LaughingBerry.Com: About Metlakatla Alaska



Laughing berries from author's front yard in Metlakatla.


	*‘ABOUT METLAKATLA, ALASKA’* Click to view full size photos.


	*ABOUT METLAKATLA* Metlakatla, Alaska is on Annette Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Southeast Alaska, 17 miles south of Ketchikan. Although Ketchikan claims to be the "First City", Metlakatla in fact is the first inhabited community in the State of Alaska. The community of Metlakatla (officially named "Metlakatla Indian Community", called "MIC") is populated mostly by




	Calm waters of the tiny cove at the base of Purple Mountain (eagle sitting on post in foreground).


	members of the Tsimshian Tribe, originally of British Columbia, Canada. In 1887 a group of Tsimshians migrated from B. C. under the leadership of Anglican missionary, William Duncan, who left a decent lifetime job in a leather tannery to become the lay missionary to the Tsimshian people. (For an article about the history of Metlakatla written by L. Shearer, send $5 [check or money order made payable to "Lindarae Shearer"] to the address below and you will receive a two-page narrative about the Tsimshians' emigration from B. C. to Metlakatla.)


	*CURRENT ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CONDITIONS* Metlakatla is the only reservation in the State of Alaska. Its government is a curious blend of "old tribal council" and democracy. At times it is difficult to say which is in effect. Nonetheless the community survives successfully in its socio-economic aspects.




	Annette Island Packing Co.

Although Metlakatla has suffered the loss of a major industry - the timber industry - and a severe downturn in its fishing industry, the town survives well with grants from the U. S. government, which fund many of its major programs. In addition, MIC has several companies whose revenues are

used for its upkeep. Some of these are Metlakatla Power & Light, Annette Island Packing Co., and most recently, the Metlakatla Bottled Water Company and a proposed Bald Ridge commercial gravel and rock company. The community continually looks to the future for new, effective and sustainable economic resources in order to become more self-sufficient. This is in response to severe cutbacks on the part of the federal government. Funding is not as abundant as it once was.




	Early 1900s bunkhouse for seasonal cannery workers imported to Metlakatla.


	*MUNICIPAL SERVICES* MIC has a police department with six full-time officers. The MPD operates under the Police Commissioner (the Mayor of Metlakatla) and takes care of misdemeanor criminal activity. It refers felony offenders to State of Alaska courts in Ketchikan, Alaska and these felons are prosecuted there and if found guilty are incarcerated elsewhere. MIC also has a Tribal Court, operating under a Chief Magistrate and one full-time assistant magistrate. The Tribal Court handles all misdemeanor cases, civil trials and certain family and probate issues.


	*SCHOOLS* The school system of Metlakatla is under the Annette Islands School District and is operated by the State of Alaska. It consists of K-12 classes that offer curricula similar to those of other state schools. In addition, various granting agencies contribute to ensure that traditional skills also are taught, such as coastal artwork, beading and native dance. Metlakatla recently received "Heavy Impact Aid" monies from the federal government. U. S. law was amended to include Metlakatla because of its special federal trust status, and will ensure that Metlakatla receives over $1 million in Heavy Impact funds in perpetuity. With the help of the HIA funds, AISD has been able to reinstate many sports and other elective programs that were discontinued because of lack of funds.




	84-year-old Tsimshian elder Arnold Booth teaches Shim-All-Giack language to Lindarae Shearer.


	*LANGUAGE* Currently the language of the Tsimshian, Shim-all-Giack, is spoken by only a few of the oldest people in Metlakatla. However, there is a renewed interest in the area to teach the language by former members of the community and a few people who live there. (Lindarae Shearer is one of those who is actively seeking to learn her native language by taking language instruction from one of the town's oldest citizens, Arnold Booth.) Many people feel it imperative to teach the language to the youth so that it will not be lost. However, there are limited resources to achieve this goal at present.

		*MEDICAL FACILITIES* MIC has a fantastic medical facility, the Annette Island Service


	Unit (AISU) with a clinic and a permanent medical and dental staff of two doctors, two physicians assistants, a full-fledged pharmacy staffed with a pharmacist and two certified pharmacy assistants, numerous medical technicians and state of the art medical equipment. Patients who are unable to be treated at the clinic are sent to the SEARHC (Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium) in Mt. Edgecumbe or to Anchorage Native Medical Center.


	Currently in the works is a brand-new state of the art medical building that will house all of the medical and administrative staff, and also will have staff quarters for visiting doctors, assistants and technicians. Under the direction of Rachael Askren, AISU has expanded its physical confines by the inclusion of the "Lepquinum Wellness Center", formerly a swimming facility closed due to lack of funds. Ms. Askren was successful in incorporating the facility into a wellness program that is hugely successful for many Metlakatla residents who are determined to improve their general health. AISU also has a program for domestic violence called WINGS (Women In Need Gaining Safety) that includes a "safe house".


	*METLAKATLA'S AMENITIES* Although Metlakatla is somewhat isolated due to the fact that it is on an island, it offers many of the amenities found in any small town of the U. S. These are as follows: Full service food market Fast food and convenience store with full service garage Clothing stores Gift shops Hardware store Smoke shop Restaurants Hotels, Bed & Breakfasts Gas station


	*MEMBERSHIP IN THE METLAKATLA INDIAN COMMUNITY* Membership in the Metlakatla Indian Community is limited to members of the Tsimshian Tribe or other Alaska Natives who are 18 years of age or older and have resided in Metlakatla for at least one year. Membership is determined by application to the Council. Once membership is established there are certain rules members




	The Metlakatla Indian Community Council Chambers.


	must follow in order to retain their membership. Non-natives cannot become members but can live in Metlakatla if they obtain employment, business or residence permits or are married to a member of MIC or have children who are native. Many teachers and medical care providers fall under the employment permit category.


	*CULTURAL ARTS* When the Metlakatla Tsimshians emigrated from Canada, they left behind much of their cultural activities that were thought to relate to "heathenism", including the dance performances that often accompanied pagan activities. Many of them believed that because they had converted to Christianity they should not only leave behind their old ways, but that they should also shun all things having to do with the ancient culture. The U. S. government school encouraged this attitude by completely discouraging the speaking of the native language of the Tsimshian, or Shim-all-giack. As a consequence much of the Tsimshian culture was put behind the people and the majority of Metlakatlans adopted mainstream American culture in its place.




	A view of the longhouse with artwork painted directly onto the building.


	Fortunately, in the 1970s a handful of the people realized the value of certain cultural activities as an expression of the "heart and spirit" of the Tsimshian in Metlakatla. These people had enough of a vision to realize that embracing their own culture did not necessarily mean rejecting their new adopted culture. They were wise enough to know that they could, indeed, have the "best of both worlds". Because of their vision the community experienced a revival of cultural activities. Due to the persistence and dedication of this handful of people, the artwork and carving, traditional


	dance, regalia making and basketry thrive today in Metlakatla. Metlakatla in fact is the home of several world class artists who have their artwork in galleries all over the world. For an article about the traditional foods of the Metlakatla Tsimshians, please send check or money order for $5 [made payable to Lindarae Shearer only] to the address below. You will receive in return a two-page article about traditional foods and how they are gathered, prepared and used.


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	LaughingBerry.Com Owner: Lindarae Shearer Email: lshearer@laughingberry.com PO Box 305 Metlakatla, Alaska 99926 Phone: 907.886.4133 Text, layout and photos by Lindarae Shearer.


Creations & Technical Data Input by Cove Connect, Last Updated 02/03/04 07:17 PM