See Stories Podcast

Iqlas: A Taste of Home

This after-school story and film workshop at the Bettye Davis East High School (2019) was led collaboratively by See Stories and Story Works, and generously funded by the Alaska Community Foundation. Students developed first person stories to create podcasts to share their cultures through each students’ unique lens.
Iglas goes on a cooking journey. Moving from Somalia to Alaska was not only a culture shock but a shock to the taste buds. After being told she needed to prepare food for herself, she decides to teach herself how to cook her favorite foods by researching Somalia and finding cooking videos online. 
 

Ruwayda: Discovering Ramadan for Myself

This after-school story and film workshop at the Bettye Davis East High School (2019) was led collaboratively by See Stories and Story Works, and generously funded by the Alaska Community Foundation. Students developed first person stories to create podcasts to share their cultures through each students’ unique lens.
Ruwayda shares her evolving relationship with fasting. When she first became old enough to participate in the fasting portion of Ramadan, she didn't truly understand the impact and importance of participating. Over time she not only felt empowered by her fasting but experienced clarity and reconnection to her faith. 

Tchabo: Fish Camp or Soul Medicine?

The Culture and Covid 19 Project took place on Sugpiaq land, and Kodiak youth document their pandemic journey. The workshop was a partnership between the Kodiak History Museum, Rafael Bitanga, and Marie Acemah, director of  See Stories. The project was funded by the Alaska Community Foundation Social Justice Fund and the Charlotte Martin Foundation.
Everyone needs an escape, especially when neck deep in a pandemic. Listen to Tchabo share the magic he feels when at a Larson Bay Fish Camp,  his favorite place on earth with his "best friend in the whole wide universe."

Daniel: How Boxing Changed my Life

This after-school story and film workshop at the Bettye Davis East High School (2019) was led collaboratively by See Stories and Story Works, and generously funded by the Alaska Community Foundation. Students developed first person stories to create podcasts to share their cultures through each students’ unique lens.
Daniel talks about his journey with fitness. How much he struggled with consistency, and how it took a boxing coach that made an effort to make Daniel feel seen, to keep him accountable, and discovering his best self through the discipline of boxing. 

Chenoa: Interviewing Kee, Life of a Growing Artist

Podcasting to Transgress (2021) was generously funded by the Alaska Humanities forum and instructed by Deenaalee Summer and Rafael Bitanga so that Alaskan middle and high school students from villages in the Northwest Arctic could learn to create podcasts, with a focus on sharing culture and history.
Kee goes into detail on how she starts an art project, how she's learned to love the process of art and how improvement is her biggest motivator. She goes on to share her travel dream destinations and how meeting and supporting other artists means the world to her. She also touches on her love of social media and how she uses that to connect with artists all over the world.

Markus: More Than One Home

This after-school story and film workshop at the Bettye Davis East High School (2019) was led collaboratively by See Stories and Story Works, and generously funded by the Alaska Community Foundation. Students developed first person stories to create podcasts to share their cultures through each students’ unique lens.
Markus explains how challenging moving from the big island of Hawaii to the main land of Alaska was for him. He explains how feeling of not belonging changed through experiences and how Alaska has become his home. 

Arthur: Interview with Walter Larsen Sr.

Podcasting to Transgress (2021) was generously funded by the Alaska Humanities forum and instructed by Deenaalee Summer and Rafael Bitanga so that Alaskan middle and high school students from villages in the Northwest Arctic could learn to create podcasts, with a focus on sharing culture and history.
After a quick intro on himself, Arthur interviews Walter Larsen Sr. Walter talks about living in Napakiak, Alaska from birth to age 14. He explains that when you live in Napakiak your whole life revolves around the Kuskokwim River. It gives and it takes. Providing subsistence, transportation, and sometimes destruction. For most of the year, the river is an ice road. Walter shares stories and knowledge, cautioning all about the dangers.   

Aaliyah Vaugn: My Mother, My Heritage

This after-school story and film workshop at the Bettye Davis East High School (2019) was led collaboratively by See Stories and Story Works, and generously funded by the Alaska Community Foundation. Students developed first person stories to create podcasts to share their cultures through each students’ unique lens.
 
Aaliyah dives into her Mother's history, and understanding of what it means to be young and Hmong. Her Mother shares how her family's journey of escape from Laos after the Vietnam war and coming to the US as refugees has affected her values.
 

Rozlynn Dock: Interview with her Ap’a Adam Kashatok Jr.

Podcasting to Transgress (2021) was generously funded by the Alaska Humanities forum and instructed by Deenaalee Summer and Rafael Bitanga so that Alaskan middle and high school students from villages in the Northwest Arctic could learn to create podcasts, with a focus on sharing culture and history.
Rozlynn interviews her Ap'a. He speaks on life growing up in Kipnuk, Alaska and later moving to Akiak, explaining the differences he sees from his youth to the youth of today.

BONUS: West High Students Interview Alice Qannik Glenn

"Sharing stories that affect Alaska and our lives one podcast at a time!" 
West High Students interview cultural leader, Alice Qannik Glenn of Coffee & Quaq. This is a part of the the Intro to Podcasting Workshop at West High in the Spring 2022 semester. 
This project was generously funded by the Atwood Foundation & the Alaska Humanities Forum. A special thanks to Alaska Public Media for the recording of this podcast!