Wonderful article. Excellent.
Conjures up memories of growing up among the Ahtna of the Copper Valley. I was known as "The white haired kid who plays in the village". Not in English, since that hadn't caught on yet. My parents and I were made members of the bands. Mom and I were Ravens, Dad was a Seagull". The pot latch dances were so joyful, the women singing shrilly, shuffling around the circle swaying while holding colorful scarves, the men chanting loudly, stomping their mukluks with gloriously beaded tops, pounding a big round drum. I remember all the tales of "Ool" Timey". (Old times)  How "Smart One" taught them to make fish traps, nets, snow shoes and knives/spears of copper, and made the animals behave.  He walked around looking angrily at the edge of the sky (the horizon) so I suspect he was a marooned sailor. Maybe a Viking since he had yellow hair. I saw many artifacts, retrieved when Tok Cutoff was cut across a cemetery.
 These things are another story, I'm rambling again.