State of the Sound is an annual community knowledge-sharing gathering for the Sheet’ká/Sitka area focused on the health of our lands, waters, ecosystems, and community. Developed through a collaborative planning process involving local organizations, knowledge holders, researchers, and community members, the event was created to provide an inclusive and accessible space where people can come together to share observations, research, questions, concerns, and stories connected to Sitka Sound.
The vision for State of the Sound is to build a free, interactive winter gathering that honors all ways of knowing and strengthens relationships among the many people and organizations engaged with Sitka’s natural environment. The event aims to connect research with local priorities, interrelate community observations with scientific studies, and support collective stewardship of Sitka Sound for future generations. Central to this vision is the recognition that environmental health and community well-being are deeply interconnected, and that long-term stewardship depends on collaboration across generations, backgrounds, professions, and lived experiences.
The development of State of the Sound emerged from several years of conversations among community members and organizations interested in creating a more connected and community-centered space for environmental knowledge sharing in Sitka. An initial “0th State of the Sound” gathering held in February 2025 served as an opportunity to test ideas, explore community interest, and identify priorities and lessons that helped define the vision and shape the structure and goals of the first full State of the Sound event. Planning for the inaugural event was guided by an advisory group representing diverse backgrounds, experiences, and areas of expertise across the community.
The 1st annual State of the Sound took place February 27 – March 1, 2025, and included storytelling events, keynote presentations, field trips, roundtable discussions, and a Science and Nature Mingle featuring nearly 40 posters and displays. Topics ranged from climate-driven changes such as atmospheric rivers and landslides, to marine health, shellfish safety, tourism impacts, subsistence, habitat monitoring, and community-led environmental research. The weekend also highlighted ongoing efforts by Tribal, nonprofit, academic, agency, and community partners working to better understand and respond to environmental change across the region.
Check out coverage and recaps from our first annual State of the Sound:
KCAW: First annual State of the Sound brings community together to discuss local ecosystems
Sitka Tells Tales: “Sounding Off: Encounters and Discoveries on Sitka’s Lands and Waters”
Watch the full lectures on our YouTube Channel.
This event is co-designed and planned by staff from the Sitka Sound Science Center, the University of Alaska, and the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, along with a steering committee of volunteers from across the community.
Who Should Attend
State of the Sound is open to anyone with an interest in learning about, caring for, and understanding Sitka Sound—from local residents and Tribal partners to students, teachers, and researchers at any stage of their work. Whether you come to share, listen, ask questions, or simply be part of the conversation, you are welcome.
Share Your Work, Knowledge, or Questions
State of the Sound is a free event, and no registration is required to attend. Come for a single session or stay for the full gathering—participants are invited to engage in whichever sessions feel most meaningful to them.
We will have several different session formats over the course of the multi-day event to foster a diversity of conversations and engagement. This is an opportunity to share research, stewardship work, traditional knowledge, collaborations, recent wins, or questions you’d like the community to explore together. You do not need to be a professional scientist to participate. If you are a professional scientist, this gathering is also an opportunity to listen, learn, and engage with the people of Sitka.
If you plan to attend, please fill out the interest and participation form to let us know how you’d like to take part. Your responses help us plan a gathering that reflects the interests, ideas, and priorities of the community.
Interest and Participation Form
There are three kinds of ways you can participate (named after local species) – however, you are welcome to choose more than one!
- Black-tailed Deer — Join, Listen, and Participate: come to sessions, listen, ask questions, and contribute in ways that feel comfortable to you. No preparation is needed—all we ask for is your curiosity and presence.
- Octopus — Start a Conversation: bring an idea, question, or project to life through a simple informational poster or show-and-tell item(s). Visuals will serve as conversation points during State of the Sound and can highlight observations, community knowledge, ongoing work, or questions you’d like to explore with others. These presentations will be presented during the “Science and Nature Mingle” on Saturday afternoon from 3:00 – 6:00pm.
View presenters’ guide and submit your presentation plan here by February 6th
- Spruce — Lead a Field Trip or Skill Share: share place-based knowledge in a small group setting through a field trip, demonstration, or hands-on learning experience. This might look like time on the beach or in the forest, a short tour of a local research project, or an opportunity to learn together through doing. Field trips and skill shares will occur on Saturday afternoon, from 1:30-3:00pm.
Schedule of Events
Thursday, February 19 – Saturday, February 21, 2026
All events at Harrigan Centennial Hall, unless otherwise noted
Thursday Evening
- 7pm – Sounding Off: Encounters and Discoveries on Sitka’s Lands and Waters
- A special storytelling event held in collaboration with ArtChange, Inc.’s Sitka Tells Tales, hosted at the Sitka Sound Science Center Mill Building (doors open at 6:30, with food and drink available to purchase)
Friday Evening
- 6:30pm – Opening Ceremony and Welcome
- Sitka Sound: An Eco-Cultural Health View
Keynote by Mike Miller, with Dr. Tom Thornton
- Sitka Sound: An Eco-Cultural Health View
Saturday Morning
- 9am – Highlighted talks
- The Past Year Around the Sound by Lauren Bell (SSSC), Ellen Chenoweth (UAF), and Lauren Wild (UAS)
- The Bucks of Baranof by Stephen Bethune (ADF&G)
- What’s New at Kunáa? by Kyle Rosendale (STA) and Dean Anderson (USFS)
- 10am – Roundtable sharing and identification of community interests
- Participants discuss notable observations and questions about Sitka’s natural environment
- Example prompts to help guide conversations:
- What is your personal sense of the “State of Sitka Sound”?
- What noteworthy observations or experiences on land or water have shaped your perspective?
- What questions are you most curious about moving forward?
- Example prompts to help guide conversations:
- Participants discuss notable observations and questions about Sitka’s natural environment
-lunch on your own-
Saturday Afternoon
- 1:30pm – Field trips and workshops (on and off-site, transportation provided as needed)
- 3 to 6pm – Science and Nature Mingle
- Dedicated poster and information session with time for informal conversation and direct engagement with presenters
CaRE Workshop for Researchers
For people working on and around Sitka Sound, a one-day workshop in principles of CaRE (Communication and Reciprocal Exchange) will be offered in the lead-up to State of the Sound on Friday, February 20, 2026 at the Naa Kahídi Community House. This CaRE training – built collaboratively by SSSC and STA over the past 2 years – is recommended for scientists at any stage of their career or project timeline. The workshop will provide training in cultural awareness, transparency and consent, reciprocity and benefit sharing, and community engagement, pairing these principles with examples specific to working with the Sheet’ká Kwaán Tribe/Sitka Tribe of Alaska within Sheet’ká, Lingít Aaní. Please reach out by Jan 23rd if you are interested in participating (contact below).
Questions?
For general event questions, please contact:
Lauren Bell
Research Director, Sitka Sound Science Center
lbell@sitkascience.org
