"The art of the Alaska Native parka embodies the remarkable creativity, craftsmanship, and ingenuity of its makers, past and present. This publication, and the exhibition it accompanies, explores the continuum of Indigenous parka making, with a selection of parkas from seven Alaska Native cultures that date from the late nineteenth century to contemporary reinterpretations of this iconic garment. In this catalog, ten contributors reflect on the ongoing vitality of this traditional art form and the current renewal of skills such as skin sewing in Alaska Native communities. The ability to sew well is fundamental to survival in the harsh environments where Alaska Native peoples live and thrive, and a good, uniform stitch is a metaphor for the connectedness of Indigenous communities. The parka also exemplifies the deep kinship and respect Alaska Native people hold for animal-relatives of the land and the sea. The parkas illustrated are complemented by a rich selection of Indigenous drawings and traditional dolls that offer context for how parkas are worn in ceremony, while hunting, or for daily use. These examples of Indigenous self-representation underscore how the parka has been-and remains-integral to Alaska Native identity. Sewing tools, themselves beautiful works of craftsmanship, point to the parka makers' mastery of process and deep understanding of material science. This book accompanies an exhibition by the same name organized by the Museum of International Folk Art, Santa Fe, and guest co-curated by Dr. Suzi Jones and Melissa Shaginoff"-- Provided by publisher.