More than 100 people showed up on the parcel of green space between Third Avenue and Main Street on Monday to take part in a water-blessing ceremony organized by members of the Chilkat Indian Village (CIV).
“Thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of you who came to show support for Klukwan, and for the river, and for all of us beings who depend on the river,” opened Lani Hotch, who is a weaver and culture bearer for Klukwan.
Many participants held signs that were against a boom-and-bust economy, with some explicitly opposing the Palmer Project, a copper-zinc-silver-gold-barite exploration project within the Porcupine Mining District about 35 miles north of Haines. Other signs emphasized the need to protect local rivers and fish. Participants formed a circle around Hotch as Nancy Keen started a small fire that was meant to “remove negative energy from our surroundings,” she later explained.
The two women sang the Tlingit national anthem together. “She’s the Eagle, I’m a Raven,” explained Keen. “When we have that balance, then we have strength.”
Then people were invited to speak or share songs. Hotch spoke about food sovereignty and taking care of the earth because we are all people of the earth. Burl Sheldon composed a Chilkat River song that he sang with Ted Hart. The chorus and closing verse were, “the river runs in me.” Others spoke on decolonization and the dangers of extraction.
Mario Benassi said community members have been planning the gathering for about a month. While a handful of people who showed up were from CIV or Lynn Canal Conservation, Benassi said, “we’re not really representing any of those groups, it’s just that this is the community. This is an expression of the community.” He said the community was really concerned about a the potential for perpetual water treatment at the site of the Palmer Project if the volcanogenic massive sulfide ore deposits are developed.
“People have different views of how to tackle any given problem, even though they’re on the same page on the issue, but how to grapple with that issue is always at question,” said Benassi.
The borough had initially denied Hotch the right to use that particular piece of borough land for the event but police or borough officials didn’t disrupt the gathering. Borough manager Annette Kreitzer said that Hotch had asked to use the space to “advocate for good stewardship,”and the mention of advocating was concerning for the borough particularly just before Election Day, Kreitzer said.
“I have heard from the community that the parcel of borough land at Main and Third should remain a space where everyone feels welcome,” said Kreitzer. She suggested the group hold their gathering on a private parcel of land. Since the borough Administration Building was an active polling place at the time, it was subject to electioneering laws, meaning no attempts to affect the decisions of voters could happen within 200 feet of the building.
For these reasons Kreitzer said no to Hotch being able to use the land. “It would’ve been a longer conversation if it was not election season,” said Kreitzer.
Despite the borough denying her permission, Hotch went forward with the event, and said she was surprised and gratified to see so many people show up. She said her husband, Jones P. Hotch Jr., has been leading the charge against the Palmer Project in Klukwan, and she wanted to show her support as well.
Hotch Jr. as the vice president of CIV was involved in challenging the issuance of the project’s wastewater permit, alongside Rivers Without Borders, Audubon Alaska, Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, Lynn Canal Conservation, and Takshanuk Watershed Council.
The tribal government of Klukwan also fought for formal tribal consultation, but the Alaska Division of Mining, Land and Water ultimately concluded that “no existing legal obligation warrants government-to-government consultation for the issued authorization.”
Constantine North Inc., a subsidiary of American Pacific, is the operator for the Palmer Project, which is funded by joint venture partner Dowa, headquartered in Japan.
“People say these are foreign investors, you know, coming in from Japan and Canada, but I have a feeling that they’re more like invaders. They’re gonna come in and destroy our homeland. I feel very threatened by that, and how could I just stand by and watch?” said Lani Hotch.
On Thursday, Oct. 5, another water blessing ceremony is scheduled for noon at Klehini River Bridge. Stories of Klukwan will be shared, and prayers for the river will be written on driftwood. The organizers encouraged people to come out with instruments and share music.
“I believe there’s power in prayer. I believe there’s power in words. I’m a woman of faith and I just believe that will affect change,” said Hotch.