Statue
Dear Editor: “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history.” – George Orwell.
There is no way to teach history adequately. The topic is too huge, and the truth is malleable, depending on who is at the podium.
Watching demonstrators destroy or take down statues around the world, and even in this community, indicates how history can be used as a weapon. But history has many faces.
Is it the winner or the loser who tells the story of a battle? When there is an auto accident, and the police are called, they talk to all witnesses that they can, because each witness is an individual with multiple filters, and what each saw will be different, even if in minute ways. Within all of these stories is the truth that must be discovered.
When a storyteller begins to speak his craft, his art, he or she will say, “This is my story.” Even if it is a familiar fairy tale like “Cinderella” that he shares, it will be different, unique to him only. How each audience member takes the story in will also be different, which explains why there are literally thousands of versions of this very old story, a story that has been found on every continent in the world.
History is story. And, as research and discoveries continue, we correct and alter it as we can.
In researching slavery, imagine my surprise to be lead to the Sealaska Heritage website on one of my searches, where Sealaska President Dr. Rosita Worl, who is a Tlinget from the Shangukeidí Clan and is a renowned Tlingit anthropologist, shares the history of slaves held by the Tlinget and Haida clans in S.E. Alaska. Even more surprising is the fact that the S.E. Alaska Tlinget clans sued the U.S. Government (unsuccessfully) to be able to keep their slaves when the 13th Amendment outlawing slavery in the United States was passed by Congress in 1865.
Why, when the rest of the world knew slavery, would North America be immune? Alexander Baranof did not bring slavery to Alaska. It was already here.
Two men, Katlian and Baranof, represent two stories, two histories of this place, and both of these stories should be respectfully told, just as has been done at the Little Big Horn in Wyoming. That healing needs to happen here. To begin that process, Baranof’s statue needs to be returned to its rightful place in front of Centennial Hall. A second plinth should be installed, where a second statue can be placed, one of Chief Katlian. The American flag, representing still another story of Sitka, will fly as well.
I am pledging $100 to start a fund to create a statue of Chief Katlian (particulars to follow). I also believe a statue honoring Elizabeth Peratrovich would be a perfect centerpiece for the “Roundabout,” as someone suggested earlier.
G.L. Hammons, Sitka
Donation Thanks
Dear Editor: Sitka Women of the Moose and Sitka Moose Lodge would like to thank Sitka Northern Sales and Sitka Bottling for their generous donations to our annual picnic held on Aug. 2. We would also like to thank Harry Lysons for being our awesome grill master. His great smile and laughter were a wonderful addition. The weather held and 50-plus members and guests enjoyed the day.
With planned social-distancing, everyone had time for conversations, story-telling and to enjoy each other.
Faith Lee,
Women of the Moose
