Native students at UAF and Student Orientation Services, now Rural Student Services, organized the first Festival of Native Arts in 1974 to preserve Native cultural expression. The first festival, held six nights in April, highlighted a different Alaska Native culture each night. Only local dance groups participated. Today the festival has grown in depth and focus, featuring participants from all parts of the state, Canada and Russia. The Native artisans who participate and exhibit their work specialize in a variety of Native arts and crafts styles, from Athabaskan Indian to Inupiaq and Yup'ik.
Many items are for sale to the public.
According to student organizer Dena Ivey, a senior in the UAF Alaska Native Studies program, the 24th Festival of Native Arts is the result of months of effort and dedication by student and community volunteers, in cooperation with local, federal and state organizations. Most Native participants are able to attend exclusively by virtue of the efforts volunteers have made to acquire funds to support themselves while away from their hometowns. The privilege to witness the presentations is the reward for each Alaska community. Ivey said contributions for the Festival of Native Arts are welcome and continue to be needed. Raffle tickets for prizes ranging from beaded slippers to airline tickets are available by calling the festival office.