Ketchikan: Tlingit-Haida Woman New Reigning Miss NCAI; Madeline Marie Soboleff-Levy Wins National Premiere Pageant - Madeline Marie Soboleff-Levy of Juneau is the new reigning Miss National Congress of American Indians 2004-2005. Since its beginning in 1968, the Miss NCAI Scholarship Pageant Program has become the premiere pageant for the American Indian woman. - More...
Friday - October 22, 2004

Ketchikan: New Saxman City Council Members Sworn In Saxman Mayor & Vice-Mayor Selected - A special meeting of the Saxman City Council was held Thursday evening for the purpose of swearing in the newly elected Council Members and to select the Saxman City Mayor and Vice-Mayor. Two newly elected council members, Yeda Hicks and Joe Williams along with re-elected Council Member Gilbert Benge were administered the oath of office by Saxman City Clerk Nora DeWitt.
- More...
Friday - October 22, 2004

Ketchikan: Lack of Quorum Ends Contentious KIC Tribal Council Meeting - For the fourth time since July the Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Council met Tuesday night in a special session to attempt to resolve contentious issues revolving around a former employee's claims of wrongful termination that occurred over two years ago. - More...
Thursday - October 21, 2004

Juneau: Life Long Advocate Honored With CCTHITA President's Lifetime Achievement Award - Life long advocate Richard J. Stitt, Sr. was honored with the "President's Lifetime Achievement Award" presented by President Edward K. Thomas of the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Family, friends, co-workers, tribal organizations and Native corporations joined in the celebration at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall on October 7, 2004. - More...
Thursday - October 21, 2004

Washington, DC - Bipartisan Support Gained For Awarding Congressional Gold Medals to Native Civil Rights Leaders Elizabeth and Roy Peratrovich - U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska announced Sunday she has gained bipartisan backing in an effort to provide long overdue recognition to two leaders of Alaska's Native civil rights movement - Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich and her husband Roy Peratrovich. Last month Murkowski proposed to posthumously grant a Congressional gold medal to honor their contributions to the nation's civil rights effort. - More...
Monday - October 11, 2004

Ketchikan: Unveiling of Totem Poles - Tlingit Master Carver Israel Shotridge along with Tsimshian Master Carver David Boxley from Metlakatla and Haida Master Carver Donald Varnell of Ketchikan were present for the unveiling of three totem poles at the Ketchikan Indian Community's Health Clinic Saturday morning. - More...
Monday - October 04, 2004

Ketchikan: KIC Representatives Attend Opening of National Museum of the American Indian - Thousands of Native people and non-native supporters from throughout the Western Hemisphere, many in traditional clothing, joined in the "Nation's Procession" to celebrate the week-long opening of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) in Washington D. C. this month. Among the Tribal leaders present were Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) President Stephanie Rainwater-Sande and two members of the KIC Tribal Council. KIC Vice President Merle Hawkins and KIC Treasurer Sam Bergeron also attended these important ceremonies. - More...
Wednesday - September 29, 2004

Ketchikan: Mescalero performers go north to Alaska By Sandy Suggitt - Eight Mescalero students went kayaking and saw seals, whales and hundreds of eagles this summer - during a cultural exchange trip to Alaska. - More...
Tuesday -September 28, 2004

Master Carver Israel Shotridge Photo courtesy Shotridge Studios

Ketchikan: Totem Pole Will Honor the Ketchikan Native Community; Israel Shotridge Commissioned To Carve 40' Totem Pole for KIC Health Clinic - The Ketchikan Indian Corporation recently commissioned Tlingit Master Carver Israel Shotridge to carve a 40' western red cedar into a totem pole to honor the Ketchikan Native Community. Once finished, this pole will be placed at the Ketchikan Indian Community Health Clinic. - More...
Wednesday - September 15, 2004

