Local Conversation Series: Lexi Qass’uq Trainer

Learn about life in Anchorage, from the residents who know it best.
UPDATE: This event has been moved to June 18, 2026.
This session, Native Communities and Culture, offers a guide to respectful cultural tourism engagement in Anchorage.
Speaker: Lexi Qass’uq Trainer
Writer and Community Advocate
Founder of Indigenous children’s media company Yaaruin Collective
Presentation Description:
Alaska is home to some of the most culturally rich and distinct Indigenous communities in the world — but knowing how to engage with that heritage respectfully takes a little guidance. In this session, Lexi offers an accessible, insider introduction to Alaska's major Native groups — covering who they are, where their homelands are, and what makes each culture unique. She'll walk visitors through where they can authentically experience Alaska Native art, dance, storytelling, and traditions right here in Anchorage, and share practical tips for distinguishing genuine, artist-made Native work from mass-produced imitations when shopping. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a longtime Alaskan, you'll leave with a deeper appreciation for the living cultures that have shaped this place — and the tools to engage with them respectfully.
Lexi Qass’uq Trainer is a Cup'ik/Yup'ik Alaska Native professional, writer, and community advocate based in Anchorage. With more than 15 years of experience in communications, partnerships, and community engagement across Alaska's Tribal, nonprofit, and government sectors, Lexi has spent her career amplifying Indigenous voices and building authentic connections between communities and the broader public. A published author in Alaska Humanities Forum Magazine and founder of Yaaruin Collective — an Indigenous children's media company — she brings both professional expertise and deep personal roots in Alaska Native culture to everything she does. She is a passionate advocate for helping visitors engage respectfully and meaningfully with Alaska's diverse Indigenous communities.
Sessions will be held outside the log cabin this year, weather permitting and depending on park construction progress.
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