Kachemak Bay Shorebird Festival

2009 Festival Keynote Speakers & Special Guest Artist

Jack Dalton was born in Bethel, Alaska and raised in Anchorage. Jack grew up an ambassador between two worlds, his Yup'ik heritage and his European heritage. A professional storyteller, writer and teacher, Jack has been honored by the World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education as a Distinguished Dignitary, featured as the cover story for the premiere issue of First Alaskans magazine and considered by many people around the world, indigenous and non-native alike, to be "The Storyteller". He was also chosen as one of Alaska's Top 40 Under Forty, one of the top forty business people in Alaska under the age of 40, and was the first storyteller ever to perform at the Camai Dance Festival held annually in Bethel. He has created and produced five theatrical works of epic storytelling, written a book, and has both a DVD and a CD of his storytelling available. He travels extensively around Alaska, the United States and the world sharing his culture and stories in schools, universities, and theatres. At residencies in schools across the country, he teaches the importance of storytelling to the continuation of all cultures and works with students to create their own stories, thus, continuing the tradition. He also speaks Swedish fluently and carries a great deal of wisdom for one still considered young. His company, Raven Feathers & the Wind, is based in Anchorage. Visit www.ravenfeathers.com.

Paul Baicich is one of this year's featured Keynote speakers. Paul has been an active birder since his early teens and worked for the American Birding Association from 1991 to 2003. While with ABA, Paul ran their conventions and conferences, edited their ABA Birdfinding Guides and magazine Birding, and served as their Director of Conservation and Public Policy. Paul has co-led several birding tours to Alaskan destinations, including the Aleutians, the Pribilofs, the Seward Peninsula and St. Lawrence Island. He is on the Management Board of the Prairie Pothole Joint Venture, the Waterbird Conservation Council and the Bird Education Network Committee for the Council for Environmental Education. Paul co-authored A Guide to the Nests, Eggs and Nestlings of North American Birds, and writes regularly for Bird Watcher Digest and for Birding. He is the co-editor of the popular monthly Birding Community E-bulletin.

Tommy Joseph, a Tlingit artist of Eagle Moiety, Kaagwaantaan Clan calls Sitka, Alaska home. A talented young wood carver, he is an Artist in Residence at the Southeast Alaskan Indian Cultural Center at Sitka National Historical Park. Tommy works on his carving projects, while also teaching carving classes and mentoring beginning carvers. He creates hybrid carved wooden totems that are imaginative interpretations of creatures, be they fish, animal or human. He uses stylistic and formal elements drawn from his Tlingit heritage as inspiration to create innovative reinterpretations that comment on contemporary community life. Tommy has been actively working in Northwest Coast carving for more than 20 years as an instructor, interpreter, and demonstrator.