Sven Haakanson, Alvin Amason, Ann Fienup-Riordan, and Anna Mossolova come together to share their intimate knowledge and study of Alaska Native masks. The nature of masks within expressions of symbolism and transformation, and Alaska native mask collections abroad will be discussed and the overall importance of masks within Alaska Native cultures and traditions honored. Joing the discussion are scholars Marie Meade and Tim Troll. (5:03-8:56)Introduction of the guest speakers by Dr. Maria Shaa Tla Williams, director of Alaska Native Studies at UAA. • (9:05-35:32) Sven Haakanson is former Executive Director of the Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak, Alaska. His book, Giinaquq : Like A Face Sugpiaq Masks of the Kodiak Archipelago features the Alphonse Pinart ceremonial mask collection (1870s ) that is housed at the Château-Musée of Boulogne-sur-Mer in France. He currently teaches at University of Washington, Seattle, and is a curator of Native American exhibit at the Burke Museum. • (36:05-54:32) Renowned artist Alvin Eli Amason is a Sugpiaq Alaskan painter and sculptor. His paintings are on display at the Anchorage International Airport and the U.S. Federal Courthouse Building in Anchorage, and have been exhibited at the University of Alaska Museum of the North, the Alaska State Museum, Anchorage Museum, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Heard Museum, Kansas City Art Institute, Smithsonian Institute, Museum of the Northland in Aalborg, Denmark, and the Chateau Museum in Boulogne-sur-mer, France. After spending 17 years as Director of Native Arts program at UAF, he is currently developing a native arts program at UAA. (Students discuss mask carving, 54:32-59:29.) • (1:00:36-1:20:15) Cultural Anthropologist Ann Fienup-Riordan is author of more than 20 books and translations including Yup'ik Elders at the Ethnologisches Museum Berlin: Fieldwork Turned on Its Head. Her books Agayuliyararput (Our Way of Making Prayer): The Living Tradition of Yup'ik Masks and Yuungnaqpiallerput (The Way We Genuinely Live): Masterworks of Yupik Science and Survival accompanied museum exhibitions in Alaska and Washington, DC. • (1:20:32-1:21:24) Anna Mossolova is a visiting Fulbright student researcher at the UAA Anthropology Department and Alaska Native Studies Program. She has studied Social and Cultural Anthropology at Tallinn University, Estonia and was a visiting PhD student at the University of Aberdeen. Her interests include studying Yup’ik mask collections in Europe and Russia and researching Yup’ik mask-making traditions. Discussion period (1:21:24-1:43:05) includes scholars Marie Meade and Tim Troll.