Cook Inlet Native Head Start

05/28/2026

CELEBRATION 2026 TO KICK OFF NEXT WEEK: Event to be broadcast, streamed live

Event program: https://bit.ly/Cele2026-Program

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) will kick off its biennial Celebration next week, marking 44 years since the inception of the popular dance-and-culture festival.

The event began as a way for Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people to gather and celebrate their cultural survival. This year, the theme is “Enduring Strength.”

“This Celebration, we can rejoice in the timeless strength of our people as evidenced over the thousands of years we’ve faced adversity with resilience and fortitude,” said SHI President Rosita Worl.

All members of the public are welcome to attend.

Over 1,800 dancers from 34 dance groups will participate this year. Along with dance performances, Celebration features several associated events, including a Juried Art Show and Competition, a Juried Youth Art Exhibit, a Native Art Market, Native food contests, a Toddler Regalia Review and a parade through downtown Juneau. The event will also feature several new events.

The Grand Entrance is scheduled for 5 pm, Wednesday, June 3, at Centennial Hall, and Celebration ends with the Grand Exit at 5 pm, Saturday, June 6.

SHI will sponsor a live, statewide broadcast of Celebration on KTOO 360TV public television — reaching viewers across Alaska via over-the-air, cable, and satellite — as well as a live stream on the institute's YouTube channel and on KTOO's Roku and Apple TV apps.

The Celebration 2026 art was designed by Tlingit artist Bill Pfeifer, Jr, (Wéidaaká Yóodóohaa) who won with his piece “Endurance and Strength: The Power of the Clan House,” which was inspired by the 2026 theme, Enduring Strength.

“We have survived environmental and climate changes, the loss of our lands, public policies that nearly wiped out our cultures and epidemics that diminished our populations. We have been tested, and almost erased. Yet we are still here,” Worl said.

Watch live: https://bit.ly/4vg1uIx

Read more: https://sealaskaheritage.org/celebration-2026-to-kick-off-next-week/

05/27/2026

Your 2025-2026 Cook Inlet Native Head Start Staff!

We hope all of our Head Start students and families have a wonderful Summer Break! Stay tuned for enrollment announcements and return-to-school information soon 😊

05/20/2026

We’re sharing this for any ASD families interested.

05/07/2026

May the 4th be with you… and with some clotheslinesome news! ✨

We’re officially announcing the date for one of our most anticipated events of the year — Clothesline Project!

Join us on Saturday, August 1st from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Clark Middle School, where APD and incredible community partners will be coming together to support local students and families as they gear up for the new school year.

What’s in store? Think of it as a back-to-school launchpad 🚀
Families can expect a wide range of free items and services, including:

New winter jackets
Fall & winter boots
Helmets
Socks & underwear
Fresh haircuts
Health immunization screenings
Free food & drinks
Face painting
Bounce house fun
…and plenty more surprises!

This event is all about setting kids up for success while creating a fun, welcoming space for the whole community.

We can’t wait to see you there 💙

05/06/2026

Office of Head Start Director Lizbeth Casco White took the stage today and left no doubt about where she comes from — or where she's going. A first-generation American, former teenage mom, and Head Start parent, she went from a high school diploma to a juris doctorate, often with her son in class beside her. Today, she stood before thousands of Head Start professionals and delivered a challenge that will stay with us:

"Go back to your classrooms, centers, and boardrooms and look for the Liz in the lobby — the mom who feels invisible and the child society has already dismissed. Be the architect of their fresh start every day."

And she reminded us why this program exists: "In Head Start, we don't just enroll a child. We embrace a family."

If you're with us in Minneapolis, share your favorite moment on social media with .

04/16/2026

Did you know? Teachers and school professionals get a special discount with The Mobile Tire Guy!!!! Today we are at one of our kids school, Romig Middle School, doing a bunch of their teachers seasonal changeovers!!!! Text me or plan ahead if you want to have us come to your school next fall or spring for changeovers!!!!!

907-360-0203

04/01/2026

Now’s the moment—don’t wait, don’t delay,
Nominations are open starting today!
Think of the ones who go above and beyond,
Whose care and commitment keep growing strong.

A champion for children, a guiding light,
Working with heart from morning to night.
Their impact is real, their passion is true—
Now’s your chance to honor what they do.

Submit a name, let their story shine,
It only takes a moment of your time.
For the Head Start Awards of Excellence, proud and bright—
Nominate someone deserving today—right now’s the time!

https://www.akheadstart.org/awards/

03/23/2026

CINHS is looking for Duck and Geese donations for classroom activities!

Please call 907-433-1600 or 907-433-1601, or email Ms. Naaq ([email protected]) with any questions! 🦆

03/04/2026

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/headway/childhood-trauma-recovery-healing-research.html

Decades after a landmark study showed the lasting health effects of such trauma, researchers are finding ways to guard against enduring harm.

02/25/2026

📣 THE COUNTDOWN IS ON! 96 DAYS UNTIL THE 2026 COOK INLET NATIVE HEAD START CANOE JOURNEY!

🌅 Canoe Journey is a kid-free canoe camping trip with CINHS students' caregivers and staff
🗓️ June 1-5, 2026
📍 Whittier, AK (launch and return point)

🛶 Only 26 seats are open to CINHS students' caregivers: parents/guardians, grandparents, aunties & uncles
⛺️ Tents, food, and safety gear are provided — personal gear (rain, sleeping) may be provided if needed
🏋️‍♀️ Get fit for the journey: enjoy a gym membership to Planet Fitness (limited availability)
✅ Secure your spot today! Email Legacy Bearer, Mattox Metcalf at [email protected]

🌊 If you’ve been on a canoe journey, share a takeaway in the chat below! 👇
Pictures credited to 📸 Dixie Hutchinson ☺️