The controversy over a logging plan near Yakutat, Southeast Alaska, has intensified. An archaeologist, a local tribe and others claim that a site being logged contains centuries-old ruins that could give clues to the history of Southeast Alaska’s Indigenous population.
Victoria Demmert, a Yakutat elder, says that her ancestors harvested the salmon that returns to Humpback Creek every year for hundreds of years.
Demmert, a Yakutat Tlingit Tribe council member, said, “I don’t know how you could live there, grow up and not know.”
The tribe adopted a resolution declaring the site culturally and spiritually historic in August. Demmert, an elder, and other anthropologists believe the tribe bought the site hundreds of years ago from the previous inhabitants. Tom Thornton, University of Alaska Southeast, visited the site in August. He found evidence of house remnants and culturally modified trees as well as other landscape features.
Demmert said she was shocked to learn that Yak-tat Kwaan Inc. had started clearing-cutting forests around Humpback Creek. She claims that Yak Timber, the company’s subsidiary, never announced its intention to log the area.
Demmert stated, “We had to see what was happening.” “Then we saw drone footage and pictures.”
A Dec. 8 letter to Yak Tat Kwaan, the tribe urged the company to stop logging in the area. The tribe requests time to examine the site.
Demmert stated, “We know there was a village there.” “And we know that there are historical sites there. We want Yak-Tat Kwaan stop and let archaeologists go in there before everything is destroyed.”
Sealaska Heritage Institute now has physical evidence to support the history. This is the Southeast Native nonprofit organization that preserves the culture and history of Indigenous people.
Yak Timber equipment operator discovered what appeared to be multiple house pits at the site being logged. He also found a series parallel stone walls. This was in December.
The institute shared the findings in a joint press release with Sealaska Corp. and the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe on December 15. The groups urged Yak Timber not to log the area until further investigation can be done.
Rosita Worl (Ph.D. Anthropologist) stated that there are spiritual and cultural dimensions to it. “The rock wall…I am just so curious as to what, what is it?” Is that the same kind of fishing that you did with the rock wall?
Sealaska Heritage has teamed up with archaeologist Aron Crwell from the Smithsonian Institute’s Arctic Studies Center. Crowell believes that the Yakutat site could be 700 years old.
He stated that “a remarkable set of cultural characteristics related to salmon harvesting appear to have been preserved.” . . The site’s cultural layers could be a unique record of subsistence and traditional lifeways that date back 700 years. While a portion of the site was cleared, cultural features are not likely to have suffered significant damage. Their preservation should therefore be a top priority.
Logging was controversial even before Humpback Creek. Yak-tat Kwaan’s shareholders were so offended that Yak Timber declared on October 4 that they would dissolve the company and sell its assets.
Yak Timber changed course in the fall and began logging near Humpback Creek.
“Yak Timber harvests. Marvin Adams, Yak Timber’s CEO, stated that they have been harvesting since December 13, just two days before Sealaska Heritage made their findings. After inspecting the site in 1975, Adams claims that the site was not documented as historic. The Alaska Division of Forestry approved the location. The area was not identified in a 2007 Sealaska Corp. letter ( Page 1, 2).
Adams stated that he hadn’t been formally informed of Humpback Creeks cultural significance after the findings were made public. Adams stated that the company would comply with all applicable laws and regulations but declined to comment on whether Yak Timber would continue to log the area.
Adams stated, “Obviously we are not going over any historical site to damage it.” “I believe we all respect that. However, right now I have not been in a position to obtain any documentation from either the tribe or anyone else.
He points out the work of Frederica de Laguna , an anthropologist. From notes she had gathered in the 1940s and 1950s, she researched extensively and wrote extensively on the Yakutat Tlingit Tribe.
Adams claims that she has never mentioned Humpback Creek in her sacred place.
He said, “If there were a historical site or settlement there, I can guarantee that it would have been recorded and that the house and clan house that was supposed be there would also have been registered.” It never was.
Demmert, however, sees things differently. Although de Laguna’s research doesn’t go into much detail, she states that the notes of an anthropologist do mention Humpback Creek in their notes as an important site for salmon-harvesting. Kwaashk’ikwaan, the name of her people, is derived from Humpback Creek.
Demmert stated, “It’s part our history, it is part of who we’re.” It would be a shame to see it destroyed. . . It just hurts physically and spiritually. It breaks our hearts and brings us to tears.
Worl, Sealaska Heritage president says that the tribes are working with Crowell to investigate the site more.
