Elder Marie Yaska shares her skills and traditions as she guides Fairbanks Police Chief Ron Dupee in crafting a beaver-fur cap. The hands-on session is part of the Caps for Cops program, where officers learn from Native elders and build connections with the community. Photo courtesy Fairbanks Police Department.
Caps for Cops Brings Fairbanks Police and Native Elders Together Through Tradition
By Gina Hill | Alaska Headline Living | February 2026
FAIRBANKS, Alaska – In the heart of Interior Alaska, a unique program is warming hearts and heads this winter. “Caps for Cops,” a collaboration between the Fairbanks Police Department and the Native elder organization Denakkanaaga, teaches officers how to make traditional beaver-fur hats while building meaningful connections with the community they serve.
The program, now in its second round, pairs four police officers with four Native elders for hands-on instruction over several weeks. By the end of each session, officers leave with a hat they can wear on duty and a deeper understanding of local culture. Elders involved in teaching come from villages including Huslia, Minto, and Nulato, where sewing, hunting, and trapping were essential skills growing up.
Police Chief Ron Dupee told Senior Voice Alaska that the program is more than a craft session. He emphasized that it helps officers, especially newcomers to Fairbanks, engage with residents in a personal way.
Elders leading the sessions say teaching officers feels like working with their own grandchildren and allows them to share traditional skills while building relationships with the community.
The program was first introduced by former Fairbanks officer Kurt Lockwood to strengthen relationships between the police and the Native community. Since its start, at least twenty officers have completed the program, with more sessions planned so that all officers interested have the chance to participate.
Denakkanaaga Executive Director Sharon McConnell told Senior Voice Alaska that the collaboration benefits everyone involved and helps build stronger bonds between the police and the Native community.
Community members who want to support this program or get involved have several ways to do so. Donations to Denakkanaaga help sustain workshops, cultural programs, and elder outreach. Attending Denakkanaaga’s public events, such as Native artwork pop-ups, allows residents to meet elders and support Indigenous artists. While Caps for Cops itself focuses on officers and elders, Fairbanks residents can also engage with the community through the Police Department’s Volunteers in Policing program. Anyone interested can learn more and get involved by visiting Denakkanaaga’s website.
The connections and understanding formed around the sewing table may be even warmer than the hats themselves. Caps for Cops shows how small acts of collaboration and learning can have a big impact. In the icy winters of Fairbanks, a beaver-fur hat is practical, but the friendships, stories, and cultural knowledge shared between police officers and Native elders are what truly keep the community warm. As needles thread through fur and laughter fills the room, bonds are built that go far beyond a single craft. In these simple, shared moments, trust grows, respect deepens, and the spirit of Fairbanks shines brighter than any winter sun.