Ketchikan: 'Warming of the Hands' - Among the many people enjoying the food, music and social festivities of the "Warming of the Hands" dinner at the Ted Ferry Civic Center Monday evening were Master Carvers Nathan Jackson of Ketchikan and Fujito Takeki from Japan. One purpose of the dinner was to welcome the carvers. - Photo essay: more...
Tuesday - August 17, 2004

Ketchikan: First Ever Gathering of Master Carvers in Alaska; Carvers to be honored in a way that comes from the heart - An event of a historical magnitude will be taking place in Ketchikan this week - a first time ever gathering of master carvers. Throughout the ages, cultural histories have been celebrated and preserved through the masterful hands of the carvers. Now for the first time ever, poles will be carved to honor the totem pole carvers - the preservers of the history. - More...
Monday - August 16, 2004

Ketchikan: 2004 July 4th Parade Winners Announced...
Wednesday - July 07, 2004

Ketchikan: KIC Negotiates For Native Health Agreement - Representatives from Ketchikan Indian Community ("KIC") were in Anchorage last week, attending the Tribal/Indian Health Service ("IHS") annual funding agreement negotiations. The KIC negotiating team included: Tribal Council President Stephanie Rainwater-Sande, KIC/Saxman Health Board member Delores Churchill, Deputy CEO David Landis, Health Administrator Karen Carter, Finance Director Lance Mertz, and Grants/Contracts Coordinator Cheryl Haven. - More...
Tuesday - June 22, 2004

Ketchikan: KIC Tribal Leaders Work On Critical Funding Issues - In the wake of devastating news and gloomy forecast of extreme funding shortfalls in programs at Ketchikan Indian Community, President Stephanie Rainwater-Sande and Council Member David Jensen attended an Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee meeting on March 29 and 30 in Las Vegas, Nevada. According to information provided by KIC, the meeting was a Fiscal Year 2005 and 2006 budget strategy session to seek an end to the chronic under-funding of the Indian Health Service. - Read more...
Saturday - April 03, 2004

Ketchikan: KIC Responds to BIA Budget Cuts - Quoting a news release, Ketchikan Indian Community officials were shocked when plans were announced recently to slash the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) budget by nearly 6 percent in the next two years. - Read more....
Saturday - March 27, 2004 - 2:30 am

KIC Team Cheryl Haven KIC Grants & Contracts Coordinator; Tribal Council President Stephanie Rainwater-Sande; Karen Carter KIC Clinic Health Administrator; David Landis KIC Deputy General Manager; and Lance Mertz KIC Finance Director... Photo courtesy KIC

Ketchikan: Alaska Tribal Health Providers memorialize past and ongoing health care efforts - On March 17, 2004, a historic event took place in Anchorage, Alaska. It was 10 years ago that Alaska's Tribes began organizing to develop the "Alaska Tribal Health Compact" in order to own, operate and manage tribal health care. To commemorate this anniversary, a gathering of tribal health organization board members, tribal leaders, health directors and others met to provide a forum for the exchange of current information in key areas of importance related to Alaska Native health. To memorialize these past and ongoing health care efforts, a "signing ceremony" of the Alaska Tribal Health System Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was also featured.

The purposes of the MOU are to: 1) Define the essential components of the Alaska Tribal Health System and their interrelationships; 2) Define the commitments of participants to continue and enhance the unique tribal cooperation and coordination regarding health services that have developed in Alaska, and; 3) To ensure that all Alaska Natives have access to a comprehensive, integrated, tribally-controlled health care delivery system for the improvement of the health and well-being of Alaska native peoples. - Read more...
Saturday - March 27, 2004 - 2:30 am

Election Results January 2004: KIC Election Results (pdf) - Full Election Report - Certified by Election Officials 01/20/04
Courtesy Ketchikan Indian Community

Voter Information Pamphlet January 2004: KIC Voter Information Pamphlet - About the Candidates (pdf)
Courtesy Ketchikan Indian Community

Jacqueline Johnson, Executive Director of the National Congress of American Indians and Ed Thomas, President of Tlingit & Haida, Juneau... Photograph by Cheryl Haven

