The Hōkūle'a, a 62-foot-long double-hulled, wind-powered traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe arrived at Auke Bay in Juneau last Saturday, readying for the start of a four-year voyage across 43,000 nautical miles of the Pacific Ocean.
A nearly four-year sailing journey will launch on Thursday from Juneau - and Wrangell is part of the itinerary.
The Polynesian Voyaging Society is setting sail in the Hōkūleʻa as part of its Moananuiākea circumnavigation of the Pacific Ocean, touring Southeast before continuing on. It will tentatively arrive in Wrangell on June 26.
Members of the Wrangell Cooperative Association are preparing for the arrival of the 16-member Hawaiian vessel which will stop in Angoon, Kake and Petersburg before heading to Wrangell. From here, it will sail to Ketchikan, Saxman, Metlakatla and Hydaburg.
Before heading out on its official voyage, the 62-foot-long, twin-hulled Hōkūleʻa visited Yakutat, Hoonah and Haines, then returned to Juneau last weekend.
WCA tribal citizen James Stough is scheduled to travel to Petersburg before the Hōkūleʻa departs there to guide them through the Wrangell Narrows.
Ideally, said Esther Aaltséen Reese, WCA tribal administrator, canoes will paddle out to meet the visitors and escort them back to Chief Shakes Island for a warming of the hands.
"Our plan so far, which could change, is to have the Kolea (the voyage's escort boat) dock the Hōkūleʻa at the net float (near Chief Shakes Island)," she said. "Then we are getting canoes so that they can paddle to Shakes and do a traditional welcome, request permission to land and then there will be a cultural exchange with the clan leaders and the Polynesian Voyaging Society. It's going to be a traditional tribal welcome with the clan leaders."
Though the arrival time is weather-dependent, Reese said the community is welcome to witness the arrival and welcome of the Hōkūleʻa and her crew. Some of the planks of Chief Shakes House will be removed and a public address system will be used so that people can easily view and hear the ceremony.
After the welcome, there will be a light supper of either deer or moose stew and fry bread.
Tribal member Lovey Brock said they are working on creating a tináa necklace as a gift for the visiting crew. The tináa is a copper shield that is a Tlingit sign of wealth and prestige.
A community potluck to celebrate the visit in a more casual atmosphere is tentatively planned for 6 p.m. June 27 at the Nolan Center. Organizers are asking for food donations, side dishes, desserts, bread and dinner rolls, seafood or other fish dishes. Those who want to contribute can call or text 907-305-0117 or call Jana Wright at 907-470-1011.
"We're going to be providing as much traditional foods as we can and then asking the community to come and bring their favorite dishes," Reese said. "That will be a cultural exchange night where it's more focused on song and dance and storytelling."
The Hōkūleʻa will spend 47 months traveling around the Pacific Ocean to raise awareness of the ocean's health.
"As we go to each of the communities, we'll be inviting specific individuals who know the ocean, what we're dealing with. It'll be local knowledge to help us out," said Kahia Walker, a crewmember, in an interview with the Chilkat Valley News during the visit to Haines last week.
According to the Polynesian Voyaging Society website, "The goal of the voyage is to ignite a movement of 10 million 'planetary navigators' by developing young leaders and engaging communities around the world to take part in navigating (the) earth towards a healthy, thriving future."
The website states that the voyage is an educational campaign to "amplify the vital importance of oceans and indigenous knowledge through port engagements, education and storytelling."
Reese said the visit is significant because the group is coming "to (talk about) how people traditionally manage the oceans, which is significant for us because our people in Southeast Alaska have managed these lands and cared for these lands since time immemorial."
She said the tribal community is working to make the visit as meaningful as possible, making sure spaces are available for the cultural exchange and sharing of knowledge.
"We are truly brothers and sisters," Reese said. "To make this connection during this time, I think, is going to be very powerful."
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