"Aak’w Kw’aan"

Kax̱dig̱oowu Héen refers to a part of the Mendenhall River. And could soon be used to refer to the elementary school that sits on its banks in Juneau’s Mendenhall Valley.

A representative of the Áak’w Kwáan Coalition Council says T’aaḵu Kwáan aren’t Native to the Juneau area and that they came from up the Taku River, in what is now Canada, to Juneau during the Gold Rush era.

Rhonda Butler, president of Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2, called the land acknowledgment a very nice, respectful touch.

There are eight candidates seeking five at-large seats on the federally recognized tribe’s governing council.

Formerly known as the Willoughby District, the area will now be known as the Aak’w Village District, paying homage to its original residents. 

The City and Borough of Juneau’s controversial petition to annex four tracts — three on Admiralty Island — is headed to the Local Boundary Commission for consideration. The Assembly majority spoke to KTOO to explain its reasoning.

The Douglas Indian Association wants you to know its traditional territory stretches far beyond its namesake city and island. A recent boat tour covered some of the T’aaḵu Kwáan’s lands.

A state researcher challenges persistent narrative and modern language implying that local Tlingits were assimilated or simply vanished.

On Sunday, the Douglas Indian Association invited tribal elders, elected officials, and members of the press on a trip up to the Taku Glacier.

Auke Bay Elementary School was totally renovated — from the ground up — mostly while school was in session.