Celebration

Members of the T’aaḵú Ḵwáan gathered Tuesday at Savikko Park in Douglas for the raising of the Yanyeidì Gooch kootéeyaa, or Wolf totem pole.

The group of canoes have traveled from Ketchikan, Sitka, Kake, Angoon, Hoonah, Yakutat — even Canada. Clan leaders at Douglas Harbor gave permission to One People Canoe Society and its canoes to land. And then they welcomed those arriving by water at the boat ramp.

“That regalia that you’re wearing, that’s our ancestors that are present,” Tlingit language teacher Heather Powell said. “So it’s a really exciting time to be able to participate in ceremony amongst each other.”

“This voyage for many has a particular focus on the revitalization of Alaska Native language and of course it’s all having to do with coming together at Celebration here in Juneau which was began by Sealaska in 1982 and which continues today held every two years,” Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott said.

One People Canoe Society president Doug Chilton talks about the preparation the nine canoes made to make the journey from various communities in Southeast Alaska to Celebration 2018.

A group of paddlers and their canoes have finished their weeklong journey to Juneau. They traveled from Ketchikan, Sitka, Kake, Angoon, Hoonah, Yakutat — even Canada for Celebration.