As the borough is developing a portion of the former Wrangell Institute property near Shoemaker Bay for a residential subdivision — Alder Top Village (Keishangita.’aan) — the Wrangell Cooperative Association has asked for two adjoining parcels at the northern end of the property.
“We want it for a memorial for people who attended the Wrangell Institute,” said Esther Aaltséen Reese, tribal administrator.
One possibility is constructing a gazebo with Alaska Native art at the site, to create “a place for reflection,” she said. “Have it as a healing place.”
The Bureau of Indian Affairs boarding school closed in 1975, with students coming forward over the years to share their stories of discrimination and abusive practices, including prohibiting them from speaking their Native language.
The cupola from the main school building is in storage with the borough, and perhaps WCA could install it at the memorial site, Reese said.
Though the borough hopes to start selling the 42 lots next year, the memorial could take time. “We’ll have to look for a funding source,” Reese said, and then invite and consider input from the community and tribal citizens into the design and message of the memorial.
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