One People Canoe Society traditional arrival and welcoming ceremony with Yees Ku Oo dancers will kick off the Festival. Yees Ku. Oo – Shu Gyad — is a multi-cultural dance group, comprised of many indigenous nations including, Tlingit, Haida, Tsimshian, Aleut, Yupik, and other nations. The Tlingit name, Yees Ku. Oo means “New People/New Beginning.” (Shu Gyad is the Sm’algyax translation) The late Clarence Jackson translated the name for the group at AFN in 2003, the year the dance group formed. “Our purpose is to share our songs with everyone.  We strive to show the utmost respect to all, and to teach the children through song – so that they will feel the pride of being indigenous.

The One People Canoe Society is dedicated to reviving and celebrating the traditional canoe culture of Southeast Alaska’s Indigenous peoples. Founded to reconnect communities with their roots, the society organizes multi-day canoe journeys through the waters of Southeast Alaska, bringing together paddlers from communities throughout the region. The society is perhaps best known for leading the ceremonial paddle to Celebration – the biennial festival honoring Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures – arriving in Juneau to the sound of drums and traditional songs from people gathered on shore. Beyond the journeys themselves, the society travels throughout Southeast Alaska offering paddle-making workshops keeping traditional craftsmanship alive. For its members, the paddling journeys are more than athletic events – they are deeply personal acts of healing, remembrance, and kinship that reconnect participants to their ancestors, their ecosystems, and one another.

Air Station Sitka’s area of responsibility (AOR) encompasses the entire Southeast region of Alaska from Dixon Entrance north to Central Alaska and from the U.S./Canadian border west to the central Gulf of Alaska. Air Station Sitka’s AOR presents the most demanding flight environment for Coast Guard aircraft operations, with 12,000 miles of isolated and rugged coastline and responsible for all inland search and rescue for Southeast Alaska. This region includes numerous remote villages and is characterized by mountainous terrain, severe weather and vast distances between fuel caches and landing sites.

JAMM is a tuition-free music program, which uses the power of music and the social experience of ensemble to help youth reach their fullest potential. With both during and after-school programming, JAMM serves over 600 students across three elementary schools and one secondary school within the Juneau School District.

JAMM is both a school-readiness and positive youth development model where children develop key skills for life and are encouraged to contribute positively to their community through music, ensemble and leadership.

Jessica Meuse is a singer-songwriter who grew up in Slapout, Alabama. She finished in fourth place on the thirteenth season of American Idol, and made history as the first contestant to perform an original song during the finals. A multi-instrumentalist, she plays guitar, piano, and classical violin, and her second album, Halfhearted, hit the Top 10 on iTunes Country Albums with songs amassing over 8 million streams. She is enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and is presently based in Juneau, while continuing to pursue her passion for music.

Steady Going will energize you with their bluegrass music that has quickly established them as a “must see” local band. Stuart Wood covers the banjo and vocals, Quinton Woolman-Morgan rocks the guitar, Lisa Denny lends her beautiful voice, and Sam plays bass. What more do you need to know? Get ready to dance!

Think your team has what it takes to bring home the coveted trophy and official Maritime Festival swag? Bond with co-workers, family, neighbors, and friends at this year’s Maritime Festival Tug of War Contest. To register a team, email Kirstie or visit the JEDC booth on the day of the festival by 2:00 pm. 

Read all of the Tug of War rules here.

Harmonies and fiddle, sweet as honey. Bad-ass banjo and harmonica rocking the house. It’s the Honey Badgers! Featuring: Heather Parker, Wailin’ Dale Bradenburger, Lu Seapy, Russell Sandstrom.

Navy Band Northwest’s brass band features the powerful voices of trumpets, saxophones, trombones, tuba, and drums. Performing a wide variety of funk, rhythm and blues, jazz and soul music in the New Orleans tradition, they’re sure to bring a lively program wherever they go! The brass band regularly performs for major festivals. professional sporting events, and university-level masterclasses. These professional Navy Sailor musicians serve as naval ambassadors which connect our communities, from Nebraska to Alaska, face-to-face with THEIR United States Navy.

We’re an energetic band from Juneau, Alaska, specializing in indie sad girl pop punk—music you can bounce around to or wail along with. Our core lineup features Keenan on drums, Jacob on bass, Avery on lead guitar, and Anna on rhythm guitar and vocals.

Our passion for music has driven us to create a collection of tracks that resonate deeply. Drawing from our diverse musical backgrounds, we aim to craft songs that reflect the heart and spirit of our home.

You can check out our sound on Spotify and join us on this exciting journey as we explore new musical horizons. We can’t wait to share our stories through music and connect with you, whether at our live shows or through your headphones.