About the Chenega Diaries Project

Life in the 1940s Chenega Village Comes to Life in a New Book and Documentary Film.

Chenega Diaries: Stories and Voices of Our Past is a beautiful, informative look back at life in the Alaska Native Village of Chenega. The book and companion documentary DVD are filled with photos, schoolchildren’s diary entries, letters and other primary source materials. Recent interviews with Chenega Tribal Elders add historical perspective to the narrative. In this same vein, descendants of the diary writers are the “voices” narrating the diary entries on the DVD, giving those descendants a firsthand experience in preserving their culture. The companion Website has been designed with educators in mind; it includes lesson plans tied to Alaska state standards.

“It is an honor for us to be able to preserve and share the culture of our Chenega Tribe in this way. We hope Chenega Diaries sparks interest in classrooms and communities and encourages even more sharing of stories and memories in our homes.”, said Chenega Corporation President & CEO, Charles W. Totemoff.

With Chenega Elders acting as knowledge bearers throughout-- painstaking attention has been given to accuracy and authenticity. Chenega Diaries is a true representation of life in Chenega, as they remember it.

Explore this website and learn more about all of the elements of the Chenega Diaries project.