Gov. Parnell appropriates $250K for tribal projects

The Wrangell Cooperative Association was on the receiving end of financial help from the State of Alaska last week as Governor Sean Parnell included the Chief Shakes Tribal House and Carving Shed on the list of House District 2 initiatives for 2013.

“Alaska’s cash position is as strong as it’s ever been,” Parnell said in his annual Budget Message given in Anchorage on May 14. “We start from a position of strength.”

The WCA submission was just one of eight Wrangell projects receiving funding in the new budget. The Governor appropriated $250,000 for use in either, or both, the Chief Shakes Tribal House restoration and Carving Shed projects.

According to WCA spokesman Aaron Angerman, architectural plans for the new 40,000 square-foot carving shed have been completed – and it will serve as not only a carving facility, but will contain retail and office space.

“It is sitting on the land adjacent to the SNO Building in downtown Wrangell, property given to the WCA by the Tlingit and Haida Housing Authority,” Angerman said. “The WCA plans to have master carvers taking one-month shifts at the facility for a period of two years to train local carvers.”

At the WCA office in downtown, Tis Peterman said she is happy about the support coming out of the Governor’s office.

“We were on the City of Wrangell priority list for Capital Projects for over a year,” Peterman said. “They submitted it and we were so focused on further fund raising and the Tribal House restoration, which is currently underway, that we were pleasantly surprised when Senator Bert Stedman called us in April, letting us know we were still on the Governor’s table.”

As far as the Chief Shakes Island restoration, Peterman says complete funding for the project is “very close,” after the appropriation.

“This is huge for the tribe,” said Peterman. “It’s not only a relief to know we will have the money for not only the Tribal House, but enough set aside to break ground on the new carving facility too. This appropriation by the Governor should create momentum for further funding.”