕𝘪𝘬𝘢 𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘰𝘯.

Image: Raven Cape with One-Shoulder Dress by Dorothy Grant, photo by Farah Nosh

This Saturday is the last SKETCHING IN THE MUSEUM of the season featuring our conservator, Ellen Carrlee!

Free for members, donation based for non- members. This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum (FoSLAM)

SKETCHING IN THE MUSEUM with guest artist Inari Kylänen this Saturday from 1:30-3:30pm.
Free for members, donation based for non- members.
This event is sponsored by the Friends of the Alaska State Library, Archives, and Museum (FoSLAM)

CLOSING SOON
𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦. 𝘳𝘦𝘧𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵. 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦., an exhibition by mixed media sculptor and performance artist Myesha Callahan Freet.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗵𝗶𝗯𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟰, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

Callahan Freet's inspiration and focus draw from an ongoing exploration into the evolution of self through examining her roles in relationships. Dedicated to a search for meaning and connection in the mundane, she aims to embrace life’s expansion and to reflect on what it means to be and release what no longer is. “I aim to embrace the commitment that caring for others requires." The artist resides in Chugiak, AK.

𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘪𝘹 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘭𝘢𝘴𝘬𝘢 𝘚𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦 𝘔𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘶𝘮 2024–2026 𝘚𝘰𝘭𝘰 𝘈𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘌𝘹𝘩𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘚𝘩𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘰𝘰𝘵𝘢𝘯 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦, 𝘑𝘰𝘦𝘭 𝘐𝘴𝘢𝘢𝘬 Ł𝘪𝘲’𝘢 𝘺𝘦𝘴, 𝘙𝘦𝘦 𝘕𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘰𝘸, 𝘎𝘰𝘭𝘨𝘢 𝘖𝘴𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘛𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘴𝘰𝘯.

Photo of the exhibition by Brian Wallace.