Ketchikan: KIC HOSTS SE TRIBAL LEADERS SUMMIT - Representatives of 13 Southeast Alaska Native Tribes attended a Southeast Alaska Tribal Leaders Summit on December 15th and 16th, 2003 in Ketchikan. According to information provided by the Ketchikan Indian Community, the primary focus of the conference was to develop an appropriate and unified response to U.S. Senator Stevens' increasing concern over the allocation of federal money among Alaskan tribes and villages. KIC President Stephanie Rainwater-Sande said she was thrilled with the turnout especially since exceptionally turbulent weather threatened travel plans throughout the region and people are usually so busy during the holiday season. - Read more & view photos...
Tuesday - December 23, 2003 - 12:45 am

Delegates signing in on Monday morning Photo by Gigi Pilcher

Ketchikan: 91st ANB/ANS Grand Camp Convention Underway In Ketchikan - The 91st Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand Camp Convention began Monday in Ketchikan. Over 150 delegates, alternates and their families arrived at the Ted Ferry Civi Center on a beautiful sunshine morning.

In addition to the delegates, members (those not delegates) of both the ANB/ANS attended along with the families of many of the delegates who traveled from all over Southeast Alaska, Anchorage, and Washington state.

ANB/ANS Camp 14 of Ketchikan is this year's host. Assisting with the honor of hosting this year's Grand Camp is ANB/ANS Camp 15 of Saxman. - Read more...
Wednesday - October 01, 2003 - 1:15 am

Cheryl Demmert Fairbanks Photo by Gigi Pilcher

Ketchikan: Fairbanks Key Note Speaker at 91st Annual ANB/ANS Grand Camp Convention - The 91st Annual Alaska Native Brotherhood Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANB/ANS) Grand Camp convention is being held in Ketchikan at the Ted Ferry Civic Center. The convention opened on Monday and will run through the week.

Monday's key note speaker was Cheryl Demmert Fairbanks, Sukax, who is Tlingit-Tsimshian (Tsimshian/Wolf; Tlingit/Eagle). Her father is the late David Robert Demmert Sr., Wolf; Wut.clen, Galwe'it'h of the Taakw.aaneidi and her mother is Alice Leask Demmert, Tsimshian, Wolf;See ti yu. Her maternal grandparents were James C. Leask and Lillian Benson Leask, Tsimshian. Her paternal grandparents were James C. Leask and Lillain Driggs Demmert, Tlingit. - Read more...
Wednesday - October 01, 2003 - 1:15 am

Ketchikan: Sun Raven Totem Pole Raised - Renown Master Carver Israel Shotridge (Tlingit, Taantakwaan-Tongass Tribe), gifted the 3rd replica of the Sun Raven Totem Pole to the Tongass Tribe and the community of Ketchikan on Saturday, August 23rd. - Read more & view the photo gallery...
Monday - August 25, 2003 - 12:30 am

Ketchikan: KIC Hires New Staff & Transfers Senior Employees - Ketchikan Indian Community General Manager, Georgianna Zimmerle, announced Monday the hire of two new senior managers. John S. Brown resigned his seat on the Tribal Council Friday to accept the position of Housing Director that was left vacant when Zimmerle was promoted to General Manager on June 10. Lance K. Mertz joined KIC in the position of Finance Director a week ago when he left his position as Business Manager for the Ketchikan International Airport. Donna Frank, who has been with KIC for four years and as Controller for the past year, is taking on the responsibility of Business Planner and Enterprise Development Director of KIC's economic development programs. - Click here to read more...
Tuesday - August 05, 2003 - 2:40 pm

