Sealaska Supports the Rebuilding of Sheet’ká Clan House
Tuesday, April 29, 2025

KETCHIKAN, Alaska, April 29, 2025 — Sealaska’s board of directors has approved funding for the reconstruction of the traditional clan house for the Kiks.ádi people of the X’aaká Hít (Point House), on their recently repatriated land in the Sitka Indian Village. This will be the first clan house to be rebuilt in Southeast Alaska in the 21st century.

Where there were once 43 active clan houses in the Sitka Indian Village, only eight remain, with just one currently active. In 2024, it was recently nominated on National Trust’s “11 most endangered historic places” as well as the Alaska Association of Historic Places’ “10 Most endangered Alaskan Places.”

Katlian Collective Project Lead Jerrick Hope-Lang, whose Lingít name is Lduteen, underscored the potential of lost history if the village isn’t restored: “This past summer, we lost our clan leader, Hít S’aatí, the late Chuck Miller, who was both my mentor and friend. His passing has underscored the urgency of this work. Our clan houses and cultural heritage are critically endangered, and we have a narrowing window of time to work with our remaining elders to preserve the invaluable knowledge they hold for future generations.”

On January 31st, the Rasmuson Foundation attended Katlian Collective’s benefit fundraiser in Juneau, which featured Portugal the Man and Ya Tseen. A second fundraiser occurred February 1st in Sitka. Katlian Collective met with Senator Lisa Murkowski in November to discuss congressionally directed funds. These collaborations go a long way to pair with Katlian Collective’s approved request to Sealaska for funding over the next two years: 2025 and 2026.

“Our vision is to create a model of cultural revitalization that can serve as an inspiration for other clans throughout Southeast Alaska to tell their own stories,” Hope-Lang said. “Clan houses have always been our centers of governance, repositories of our sacred objects, and places of learning, respect, and cultural continuity. We see them as essential to becoming a fully unified people once more.”

Sealaska, whose core values and mission of cultural preservation and empowerment are closely aligned with the goals of this project, approved Katlian’s Collective’s exact request.

“We are a micro project with a macro lens,” said Hope-Lang. “We intend to create the framework for preservation or restoration, and even rebuilding, for other clans to use our model as they see fit. We were awarded a Vision Maker Film Grant to document our process, and plan to leave a video documentary of clan elders to highlight the importance of clan houses for future generations.”

About Sealaska

We are Sealaska, the Alaska Native regional corporation for Southeast Alaska formed under federal law in 1971. With more than 27,000 shareholders of Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian background, our purpose is to strengthen our people, culture and homelands. We invest in and

operate businesses that improve the health of our oceans, maintain healthy homelands in Southeast Alaska, and benefit shareholder communities. Learn more at Sealaska.com.

About Katlian Collective

Katlian Collective Inc., a newly formed 501c3 fiscally sponsored under Native Movement, a Native-led 501c3. Their mission is to restore and sustain the cultural heritage of the Lingít people in Alaska, including rebuilding and restoring clanhouses as a center for cultural gatherings, ceremonies, and community events; providing educational programs to preserve and promote Tlingit traditions and history; and fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Indigenous stewardship and land rights. Through these efforts, we aim to support Lingít cultural resilience, celebrate our heritage, and create a landmark that honors the legacy and future of Lingít clan house identity and culture. Learn more at pointhouse.org.