Return to Homeland

My husband, three year old, and I currently live on an isolated island in Southeast Alaska in one of the last remaining native Tlingit villages. The homeland of the Hoonah Tlingit resides within Glacier Bay National Park. A few centuries ago, the group was forced from their homeland in one of the fasted advancing glaciers in recent history. The story passed down through the Tlingit oral history tells of a young girl named, Kasteen who was bored and teased the glacier, calling it down to the village. When the glacier did in fact come down into the village and the people had to quickly escape using their canoes, Kasteen was shunned by the others. She was told to stay behind for her actions and sacrifice herself. A carving of Kasteen is now central to the indoor screen of the tribal house built this past year back in Bartlett Cove- the entrance to Glacier Bay National Mark. The abalone eyes are used to show the reflection of the glacier as it came down into the village.

We had the pleasure of visiting the new tribal house during the grand opening this past August. Many of our friends and elders carved and painted their own paddles and practiced for many months to make the journey home in new dugout canoes carved over the past year. It was a welcoming home like no other and the first tribal house to be built on national park land. One of our neighbors helped carve the screens and totem poles currently residing at the house and both him and the other carvers have been working to tell the stories behind the carvings to local visitors this summer season.

Each of the house poles represents the four original Hoonah Tlingit clans and tell a story that relate each of the clans back to their homeland. The carvings are more than just art, but a unique glimpse into a past almost forgotten. I hope that the stories continue to be told and passed down, along with the language. Today, there are only about 50 fluent speakers left. There is an effort within the school and other groups within the region to revive the language and classes have been going for many years now. Perhaps this return to homeland will encourage further efforts to revitalize the culture and language, leaving a strong legacy for future generations.