Anchorage Museum
  • Visit
    • Calendar
    • Hours & Tickets
    • Access
    • Parking
    • Tours
    • The Museum From Home
    • Discovery Center
    • Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center
    • Planetarium
    • Museum Store
    • Tour Operators
    • MUSE
    • Museum Rentals
    • Tell Us About Your Visit
  • Exhibitions
    • Upcoming Exhibitions
    • Current Exhibitions
    • Permanent Exhibitions
    • Archived Exhibitions
    • Traveling Exhibitions
  • Programs
    • Talks & Tours
    • Classes & Workshops
    • For Educators
    • Film & Planetarium
    • Performing & Literary Art + Creative Practice
    • Family, Youth & Homeschool
    • Special Events
  • Membership
  • Donate
  • Collections
    • Browse the Collections
      • Browse the Collections
        • Art & Material Culture
        • Photographs
        • Finding Aids
        • Subject Guides
        • Alaska’s Digital Archive
        • Alaska Library Catalog
    • Access & Research
    • Acquisitions Committee
    • Rights & Reproductions
    • Announcements
  • About Us
    • Governance
    • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Anti-Racism
    • Major Projects
    • Seed Lab
    • Calls for Entry/Creative Opportunities
    • Museum Journal
    • E-Newsletter Sign-up
    • About Our Programs and Exhibitions
    • Volunteer
    • Community Support
    • Social Media Guidelines
    • Facility and Other RFP/RFQ
    • Employment
    • Contact Us
    • Press Room
  • Store
ENG more
ESP DEU FRN 漢語 日本の 한국의
  • ×
    • Home
    • Dena'inaq' Huch'ulyeshi: The Dena'ina Way of Living
    • Dena'ina Object Gallery

    T'UYEDI

    13_33-AMRC_C5R9417.jpg

    T'UYEDI

    Dentalium shells, sinew, beads, wool cloth; L 86.5 cm
    Susitna Station, c. 1902


    Dentalium necklace

    This dentalium necklace was used by a qeshqa (the traditional leader) at potlatches as part of the dancing outfit. The earliest known owner of this particular necklace was Big Chilligan. It was potlatched to Simeon Chickalusion in 1930 and to Shem Pete in 1957. Dentalium, or k’enq’ena, are the shells of a mollusk that were traded through tribes all along the northwest coast of North America as a form of wealth.

    Collection: Anchorage Museum, 1978.035.002

    Image: © Chris Arend/Anchorage Museum

    Anchorage Museum

    625 C Street
    Anchorage, AK 99501
    907-929-9200 | General
    907-929-9228 | Membership

    Contact Info

    Privacy Policy

    Hours

    Summer Hours
    MAY - SEPTEMBER Open 7 days,
    including holidays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

    First Fridays
    The first Friday of each month - Extended hours to 9 p.m.

    THIS IS DENA’INA EŁNENA.
    ANCHORAGE IS DENA’INA HOMELAND.

    Admission


    • View rates and find admission discounts.

    Buy Tickets

    Press Room

    Membership

    Share this page
    • Share on Facebook
    • Share on Twitter
    • Share on LinkedIn
    am-black