Brodie Gardner, left, and Richard Oliver look over the Chief Shakes gravesite, seeing what work needs to be done to repair the fence and stairs. Gardner picked the site as her senior project graduation requirement.
The gravesite is the resting place of Chief Shakes V, who died in 1878. This photo shows how it appeared a little before 1945.
What started out as merely a way to show support for her best friend ended up being a life-changing experience for high school senior Brodie Gardner.
Last June, she was asked by Mia Wiederspohn to go with her to the Sealaska Heritage-organized Celebration in Juneau, which led to Gardner becoming more involved in the Tlingit culture and restoration of the Chief Shakes gravesite on Case Avenue.
"I went to Celebration with Virginia (Oliver), and I'm not part of her Tlingit class but my best friend Mia has a big role there," Gardner said. "She said, 'Please go so I can have a buddy.' I did and it was one of the coolest experiences of my life."
Upon her return to Wrangell, Gardner started getting more active in the Native culture. Though she isn't Native, she said she now has a "deeper appreciation" for the culture.
That appreciation played heavily into her decision on what her senior project should be. DaNika Smalley, Indian education director for the Wrangell School District, mentioned the gravesite for Chief Shakes, which has fallen into disrepair over the years.
"I haven't been up there in probably a few years, then I went up there and said, 'Oh, my gosh. This is bad,'" Gardner said. "From the road (the fence) looks completely fine, but the two you can't see are completely down."
The gravesite was originally surrounded on all four sides by a white picket fence, connected at the corners by posts, two of which were adorned by killer whale sculptures. Buried at the site is Kaawishté, Chief Shakes V, according to the 1945 book "Monuments in Cedar," by Edward L. Keithahn. The fifth Chief Shakes died in 1878 and held the title longer than any of the other six Shakes. The sculptures are a symbol won in battle by Kaawishté's ancestor Gush X'een (the first Chief Shakes) from Niska Chief We-Shakes. Keithahn writes the name Shakes, "a corruption of 'We-Shakes' was won in the same battle."
Both killer whale sculptures have rotted over time and are now wrapped in tarps at the gravesite.
Gardner plans to pressure wash the fences and stairs, then give them a fresh coat of paint. New fence posts will be created to help connect the four sides once again.
Inside the fenced area will remain untouched.
"I was going to rake it out, but Virginia said you don't want to take land away from the gravesite," she said.
Gardner is also enlisting friend Spencer Petticrew to create a new sign for the site in shop class. She said it will more than likely be an engraved wooden sign with more information. She's not sure where it will be posted just yet, whether next to the site or at the bottom of the stairs.
Before starting the work, Smalley said permission had to be obtained from Chief Shakes' descendants, which includes sisters Elsie Lindley and Rose Johnson, who own the site.
The repairs have been a long time in coming.
"It's been falling apart for as long as I remember," Smalley said. "I know that they've redone the stairs because there weren't stairs there for a while. That's a new addition in the last 20 years to get up there in a nice fashion because it used to be really, really steep stairs."
Smalley said Gardner's willingness to take on the project means a lot to her since it has a significant cultural impact.
"For me, her taking this on shows me that she's understanding and respecting the culture, regardless of her heritage," Smalley said. "Being that she is like a little sister to me ... that was like this huge heartfelt moment. That's going to be a way that she's putting something on this island that she's done. She can take pride in it."
Smalley plans to adopt Gardner into the tribe during a ceremony later this year. Johnson would like to hold a ceremony highlighting the restoration and Gardner's work when it's completed.
"Honoring her and what she's done for the tribe and clan and acknowledging that we love and appreciate her, of course, we want to share our culture with her," Smalley said.
Upon graduation in May, Gardner plans to take her certified nursing assistant certification earned through the high school this year and put it to use. She will work before leaving in the fall to attend Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, to earn a degree in genetics.
"That's what makes us us," she said of her decision to pursue a career in the field. "You can look deeper into yourself."
She said will miss her built-in social network and all the help that's readily available in the Wrangell community. She's a bit anxious about meeting new people and starting the next chapter of her life.
"I'm just a little scared," Gardner said. "I'm really going to miss my mom, too."
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