Dahlia Berns

I grew up in the village of Old Harbor, which is tucked just beneath Koniag Mountain, on the southeast end of Kodiak Island. Growing up in Old Harbor cultivated within me a sense of connectivity to all living beings, to our land, and to the enduring spirit of my Sugpiaq ancestors. Seen within my work is an infusion of my passion for our way of life, where ancestral wisdom meets contemporary expression, weaving an eternal basket that celebrates and cradles our cultural heritage while embracing the interconnectedness of all existence.
Something I hold very close to my heart is fishing, both commercial and subsistence. Fishing is one of the practices that has kept my family lineage and community strong for thousands of years. Throughout my entire life I have spent every summer on my father’s boat, the Dahlia Beatrix. Over the last two years, however, I began fishing for my grandfather, on the F/V Melissa Rae. I feel very connected to the resilience and reciprocity embodied by salmon and their cycle of life—which greatly reflects that of our people. My time spent on the water serves as one of my work’s greatest inspirations. Through the sacred dance of continuity & through creative expression, I breathe life into our enduring story, preserving the essence of tradition while embracing innovation, connecting with both