Ketchikan: Shotridge Carves Third Replica of Sun-Raven Totem; Pole to be gifted to Tongass Tribe & Community on Aug. 23rd - Renown Master Carver Israel Shotridge (Tlingit, Taantakwaan-Tongass Tribe) is back home in Ketchikan to complete the third replica of the 18' historical Sun-Raven Totem Pole which will be gifted to the Tongass Tribe and the community on August 23, 2003. On that date the pole will be raised at the University of Alaska Southeast Ketchikan at the Robertson Building on Stedman Street. A dinner celebration will also be held at the Ted Ferry Civic Center. - Click here to read more & view more photographs...
Published on Sitnews' Front Page: Thursday - July 31, 2003 - 12:45 am

Ketchikan: Master Carver David Boxley Begins KIC Totem at Ketchikan's Southeast Alaska Discovery Center - Carving of the first of three new totem poles slated for installation at the Ketchikan Indian Community offices located at 2960 Tongass Avenue began this week as Tsimshian Master Carver David Boxley arrived in Ketchikan on Sunday, July 6. Working cooperatively with the Ketchikan Forest Service, KIC will have this first pole carved on the first floor of the USDA Forest Service Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Building at 50 Main Street in Ketchikan, in the "Trip Planning Room" where people can watch the pole's creation by this award-winning master carver. - Click here to read more & to view more photo...
Published on Sitnews' Front Page: July 10, 2003

People of Ketchikan: 'Teen Weaver' - Sixteen year old Crystal Marie Keet Mann (Tsimshian) smiles while she is busily weaving a cedar bark hat at the Saxman Totem carving shed. Mann started weaving at age 12 when she took her first cedar bark weaving class from Holly Churchill (Haida). A year later, Crystal was one of three teens selected by Churchill to apprentice under her to learn cedar bark weaving. Mann has also been a student of Churchill's mother, Delores Churchill, and has been working with her own mother, Mary Mann, who is a weaver as well. ... Click here to view more photos... Published on Sitnews' Front Page: June 30, 2003

Crystal Marie Keet Mann Photo by Gigi Pilcher

Grants Awarded To Alaska Programs - City of Saxman Awarded $90,485 for RIPC Program; Metlakatla Indian Community Awarded $122,520 for Project RAMP...
Published on the Front Page: June 27, 2003

People of Ketchikan: 'Wolf Drum' Local artist and shop owner Ken Decker (Tsimshian) displayed for the camera Sunday afternoon his recently completed Wolf drum. The drum is made from yellow cedar (hoops) and covered with Sitka black tail deer hide. The wolf design is Decker's own. It took Decker 16 to 18 hours to complete the drum from start to finish. During the winter months Decker teaches Alaska Native carving and drum making at the Totem Heritage Center.... Published on Sitnews' Front Page: June 23, 2003 Photo: Local Alaska Native Artist and owner of Crazy Wolf Studio - Ken Decker... Photo by Gigi Pilcher

Ketchikan: Zimmerle Named KIC General Manager - The Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Council on Monday selected Georgianna Zimmerle from a field of qualified applicants to fill the top administrative post at the 4,845 member federally recognized Indian Tribe. - Click here to read more... Front Page: Wednesday - June 11, 2003 - 10:10 am Photo: Georgianna Zimmerle Photo Courtesy KIC

KIC/IHS negotiators: James Armbrust, Christopher Mandregan, Marly Edenso, Gary Hartz, Stephanie Rainwater-Sande and Norman Arriola. Photo courtesy KIC

Ketchikan: Negotiations Net Over $6 Million In Funding For KIC Health Clinic - The Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) Tribal Council and Staff were in Anchorage for the week of May 11th for the final negotiations for KIC's annual Health Clinic funding which resulted in a total of $6,343,834.00. - Click here to read more... Tuesday - May 20, 2003 - 12:30 am

Ketchikan: 'We The People' Suit Against KIC Dismissed By U.S. District Court Judge - Earlier this year a local Ketchikan group known as "We the People" and as "Ketchikan Indian Movement" filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court against the Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC). According to information provided by KIC the lawsuit claimed that KIC officials acted improperly in several instances and claimed only vague remedies for these alleged actions. - Click here to read more...
Friday - May 09, 2003 - 12:10 am

Ketchikan: KIC General Manager Resigns; Landis Named Interim General Manger - Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) announced on Thursday that James Horton who was hired by KIC in October of 2003 to be the General Manager had resigned. As General Manager, Horton reported to the elected Tribal Council. - Click here to read more...
Friday - May 09, 2003 - 12:10 am

On May 9th, 2003 Ketchikan Indian Community, the American Legion Post #3, the VFW Post #4352, the National Guard, and the U.S. Coast Guard in cooperation with the newly formed KIC Veteran's Post will be having a Flag Pole dedication and Memorial of Lost Loved Ones.

