February 6, 2026, by Chase

Join us February 19–21, 2026, for the 1st annual State of the Sound, a three-day gathering where people who live and work in the Sitka area come together to share what we are seeing, learning, and noticing about the lands and waters surrounding Sitka Sound. Community knowledge-holders, culture bearers, researchers, students, and partners will connect across perspectives to build a fuller picture of what we know about our local environment, what we are still learning, and why it matters.

Through presentations, posters, storytelling, field trips, and interactive sessions, participants will explore current research, lived experiences, long-held ways of knowing, and emerging questions about Sitka’s terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. State of the Sound provides an annual space to exchange information and support community-driven priorities, partnerships, and actions for the long-term health of this place.

Listen to our recent interview with KCAW

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.

                  

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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.

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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!

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State of the Sound 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

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?

-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

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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).

 

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Questions?

For general event questions, please contact:
Lauren Bell
Research Director, Sitka Sound Science Center
lbell@sitkascience.org

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