Tlingit & Haida’s Public Safety program is collaborating with Haida artist Eric Hamar and Commercial Signs of Juneau to design and install a custom vehicle wrap for its Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) unit. This project not only enhances visibility for the VPSO program, but also uplifts cultural pride by featuring original Indigenous art.

The design includes a Haida watchman and Tlingit warrior on the hood, symbolizing guardianship and protection, with a canoe design stretching along the side panels to reflect unity and strength. The wrap will also display important identifiers like “First Responders, Last Frontier” and “9-1-1,” as well as the VPSO badge and Tlingit & Haida logo.

The VPSO program plays a critical role in rural Alaska. A VPSO is often the first to respond to calls for help from community members, hence their motto, “First Responders – Last Frontier.” VPSOs provide immediate emergency response without delays such as weather or distance. They work closely with Alaska State Troopers and provide emergency medical response, search and rescue operations, fire prevention and suppression, disaster preparedness and response, public safety education, and community policing.

The vehicle wrap will be completed in time for the July 4th parade, where the newly designed Tahoe will make its public debut.

The artwork was created by Eric Hamar, a Haida artist and Lead Carver for the Organized Village of Kasaan. Eric raised his first totem in 2013 and has dedicated himself to revitalizing traditional carving practices. He enrolled in the large-craft program at the Northwest School of Wooden Boatbuilding to support his goal of building a dugout canoe from planks with his dad Story Hamar. His work includes carved masks, rattles, bentwood boxes, combs, and spoons—though he especially enjoys creating masks and rattles.

Tlingit & Haida is grateful to Eric for sharing his artistic vision and will ensure his work is acknowledged wherever possible. This project is a powerful example of how public safety and cultural identity can stand side-by-side to serve and protect our communities.