For the first time in four years, Celebration, the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples to celebrate their culture, is being held in person in Juneau from June 8-11.

The gathering, sponsored by Sealaska Heritage, drew about 5,000 people pre-COVID, including more than 2,000 dancers. The Wrangell tribe will lead the way this week.

Every Celebration features a lead dance group and this year it is Shx’at Kwáan (People Near the Mainland) of Wrangell, Sealaska Heritage spokesperson Kathy Dye said Friday.

“They were chosen in 2018 for Celebration 2020. But COVID curtailed th...