What are the opening hours?

Monday 8am - 4:30pm Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm Thursday 8am - 4:30pm Friday 8am - 4:30pm

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Sitka Native Education Program

The Sitka Native Education Program (SNEP) began in September of 1974 and was known as the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) Education Program.

The Sitka Native Education Program is a program that educates children from pre-school through 12th grade in song and dance, language, and other cultural aspects including traditional foods and practices. The funding was from the Indian Education Act, Title IV. Eventually funding was received from Johnson O’Malley through the Bureau of Indian Affairs and came through the Sitka Tribe of Alaska. A P

arent Committee was formed to assure that the funds would be spent properly. The funds were used for the special needs of Native children. The program was housed in the ANB Hall and still is. The uniqueness of the program is the fact that there is not duplication of services already offered in the community and it is not overloaded with Administration. It is a good solid program. A key to the program was Charlie Joseph, Sr., Kaal alk’, a traditional and very knowledgeable Lingit, who served as a consultant for the program until he died. His life story was documented and he passed on many important songs and legends. As a result, the program has a songbook, composed of hours of legends and songs. This is the golden age for Native Americans. The Gajaa Heen Dancers became well known on a regional, statewide, and national basis. They are great ambassadors for Native Americans, Sitka, and the State of Alaska. The discipline of the dance, the 2.0 grade requirement, the language, beadwork, and drumming have assured the continuation of our Lingit ways. Right now, we have valuable resources in the form of reel to reel tapes, video tapes, and cassette tapes with much of it in the Lingit language. The materials contain information such as: education, legends, name giving, medicines, fun runs, health, months of the year and other key concepts in Lingit. These materials need to be developed, which means we need more funding to do this and to archive the information. The Sealaska Corporation compiled a book called “Because We Cherish You,” about the first elders conference. Three cultural students did reel to reel and cassette tapes of the conference, which resulted in the book. The book is in Lingit on one side and English on the other, with many excellent speeches. A cook book was compiled by Mary Pelayo, titled Kaa Teix’s Cook Book. This is written as a story and has many traditional Lingit food preparations. Mary was married to a Filipino man and they did cross cultural recipes. They always tried to figure out the various spices used in recipes, she also taught in some Home Economic classrooms in the Sitka School District. For many years, travel has been an important part of the program. One year entailed a big trip in the Southeast, which included several parents in accompaniment of the Gajaa Heen Dancers. Costs were cut by staying in a gym or classroom, taking our foods with us. It was a time of celebration. Young people were given a small stipend for travel and one meal. The main dance group raised money and supplemented the funds by cutting costs, sleeping on the floors of ferries, staying in a hall using sleeping bags and doing our own cooking. Some of the places traveled by our young people to Native meetings: Washington D.C., Hawaii, Barrow, Fairbanks, Anchorage, the Island of Kodiak, Yakutat, Cordovia, Kake, Haines, Angoon, Hoonah, Wrangell, Petersburg, Klawock, Craig, Metlakatla, Neah Bay, Lummi Reservation, Stanford University, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Oklahoma. The names of activities include: Native Emphasis, World Eskimo Olympics, National Congress of American Indians, Alaska Federation of Natives, Bilingual Multi-Cultural, Southeast Fair. There have been many special speakers from all over the State of Alaska and the Southern 48 States who have spoken to the dancers in the program. The main components of SNEP are:
1. Cultural, including language, traditional dance, drumming, songs, regalia making and legends.
2. Tutoring at all grade levels of the Sitka School District and Mt. Edgecumbe High School. With SNEP, many young people become more confident and able to express themselves. Naturally, there are many success stories about young people who have grown through the program to lead inspirational careers, some including: lawyers, doctors, optometrists, nurses, and teachers

10/11/2025

🙌🏾

The Sitka Tribe of Alaska is thrilled to announce updates to our Childcare Development Fund Assistance Program.
We’ve made some exciting changes: income eligibility requirements have been eliminated, and co-payments are no longer needed! This means more families can access quality child care without added financial stress.
It’s one more way STA is stepping up to support our children, families, and community.
For an application or more information, contact [email protected] or call 907-966-9664.

08/21/2025

2nd - 12th grade classes will begin on Monday! If you havent registered do so ASAP. 😊❤️🖤

Kindergarten & first grade classes will begin on Sept 15th.

We’re excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025–2026 Sitka Native Education Program (SNEP) classes!
We offer engaging culture classes for youth from Kindergarten through 12th grade, focusing on traditional knowledge, language, drumming, song, dance, and regalia making.

Register now at
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf3rR6IcyTHXb3IdkVjvCvdHrLO14ovNi4IdiXRLv7_l0QDQw/viewform

08/13/2025

SNEP Culture Class Registration Registration is open to all students in Kindergarten through 12th grade. While priority is given to tribal citizens and students with a 506 form on file with the Sitka School District, all students are welcome to register. Important: After registering, families will be contacted to confirm participa...

03/07/2025

STA and SNEP are seeking photos of original SNEP staff for display at the 50th Anniversary Event on April 19th. If anyone in the community can share them, contact Ben at [email protected].

01/14/2025

🎲 ♟️ 💚

Tribal families are invited for an evening of fun and games at Family Game Night. Pizza, popcorn and snacks provided by STA.

Friday January 17th
Friday February 21st
Friday March 21st
Friday April 11th

5:30pm to 7:30pm at 204 Siginaka Way.

01/08/2025

All SNEP Classes start back up back the week of January 27th.

12/20/2024

Hello SSD Families,
We are reaching out to ask for your valuable input to help us better understand and improve our 5th through 12th grade SNEP programming and its accessibility. Your voice is essential in ensuring that we meet the needs of our students and families.
We kindly ask you to take a few minutes to complete this short survey:

Click Here to Complete the Survey

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEeYvYbYiOTwhUq6R4otRMvvGwtXPdNa_mVVNPmQOtXiyRkA/viewform

Your responses will help us:
Better understand your family’s needs.
Inform decisions about scheduling to make participation as accessible and successful as possible.
The survey is quick and will only take a few minutes of your time. Your input is greatly appreciated!

Gunalchéesh, Háw’aa,Thank you.

SNEP participation survey This form is for families with students who are interested in participating in SNEPs Gájaa Héen Dance group during the school year. Families do not need to have a current SNEP student to complete this survey. We are seeking input from families on the best day and time to offer this class. Current ...

09/27/2024

09/23/2024

To register and learn more:

https://form.jotform.com/242497158873168

08/15/2024

We are looking forward to our 50th year! SNEP Registration is open & can be filled out online. Paper copies are also available.

SNEP Culture Class Registration Your student(s) must have a Title VI, Indian Education 506 form on file at the Sitka School District or be an enrolled member of Sitka Tribe of Alaska. Important: After registering, families will be contacted to confirm participation.

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205 Baranof Street
Sitka, AK
99835

Opening Hours

Monday	8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	8am - 4:30pm
Thursday	8am - 4:30pm
Friday	8am - 4:30pm

Sitka Native Education Program

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