Denny Leak takes a break last Friday, while working on one of two killer whale faces for Wrangell Cooperative Association. Carved from cedar, the piece will eventually go on top of a stored totem, which had until 2012 been standing on Chief Shakes Island. Due to its age and proximity to the clan house there, the pole was taken down ahead of planned renovations.
While more commonly Wrangell leaves a lasting impression on its visitors, one thought to leave his mark on Wrangell instead.
With the aid of two chainsaws and assorted carving equipment, Denny Leak spent most of last week outside Wrangell Cooperative Association's Cultural Center as he worked on fashioning out part of one of the tribe's stored totems.
Hailing from Kansas, Leak was up for a visit with his daughter, who in March began work at Wrangell Medical Center as a physical therapy assistant. While in town he sat in on one of WCA's traditional dance presentations at the Chief Shakes Island...
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