Jon Ross, cultural bearer of the Kenaitze Tribe, at the felling ceremony for the Capitol Christmas Tree in Seward, Alaska, on October 27, 2015. Photo from Facebook
The Kenaitze Tribe of Alaska participated in the felling ceremony for a tree that will be displayed at the U.S. Capitol during the holiday season. Tribal member and cultural bearer Jon Ross blessed the 74-foot Lutz spruce with sage and gave a prayer in the Dena’ina Athabascan language at the ceremony in Seward on Tuesday.
Yesterday, members of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe participated in the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree cutting near Seward. In the video, tribal member Jon Ross delivers a blessing for the tree before it was cut. The tribe's drum and dance groups performed later, and our Elders program worked to provide fry bread.
Posted by Kenaitze Indian Tribe on Wednesday, October 28, 2015
"We thank this tree for giving its life," he told the crowd, Alaska Dispatch News reported. Tribal members of all ages created more than 200 ornaments for the tree, The Peninsula Daily Clarion reported. Overall, it will feature more than 2,000 decorations from people across the state. The 7,500-pound spruce from the Chugach National Forest marks the first time that Alaska has contributed the Capitol Christmas Tree. It will be making a few stops in Alaska before heading out on a 4,000-mile journey across the country. The tree is due to arrive at the U.S. Capitol on November 20. The lighting ceremony will occur on December 2. Get the Story:
Alaska spruce destined to be Christmas tree at US Capitol cut near Seward (Alaska Dispatch News 10/27)
Video: Capitol Christmas tree cut down in felling ceremony near Seward (Alaska Dispatch News 10/27)
Photos: US Capitol Christmas tree cutting (Alaska Dispatch News 10/27)
Sprucing up the Capitol (The Peninsula Daily Clarion 10/28)
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