The community is invited to join in the Dedication services. If you know of any KIC member Veteran who have served and passed on, KIC is looking for names and dates of service anytime between World War II and now. PLEASE DROP OFF THE INFORMATION TO THE RECEPTIONIST ON THE 5TH FLOOR AT 2960 TONGASS AVENUE.

Traditional Memorial songs will be performed by Tsimshian; Tlingit and Haida groups. The Tlingit National Anthem (Ch'a aadei) led by Willard Jackson, Jr. Wearing Regalia is encouraged but not necessary.

Refreshments will be served following the ceremony.

For further information, please contact Willard Jackson, Sr. ...
Posted: Tuesday - May 06, 2003 - 1:00 pm

Saxman - Ketchikan: Matilda Kushnick Named "Tlingit & Haida Citizen of the Year" - April 11th was Matilda Kushnick's day for recognition for her 22 plus years of serving in the "Tlingit & Haida Saxman Community. - Click here to read more... Friday - April 18, 2003 - 9:45 am   Photo: Matilda Kushnick (standing at the podium) is honored as Tlingit & Haida Citizen of the Year"... Photo by Carrie James

Ketchikan: KIC Holds Membership Dinner - Over 150 people attended Ketchikan Indian Community's Membership dinner on March 16th as the guests of the KIC Tribal Council. -- President Rainwater-Sande said she hopes to continue to have special events such as the dinner for KIC members as a way to honor the elders and as a way to better foster communication between the membership and the Tribal Council. - Read more...
Thursday - March 27, 2003 - 12:20 am

Ketchikan: Steve Brown Teaches History of Northwest Coast Art - Visiting instructor Steve Brown will teach History of Northwest Coast Art at the Totem Heritage Center March 31 - April 11, 2003. - Read more...
Monday - March 24, 2003 - 12:20 am

Ketchikan: Tlingit Carver Fred Trout Teaches NWC Design Transfer - Tlingit carver Fred Trout is teaching Northwest Coast Design Transfer, a 15-hour class at the Totem Heritage Center, March 10 - 14, 2003. - Read more...
Wednesday - March 05, 2003 - 12:15 am

Ketchikan: Elizabeth Peratrovich Day - Honoring A Great Civil Rights Leader -- Elizabeth Peratrovich Day is observed statewide on February 16 to celebrate and honor the great Alaskan civil rights leader Elizabeth Wanamaker Peratrovich for her courageous, unceasing efforts to eliminate discrimination and bring about equal rights in Alaska. - Read more... Friday - February 14, 2003 - 5:45 pm Schedule of Events

