It was nice to see a photo of the dug-out canoe on the front page of your newspaper last week. The canoe is a project we are very proud of here in Klukwan and we plan to do a ceremonial launching of the canoe next spring that will be open to the public. The two previous launchings were not meant to be public but rather practice sessions for the crew.
As the project director for the canoe project, and chief fund raiser for our non-profit organization, the Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center, I feel a keen responsibility to give proper recognition to our supporters. Your article mentions Steve Brown who was the instructor for the project but failed to mention the involvement of Juneau carver Mick Beasley. Mick helped us to successfully steam the canoe and he oversaw the painting of its design. Jim Heaton was one of the students on the canoe project.
Your article also mentioned the problem we had with cracking but grossly misstated the number of cracks at 72. We had about 4 serious cracks that had to be fixed and we mitigated them with a number of butterfly joints and by installing bracing in the bottom of the canoe (with the help of local boat builder Joey Jacobson).
Thank you again for your interest in our project. I will be sure to inform you when we have a date for the ceremonial launching.
Lani Hotch
JKHC Camp Director