Wrangell Tribe gifted Totem Park

During Sealaska Corporation's annual shareholder's meeting, held this year in Wrangell late last month, the Native organization bestowed ownership of an important local landmark to its hosts.

In remarks made during the meeting, corporation director Richard Rinehart explained he had recently put forward a proposal to the board to transfer ownership of Kiks.ádi Totem Park to Wrangell Cooperative Association, the community's federally-recognized tribal government.

The Totem Park lies at the bottom of Episcopal Avenue, where it joins with Front Street. Prior to its becoming a park, the property had been the site of the Sun House, or Gagaan Hít, one of the houses belonging to the Tlingit Kiks.ádi clan. A totem dedicated to the clan's Chief Kahlteen was created by noted carver William Ukas, or Yiika.aas, and raised on the site in 1895.

"That's where I'm from. That's my tribal house," said Rinehart. Having been raised in Wrangell and now a clan leader in his own right, it was his recommendation that Sealaska return the property to local leadership.

He noted that Wrangell was among the five Alaskan communities left "landless" in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. When it was formed the following year, Reinhart explained Sealaska had acquired the culturally significant plot when it became available in the mid-1980s in order to preserve it for the community.

A replica of the Kahlteen Totem was commissioned along with several others by master carvers Steve Brown and Wayne Price and raised in 1987 at the dedication of Kiks.ádi Totem Park. When it was restored, the pole was placed in the same spot its predecessor had stood.

According to Brown in a 2016 interview with the Sentinel, this pole depicts at its top Deix Shaa, or Two Women, a mountain located on the mainland. Just below it is the large frog that serves as the Kiks.ádi clan's primary emblem. Below that is a depiction of the Raven, the moiety to which the Kiks.ádi belongs.

"In general, we have watched most of our land given away," Rinehart commented. "We thought this would be really awesome if it came back here to Wrangell."

Sealaska's board of directors agreed, voting unanimously to approve the arrangement. At the shareholder's meeting on June 23, presidents Richard Oliver of the WCA and Anthony Mallott of Sealaska signed a transference of title.

"It's a little bit of history being made at this very moment," Rinehart observed. "Gunalchéesh," which means thank you in Tlingit.

In his words of thanks to Sealaska, Oliver noted the park's connection to the Raven moiety compliments that of Chief Shakes Island, whose clan house is tied to the Eagle moiety. WCA maintains only a few properties, including the Shakes house, its cultural center on Front Street and a facility being converted into new offices at Wood Street and Zimovia Highway.

"The return of this Kiks.ádi Totem Park really gives us balance back," Oliver said. "We were lacking in the Raven side. And this is going to restore balance to our people here. I can't thank you enough."

Transference of the park was not the only good news Wrangell received during last month's annual meeting. WCA learned its dance troupe will be the lead group at Celebration 2020, a biennial gathering held in Juneau that celebrates the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures. Sponsored by Sealaska, Celebration is one of the largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples and is the second-largest event sponsored by Alaska Natives in the state. The event draws about 5,000 people, more than 2,000 of which are dancers. Thousands more watch the event online, according to the corporation's estimates.

Sealaska shareholders also received some positive news at last month's meeting. The corporation touted 2017 as one of the most successful years ever, recording a net income of $43.3 million.