I began working on developing this website in the summer of 2002. Scott Christian, Director of the University of Alaska Southeast Professional Education Center at the time, asked me to develop multi-media resources for the Preparing Indigenous Teachers for Alaska Schools (PITAS) program.

I have served as the Southeast Region Coordinator for AKRSI from late 1995 - present. I began by collecting materials, texts and resources that had been developed by the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative from the mid-nineties: for example, The Axe Handle Academy curriculum project, The I Am Salmon curriculum project and the Southeast Alaska Tribal Resource Atlas. I have continuously added links, pdf's, and electronic resources over the last three years.

Colleen McKenna of the UAS PEC provided the initial technical support for the website, which was originally posted on the UAS server in January 2003. After Colleen finished the foundation of the website, technical support and maintenance has been provided by Sean Topkok, Indigenous Curriculum Specialist for the Alaska Native Knowledge Network. Sean maintains the ANKN website. The website was transferred to the ANKN server in 2004.

Additional technical support and content has been provided by David Albert of Ecotrust, Sue Kraft, Tom Thornton-Trinity College, Arlo Midgett-UAS Media Services, Harold Jacobs, Adelaide DeMenil, Peter Metcalfe, Michael Travis, Richard and Nora Dauenhauer Ron Scollon the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, the Friends of Sheldon Jackson Museum, Dr. Claudette Engblom Bradley, Topaz Shryock, Lori Hoover, the Sitka National Historical Park, KTOO-FM, the Anchorage Daily News Archives, the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology and Ted Wright. Mike Jackson and Harold Jacaobs provided illustrations for the website.

I thank the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative, the University of Alaska Southeast PITAS program, the Southeast Alaska Native Educators Association, the Juneau School District, Sealaska Heritage Institute, the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes and Southeast Alaska Intertribal College for providing funding to support development and maintenance of the website.

This humble undertaking has had widespread support. I thank all of the individuals and organizations who have supported development and maintenance of Place-Based Education: Resources for Southeast Alaska Educators. Aatlein Gunalchéesh!!!!

Andy Hope, April 28, 2005