-Watch the Sizzle Here-
In September 2024, the Craig Tribal Association’s (CTA) tribal council aimed to revive the culture within the Káaws Tláay community (Craig, Alaska). The CTA also sought to reunite the Haida nations, which are separated by a border between Prince of Wales Island and Haida Gwaii. To help bridge this gap, they decided to hire Master Carver Reg Davidson from Haida Gwaii. Reg and his brother Robert Davidson carved the first totem pole in 1969 in Haida Gwaii, an event that rekindled the cultural pride, dance and traditions of the Haida Nation. Reg planted the seed to do something similar in Káaws Tláay.
This two-day event brought renewed hope, demonstrating the culture remains alive in the hearts of the elders residing in Káaws Tláay, as they had not experienced a traditional totem pole raising in nearly 30 years. K’uyáang, Ben Young, a Haida Language Warrior, remarked at the event, “Wáadluuwang X_íinaangslaang, everything is starting to become alive again.” The first pole erected was an Eagle moiety totem pole. Following Haida traditions to have balance in the community, a Raven moiety totem pole will be raised this summer.
– Watch the full short-documentary of Reuniting Our Nations here –