Naomi Michalsen kicks off Rainforest Festival

Naomi Michalsen opened the Rainforest Festival Thursday night with a presentation on the power of indigenous plants and foods at the Wright Auditorium.

Michalsen, who grew up in Petersburg but now lives in Ketchikan, runs Kaasei Training & Consulting which aims to educate people on Tlingit culture and practices associated with harvesting berries and other foods in Southeast Alaska.

Michalsen opened by giving a land acknowledgement before speaking on her time growing up in Petersburg.

“As a young girl I learned to love this place and I grew up at all the Norwegian festivals and Norwegian dancin...