Volunteering - Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository

Give Your Time and Talents

Volunteers are an essential part of the Alutiiq Museum and we appreciate the hundreds of hours community members donate each year. Volunteers help with everything from tours and events to serving on committees, caring for collections, and completing research. Volunteering is a great way to learn more about Alutiiq Heritage and make friends. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please contact Djuna Davidson, 844-425-8844.

Quyanaa ikayurluta. — Thank you for helping us.

Volunteers assist with moving collections to the new museum vault, 2024.

Committees

Community members are vital in planning and evaluating the museum’s work and we have both long-term and project-based committees. If you are interested in serving on a museum committee please contact the lead staff member.

Collections Committee

Reviews collections offered to the museum as gifts and loans and makes a recommendation to our board. Led by Amanda Lancaster, 844-425-8844.

Qik Committee

A group of Alutiiq speakers and learners that plan language documentation and education projects. Led by Dehrich Chya, 844-425-8844.

Exhibit Committee

Assists museum staff in developing gallery exhibit themes, content, and designs. Led by Alex Painter, 844-425-8844.

Volunteer of the Year

In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Alutiiq Museum likes to show a little love for its volunteers. We are fortunate to have many friends who contribute their time and talents to our work. To highlight the importance of our volunteers, we honor one outstanding contribution with our Volunteer of the Year award.

Lynn Walker studying baskets at the Kodiak History Museum.

2024 — Lynn Walker

In 2024, Lynn Walker found multiple ways to support the Alutiiq Museum’s renovation. She brought her background in exhibit development to our Exhibit Advisory Committee and employed her knowledge of artifact handling to help move collections into our new vault. Her thoughtful, reliable support helped our staff advance important projects.

Past Honorees

2023 — Jim & Bonnie Dillard

The Dillards built and painted two Alutiiq drums for use in Kodiak elementary school music classes.

2022 — Chris Wooley

Chris Wooley helped the museum research the lives of two Alutiiq teenagers who died while attending the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania.

2021 — Shelly Lawson

An educator with the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Shelly has been reaching out to the museum for many years to partner on projects and volunteer her time to advance cultural education.

Internships

Each year we receive many requests from students and professionals interested in broadening their experiences with an internship. While the Alutiiq Museum occasionally has paid internships, we are pleased to work with volunteer interns. If you have an idea for an internship or would like to speak to a staff member about current projects that might be available for an intern, please contact Molly Odell, 844-425-8844.

Keelin Rice designed an internship in partnership with museum staff. A grant from her university paid expenses while she volunteered her time to care for collections and research her family history.

The Old Harbor Native Corporation funded an internship at the Alutiiq Museum and awarded it to Ally Lake. Ally learned all about museum outreach greeting visitors, helping in the store, and working on education projects.