June 5, 2014
10 years ago
Back row, from left: Cherri Price, Don Hotch Jr., James Hart, Bosh Hotch, Zach James, Alex Hotch, Ted Hart, Ivan Hotch, Stan Hotch and Wayne Price. (File photo/Chilkat Valley News)
Seven Tlingit men left Portage Cove at 4:30 a.m. Wednesday in a traditional canoe headed for Juneau, the first voyage of its kind from Haines in modern times.
The trip is a culmination of a project by the Chilkoot Indian Association’s Youth Development Program and the “well-briety” movement advocated by artist Wayne Price, who led the carving of the 22-foot canoe starting a year ago.
Paddlers helped make the craft and also carved their own paddles.
“There are different ways of living,” explained Harriet Brouillette, whose sons James, 24, and Ted Hart, 28, are in the crew. “They are wrapping their minds around who they are and who they want to be.”
The group’s destination is Juneau’s “Celebration,” a biennial gathering saluting Southeast [Alaska] Natives. Natives from other communities will be making similar voyages to Juneau, but the local craft will be unique by being the only traditionally made one there,” Brouillete said. “It’s amazing, it just slices through the water.”
June 3, 1999
25 years ago
Resident Donny Braaten said he’ll make a necklace from the teeth of a brown bear that died chomping the backside of his knee during a hunt early Saturday.
“It’s going to be my good luck charm.”
Braaten, 25, was spared serious injury when his two hunting partners – father Don Braaten and cousin Jamie James – finished off the wounded, angry grizzly. The partners had to pry open the dead bear’s jaws to free Braaten’s leg.
“I didn’t feel a thing. My adrenaline was too high. It was wild.”
The hunt started 4 a.m. Saturday when James shot a bear the trio spotted on a riverbank past 14 Mile. After ducking into bushes, the bear reappeared on a sandbar, allowing James to hit it in the shoulder and apparently, a lung.
But James’ follow-up shot missed and the bear crossed the river, ducking into bushes.
After returning to town for a canoe, the three men began tracking the animal that left a thick trail of blood.
Hiking single file through about three miles of patchy alder, the hunters came across two place the bear had bedded down before they spotted it about 30 feet away.
James, at the head of the group, shot the grizzly below the chin as it charged the hunters, then leapt out of its way. It went after the younger Braaten, who first dodged it, then shot it in the paw as it pursued him.
But the rifle’s recoil threw Braaten off balance and he tripped, allowing the bear to catch him. As he was falling, Braaaten called to his father, who shot the bear in the hump of its back.
The bruin chomped into the back of Braaten’s leg before Don Braaten shot it a second time in the back and James shot it in the side and head.
The trio walked out and Braaten spent a night in a Juneau hospital where he received about 50 stitches.
May 3, 1974
50 years ago
Speeches flowed like water last week as the new Haines Alaska Native Brotherhood hall was dedicated Tlingit style.
Friends from all over Southeast Alaska joined with the Haines ANB camp No. 5 as it celebrated the completion of its new hall, named in memory of Jack David, father of Robert “Jeff” David, Sr. of Haines. The new building, just west of the Haines Presbyterian Church, was begun three years ago and was mostly the work of volunteer labor – 90% of which was donated by one man, David Light.
The first ANB hall, which was built in the 1920’s, had fallen victim to time and weather and was abandoned and torn down years ago. The new hall will provide a meeting place for both the local ANB and ANS (Alaska Native Sisterhood).