Distinctive Alaska Gifts
One of the most unusual gifts available from the 49th state is called qiviut (kiv-ee-ut), which is the extremely fine and soft underfur of musk oxen. This fur is woven and knit into scarves, hats and other items that are renowned for warmth, resistance to water and for being softer than cashmere. Musk oxen populate Alaska’s northern reaches, and there are also three research and visitor facilities that house musk oxen in Alaska, so access to the fine, warm fur is through grooming at the research facilities and is collected off branches and shrubbery in the wild. A collective of Alaska Native knitters sells its wears in a shop in Anchorage called Oomingmak, and the gorgeous, light-weight products are available for purchase in person or at the collective’s online store, www.qiviut.com.
People travel from all over the world to see Alaska’s glaciers, but most don’t know that the finely ground rock the glacier leaves behind – called glacial silt – makes for some of the finest soaps on earth. Juneau-based Glacier Smoothie is a company turning the fine, gray silt into signature soaps that devotees absolutely rave about. You can also order lotion and lip balm on the company’s Web site at http://glaciersmoothie.com/index.html.
Shopping for a sweet tooth? Alaska Wild Berry Products, located in Anchorage, is Alaska’s favorite chocolate factory featuring handmade wild berry jams and jellies, delicious chocolates, smoked salmon, Alaska meats, souvenirs and gift baskets. Look no farther than The Alaskan Fudge Company in Juneau. They use the finest chocolates, nuts and fresh cream to create delectable fudge of Alaska-size proportions.
For the pampered chef, the ulu (pronounced oo-loo) is the most renowned knife in Alaska. Native people of northern Alaska invented the knife centuries ago for use in hunting, fishing, skinning, filleting and every other imaginable domestic cutting need. The rounded blade is functional in today’s kitchen, too — great for chopping, slicing or trimming the crusts off kids’ sandwiches — and the handle can be made of a variety of natural materials, such as jade, ivory, bone or hardwood. The Ulu Factory in Anchorage has an online store at http://www.theulufactory.com for all your ulu needs.
If relatives and co-workers are already asking for more of that mouth-watering Alaska seafood you brought back last summer, then behold one of Alaska’s best-kept secrets. 10th and M Seafoods in Anchorage offers a rich variety of the finest seafood harvests from the pure waters of the 49th state. Load up on canned or smoked salmon, reindeer salami, gourmet seafood gift baskets, cookbooks, spices and batters — so fresh, they’ll never be able to tell you didn’t actually catch it yourself.
For an authentic one-of-a-kind handicraft, museum gift shops throughout the state offer locally made arts and crafts. In Anchorage, stop by Heritage Gifts, the official marketplace for the Alaska Native Heritage Center to purchase gifts such as masks, jewelry, paintings, dolls and more. Likewise, The Store at the Alaska State Museum in Juneau is a nonprofit retail store selling museum-quality authentic products. Or shop online at www.alaskanativearts.org to peruse indigenous Alaska Native artwork, baskets, dolls, jewelry, home décor, clothing and more through the Alaska Native Arts Foundation. If traveling through New York City this holiday season, visit the brand new Alaska House gallery — the only nonprofit arts and cultural organization dedicated to promoting Alaska — in the chic Soho district. Other online museum stores include the Anchorage Museum at Rasmusen Center, the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository and the University of Alaska Museum of the North.
Whatever you decide to buy, be sure it’s authentic and help support the local Alaska economy by looking for the “Made in Alaska” symbol certifying that a resident artist, craftsperson or manufacturer made the article in Alaska. (For a listing of certified “Made in Alaska” products, visit http://www.dced.state.ak.us/oed/mia/.) Likewise, the Silver Hand emblem guarantees the article was handcrafted by an Alaska Native. Wherever possible, art or craft items bearing this emblem have been made with Alaska materials. Want to ensure you always buy Alaska? Visit http://www.travelalaska.com/Regions/TipsDetail.aspx?TipID=141 to learn more.
To learn more about shopping for one-of-a-kind gifts in Alaska, visit http://www.travelalaska.com/Activities/Shopping.aspx.