ELECTRIC CHARGING STATION PROJECT

The Chilkoot Indian Association announces that their Electric Vehicle (EV) charging station project has been chosen to receive a 1.4 million dollar award from the Biden-Harris administrations charging and fueling infrastructure program. The funding will allow the Tribe to build a charging station for public use. Plans have not yet been finalized but the Tribe anticipates starting spring of 2024.

NOOW HIT TRIBAL HOUSE STABILIZATION AND RESTORATION PROJECT

HAINES, AK – The Chilkoot Indian Association received a $744,507 Save America’s Treasures grant from the National Park Service, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This year the Save America’s Treasures grants from the Historic Preservation Fund will support 58 projects in 26 states, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia that will preserve nationally significant sites and collections.

The Chilkoot Indian Association in Haines, Alaska will stabilize and rehabilitate the Noow Hit Tribal House, the last remaining Tlingit traditional structure constructed in the Chilkat Valley, using traditional Northern Tlingit post and beam building techniques. Noow Hit is located on the Fort Seward Parade Grounds. The project is also being funded by a Rasmuson Foundation Tier 1 grant of $17,000 and $74,889 of grant assistance provided by the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior. Total funds raised for the project to date are $836,396.

The public may donate to the Noow Hit Tribal House Restoration project, which is estimated will cost over $1 million, by contacting James Hart or Harriet Brouillette at the Chilkoot Indian Association, PO Box 490, Haines, AK 99827.

FORT SEWARD PARADE GROUNDS OWNERSHIP TRANSFER

The Chilkoot Indian Association acquired the Fort William H. Seward Parade Grounds from Alaska Indian Arts on December 20, 2022.  With the transfer of ownership, the Chilkoot people have regained control of part of the land that they provided to Presbyterian missionaries at the end of the 19^th century in order that a school be built for local children. The Mission ceded some of that land to the US military to build a fort. When the fort was closed, rather than revert to the Native population, it was sold to military families, whose descendants still own much of the Fort.

The Chilkoot Indian Association would like to thank Alaska Indian Arts for working with them to make this transition happen. 

The tribe’s first priority is to rebuild the historic Noow Hit Tribal House in the center of the Fort William H. Seward parade grounds. It’s traditional post and beam construction was guided by Tlingit elders who had lived in traditional tribal houses in the late 19^th century. These elders were also founding members of the ANB/ANS and important in the Alaska Civil Rights Movement which resulted in the first Civil Rights Law in the Nation and the birth of labor unions. The sculptures inside and outside the house were made by famous Southeast Alaska carvers including Nathan Jackson, Leo Jacobs, Jeff David, Sr., John Hagen, Sr., and Bill Holm. Please enjoy watching the progress on the Noow Hit restoration in the next few years.

There are no plans to alter the parade grounds, which are part of the Fort William H. Seward National Historic District.

For more information, please contact Harriet Brouillette at the Chilkoot Indian Association, 907-766-2323.