Noow hít

Noow Hít is located on the historic Fort Seward Parade Grounds, which was recently acquired by the Chilkoot Indian Association, one of Alaska’s five landless tribes.

Noow Hít was constructed in 1959 and was named after Victor Hotch the Hít Saatí at the Yaay Hít (Whale House) in Klukwan, after Victor recovered from double pneumonia at the Fort Hostpital. A Hít Saatí is someone of that clan who is in charge of the upkeeping of tribal houses and tribal business.

In the Tlingit Language, Noow is the word for Fort and Hít is the word for House.

Circa 1880
Towards the end of the 19th century, the tribe lent the land that Noow Hít now sits on to Presbyterian missionaries under the condition that they provided education to young Tlingit people.

1904
Then in 1904 the mission ceded some land to the U.S. Army, which built Fort Seward. After the fort was closed, it was sold to military families.

1959
Noow Hít Building Construction was started.

1962
Noow Hít was Dedicated.

2022
On December 20th, 2022, the Chilkoot Indian Association (CIA) reacquired a small portion of their land back at the Historical Fort Seward’s Parade Grounds from Alaska Indian Arts (AIA). This included Noow Hít, which had fallen into dangerous disrepair.

Present
Chilkoot Indian Association received a grant from the National Parks Service to aid in the restoration of Noow Hít. We are still actively working to raise funds for this project.