	Ketchikan: Celebration Held To Welcome Members of Llanos Family Home - Last Thursday evening the laughter of children filled the 429 Deermount building as members of the Llanos family were treated to a celebration dinner by the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 14. The event was held to welcome home Christopher Llanos and his mother Jessica Llanos from Seattle, Washington where Christopher was undergoing treatment for leukemia. - Read more.... Monday - February 03, 2003 - 12:30 am
	Ketchikan: KIC Tribal Health Clinic Receives Accreditation - In a letter dated January 28th, the Ketchikan Indian Community's Tribal Health Clinic was informed that it had been accredited for a term of three years by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, Inc. (AAAHC) of Wilmette, Illinois. - Read more...... Wednesday - January 29, 2003 - 12:50 am
	Ketchikan: KIC Installs New Tribal Council Members & President - Members of the Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) gathered together Monday evening to celebrate the installation of the newly elected Tribal Council Members and President-elect Stephanie Rainwater-Sande. -- Read more... Tuesday - January 28, 2003 - 12:45 am
	Saxman: Organized Village of Saxman, Saxman I.R.A. Council Hold New Tribal Office Open House - A large crowd turned out Friday afternoon to celebrate the opening of the new Saxman I.R.A. Tribal Office building. The mood reflected excitement and the event was very festive. - Read more... Monday - January 27, 2003 - 12:45 am
	Ketchikan: KIC 2003 Official Annual Election Results... Tuesday - January 21, 2003 - 4:10 pm
	Ketchikan: KIC Awarded $100,000 Totem Pole Grant By Rasmuson Foundation -- Grant for three Totem Poles for clinic building... Published: Monday - December 30, 2002 3:30 pm
	Ketchikan: Holly Churchill Teaches Advanced Weaving - Click on the link for more information about this class scheduled January 11 - 23, 2003... Published: Saturday - December 28, 2002 6:45 pm
	Ketchikan: Nathan Jackson Teaches Grease Bowl Class - Click on the link for more information about this class scheduled January 6 - 18, 2003... Published: Saturday - December 28, 2002 6:45 pm
	Ketchikan - Scenes From Willard's Cedar Bark Weaving Class - Photo Essay - Click on link or photograph to view more photos... Saturday - December 28, 2002 - 12:25 am
	Ketchikan: ANB - ANS Install New Officers... Wednesday - December 04, 2002 - 7:00 pm
	Ketchikan: Guardians of the Land - The First Peoples of the Tongass - Southeast Alaska Discovery Center - - Celebrating National American Indian Heritage Month Monday - November 18, 2002 - 10:25 pm
	Ketchikan: Garza Presents Subsistence Gathering Program - National American Indian Heritage Month Celebrated With Special Programs at the Alaska Discovery Center... Thursday - November 14, 2002 -12:45 am
	Ketchikan: Wood Gathering for Carvers with Nathan Jackson scheduled for December 14 & 21... Sunday - November 10, 2002
	Ketchikan: KIC Announces Hire Of New General Manager... Saturday - November 02, 2002 - 12:05 am
	Ketchikan: Celebrating National American Indian Heritage Month - Southeast Alaska Discovery Center Special November Programs... Published Monday - November 04, 2002

Historical Photos

	Chief Johnson - Portrait of Chief Johnson and several photographs of his home. Photographs date back to 1897...
	Kyan Totem - Erected in the late 1890s by George Kyan. Photograph is dated 1916...

Past Features

	Ketchikan: The Totem Heritage Center held an Intermediate/Advanced Chilkat Weaving class October 5 - 17, 2002. The students posing with their pieces are (from left) Angel Williams, Mary Mann, Debbie McLavey, Evelyn Garnett, Instructor Evelyn Vanderhoop, Bonne Wolstad, Lorraine Kahle, Carrie Vanderhoop, Eliasica Timmerman and Dolly Garza. Linda Schrack kneels in front. -- To view the Photo Essay click on this link or the photo.... Thursday - October 24, 2002
	Ketchikan: 'First Peoples of the Tongass' - Photo & Movie Clip Feature - Tongass Centennial - Celebrating 100 Years... Monday - August 19, 2002 - 12:30 am
	Ketchikan: "Children's Southeast Alaska Native Culture Week - A Photo Feature... Tuesday - June 25, 2002
	Ketchikan - Thorne Bay - Petersburg: Southern Southeast Phenomenal Women Honored...Story, photos, movie... Sitnews - Sunday - March 31, 2002 - 11:40 pm
	Ketchikan - Ketchikan Celebrates Elizabeth Peratrovich Day Story, photos, movie of parade & audio clip of Tlingit National Anthem... Story, photos, audio recording & movie by MC Kauffman.... Sitnews - Monday - Feb. 18, 2002 - 9:10 pm