Under a new cooperative program, rural Alaska Native artists are learning to sell their art and crafts throughout the world through e-commerce.

The www.ArcticWays.com project was spearheaded by Steven Dinero, a Philadelphia University professor of human geography, with the help of a three-year $600,000 grant from the National Science Foundation.

GCI is providing the partnership with curricula, hardware, software, expertise and internships as part of its efforts to bring dial-up Internet access to rural communities across the state. Other partners include the University of Alaska Anchorage TechPrep Initiative, the University of Alaska Fairbanks School of Management, Yukon Flats and Yukon Koyukuk School Districts, Arctic Village Council, Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments, Doyon Foundation, consultant Gary Moore, Nulato City Council and the NUMI Group.

The Web site is based in Fort Yukon, under the auspices of the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments. A coordinator travels to small villages to bring crafts people on board, negotiate prices and forge economic agreements.

As part of this project, Dinero and his collaborators developed CD-based teaching modules in the area of Web design, small-business management and e-commerce for rural Alaska Native village youth in grades 8 through 12. These teaching modules are available, free of charge, to educators in Alaska