Abel Ryan is back where he started: Teaching art in the gallery of Sitka’s Sheldon Jackson Museum. The Tsimshian carver and engraver will be a familiar face to many locals. He’s been demonstrating traditional formline art and carving at the museum on and off for 16 years.

“I’ve always doodled on stuff, longer than I can remember,” Ryan said. It was something his parents always told him: they would find Ryan drawing on his schoolwork rather than doing the assignment.

His artistic practice has evolved over the years. He tries to keep a general focus on Tsimshian art. He works in wood carving, metal engraving, painting and most recently picked up drum making. “I like making messes in multimedia,” Ryan said.

At the Sheldon Jackson Museum, he sits behind a table covered in objects that reflect his multidisciplinary focus: herring bait, salmon trolling jigs, copper bracelets, bentwood boxes, and more.

As much as making the art, Ryan loves to teach. For much of the summer, he’s back where he grew into the artist he is today. Ryan studied at the Sheldon Jackson College before it shuttered in 2007. But he first learned the art of Tsimshian carving as a teenager in Metlakatla. He learned how to draw, paint, make his own carving tools, and think about creating three dimensional wood carvings before graduating high school.

Ryan refined and deepened his skills as a student at Sheldon Jackson College. That’s also when he also discovered his love for teaching others about Tsimshian art. He started thinking about teaching a beginning formline design class.

Formline is an artform common to many tribes in the Pacific Northwest that primarily focuses on three basic forms: the ovoid, a u-shape, and the s-shape, Ryan explained. “It allows us to be observers of our subjects and thinking in an observational, scientific way about what makes each of these animals special and unique visually,” he said.

When Ryan first expressed an interest in teaching, the Sheldon Jackson Museum helped him figure out how to use its space to support him. First, he set up in the galleries on Saturdays in November, which is Native American History Month. It was his first time teaching formline design and native art — and he’s been back many times since.

“I absolutely had a wonderful time and really wanted to be able to continue doing that,” Ryan said.  “I love being able to share my knowledge with people, helping to bring an understanding of the art form.”

This summer, he is back as an instructor at the Sitka Fine Arts Camp and the artist-in-residence at the museum. Ryan lives in Juneau, where he teaches art during the school year and works on independent commissions. Both keep him busy.

“Very rarely a day goes by that I don’t either draw, carve, paint, or  engrave,” Ryan said. “I’m always creating something, always thinking about making something”.

And much as making art, Ryan thrills in teaching others.

Alfie Price, sixth from the right, poses with family and friends after he was honored as a language warrior during a Nov. 22, 2016, awards ceremony. (Photo courtesy Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska)

What makes a modern warrior? According to Southeast Alaska’s largest tribal organization, it’s someone who fights to preserve subsistence rights or Native languages. And it’s those who work for clean water or care for other people’s children.

Alfie Price co-leads a Tsimshian language practice group in Juneau. He’s also learning the Tlingit and Haida languages.

But when he accepted an award naming him a Warrior for Protecting our Languages, he spoke in Eyak, a Prince William Sound Native language that’s considered extinct.

“I just wanted this room full of people to hear a few words of Eyak tonight,” he said.

Miciana Hutcherson speaks after being named Warrior for Protecting Our Sacred Lands and Waters at a recent ceremony. (Photo courtesy CCTHITA)

Price is one of four people or families named as modern warriors by the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska during a recent celebration in Juneau.

Price, who is also Tlingit, talked about the process of learning the language of his Tsimshian ancestors.

“An unexpected side effect of learning Sm’algyax especially is I feel my own healing. The hurts and the things that made me bitter in my life are falling away. They’re becoming light on my shoulders” he said.

At the ceremony, Miciana Hutcherson was named Warrior for Protecting Our Sacred Lands and Waters.

Hutcherson is an activist who joined the Standing Rock Sioux protesting construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline. She said the campaign’s motto, “Water is Life,” is also important in her Tlingit homeland.

That includes protecting transboundary rivers from industrial development on the Canadian side of the border.

“We’re standing up for our inherent rights in a way that we’ve never seen before. We’re giving our kids and future generations something to be proud of and ensuring that we’ll leave something behind tangible for them to hold onto and that’s each other” she said.

Also honored was Harold Martin, named Warrior for Protecting Our Traditional Harvesting Rights.

The longtime central council subsistence director led numerous efforts to continue or preserve traditional harvests of seals, otters and other marine life.

Martin, a former logger, stressed the importance of secondary schooling.

Harold Martin was named Warrior for Protecting Our Traditional Harvesting Rights. (Photo courtesy CCTHITA)

“Education opens all kinds of doors. It’s never too late to go back to school. I was 40 years old when we decided to go back to school in 1974. And I was able to go to work and still retire” he said.

Veronica and Mike Hoyle were named Warriors for Caring for Our Children.

Surrounded by his large family, Mike Hoyle talked about fostering kids and taking responsibility to raise them.

“We never had any thoughts of adopting. We just wanted to do the right thing, when people need a place to sleep. You just look out for your family” he said.

The honors were presented at a Nov. 22 Native American Heritage Month Celebration. Organizers said those recognized represented many other tribal citizens who also go above and beyond to advocate, protest and protect.

Watch the celebration program, which begins about 48 minutes into the video. 

Mark Sixbey is a Tsimshian woodcarver who grew up in Metlakatla. He brought a homemade guitar to the KCAW studios today (4-29-16). (Emily Kwong/KCAW photo)

Mark Sixbey is a Tsimshian woodcarver who grew up in Metlakatla and now lives and teaches in Sitka. He brought a homemade guitar to the KCAW studios today (4-29-16), carved with the image of the wolf. His mother, Ethel Sixbey, is a member of the wolf clan.

Here his full set on Ted Howard’s show “Trail Mix”

Downloadable audio.

Click here for an interview with Sixbey, by Sitka Fellow Sarah Gibson for her series “Sitka Spotlights.”