Music and dance are often essential and expressive aspects of culture. They shape each other through traditions and history. Music is also often passed down from generation to generation. This is the case in Tlingit culture. Families share their culture through music, as evidenced by the Cape Fox Tours (CFT) dancers. Cape Fox Corporation wants to recognize a shareholder who has passionately devoted her life to her culture and to supporting the community’s youth. Carrie Denny was recently awarded a Cape Fox Tinàa Award for Employee Excellence. This award is presented to employees who demonstrate dedication, performance, dependability, productivity, and a positive attitude. Carrie is a living example of these attributes through her dedication to the community, education, and culture.
Born and raised in Saxman, Alaska, Carrie has spent most of her life caring for, teaching, and encouraging the children of her community. For more than 30 years, she has worked with Tlingit & Haida Head Start, where she serves as the Lead Teacher. To many of the children and families she has served, Head Start is more than a school; it is affectionately known as “Carrie’s house.”
In the summer months, Carrie brings that same dedication and warmth to CFT, where she serves as the Child Native Dancer Supervisor. Her work with the young dancers goes far beyond teaching steps and songs. She creates an environment where children feel safe, welcomed, and proud to participate in their culture. She makes work fun by finding creative ways to keep the children engaged with activities between dances while always making sure they feel supported and included.
Carrie has taken the initiative to organize and lead dance practices, helping prepare the children for performances and cultural events. She has helped reintroduce songs with performances, including the Bow and Arrow Song, and has found creative ways to make the dancers’ performances more engaging for visitors. One example is having the dancers enter from behind the visitors and move around them, creating a more interactive experience and allowing the children to share their culture in a memorable way.
Her commitment to youth extends well beyond her professional responsibilities. Carrie is quick to volunteer her time whenever she sees a need, whether helping with ANB/ANS Camp 15, supporting dance group meetings in preparation for the 2027 Canoe Journey, or ensuring that children have opportunities to participate in activities. Her support for youth is not something she does occasionally; it is simply who she is.
Family is at the heart of everything Carrie does. Although her own children are now grown, she has instilled in them the importance of kindness, community, and nurturing the children around them. Her daughter, Tre’ann, works alongside her at both Head Start and CFT. Her daughter Tracilee visits Ketchikan with her daughter, Lilly, so she can participate in the culture, and Lilly dances alongside her grandmother at CFT. These moments beautifully reflect Carrie’s belief that culture and family are meant to be shared across generations.
Carrie herself was not raised deeply in her culture until later in life, but she made a conscious decision to raise her children in the Cape Fox culture and community of Saxman. Today, all her children independently sew, weave, and create their own regalia, a testament to the cultural foundation she worked to build within her family.
Whether she is teaching in the classroom, leading a dance practice, helping with a youth activity, or spending time with her family, Carrie is almost always surrounded by children and community. She has dedicated decades of her life to making sure young people feel cared for, connected, and proud of where they come from.
Carrie’s impact can be seen in the smiles of the children around her, in the traditions being carried forward, and in the families she has helped strengthen. She makes everyone’s day a little brighter and gives children a reason to smile a little bigger.
For her lifelong dedication to the children and families of Saxman, her commitment to cultural preservation, her generosity with her time, and the love she pours into her community and family, Carrie is a truly deserving recipient of the Tinàa Award. Gunalchéesh, Carrie.