The village of Klukwan is celebrating the completion of nine locally written books on Chilkat Tlingit culture, a project funded by a 2011 Library Services Enhancement Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Written by villager and cultural advocate Lani Hotch, each title in the Klukwan History Book Series incorporates Tlingit language and recounts a story related to a recent cultural project or the tribe’s history.

The books are available for check-out from the Klukwan Library. Starting in May, five of the titles also will be sold at the Bentwood Box gift shop in the village Hospitality House.

Completed stories include “Jilkaat Heeni Naaxein,” the weaving of the Chilkat River Woven Robe; “Kaaya Haayi Hit,” the community long house or “House Like A Mirror;” “Klehini Naaxin,” explaining the correlation between the natural environment and design elements used in weaving; “Klukwan Founding Fathers Story,” historical fiction account of how Klukwan was founded by a Gaanaxteidi man and his four nephews; “Klukwan Healing Robe,” the story behind the robe including the women who wove it; “Klukwan’s Legacy of Warriors,” connecting the Klukwan warriors from the 1800s with the Klukwan Veterans of the Vietnam War; “Our Life is Close By Our Food,” the meaning behind the subsistence robe and the Tlingit proverb that inspired the weaving; “Tsirku Heeni Naaxein,” the making of Tsirku River Woven Robe and the creative process that went into making it; “Uncle Albert’s Ku.eex,” the ku.eex held for Albert Paddy and how a hu.eex is conducted and prepared for by this family and Klukwan clan.

Library staffers also are working on a film project, including six films to document elder knowledge and traditional practices. Acquired footage includes seal hunting, seaweed gathering, drying fish, preparing salmon, gathering berries, canning salmon and making Indian pudding.

Located in the Klukwan School, the library is open Mondays through Fridays starting at 8:30 a.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.