Dear Editor: We would like to extend our gratitude to the students and staff of Outer Coast for their participation in Chuck Miller's recent ḵu.éex̱, and for the work they contributed last year to help prepare Kayaashka Hít for the gathering.
Outer Coast has been a tremendous asset to our community, and we have appreciated how open their students and staff have been to learning about and participating in our culture. Their willingness to show up, work alongside our families, and contribute where help is needed has made a real difference. We believe this kind of involvement is important, particularly for young people who are coming to Sitka to learn, and who also have an opportunity to contribute to the community they are becoming part of.
Our traditional gatherings require a great deal of work, and there are responsibilities that our clans and families must fulfill. Preparing for a ḵu.éex̱ is not simply about putting on an event. There are cultural obligations, protocols, and priorities that require our attention, particularly when we are gathering to honor someone we have lost. When others in our community are willing to help with the work surrounding these gatherings, it gives our families more time to focus on those responsibilities. Otherwise, much of that work falls back on the clan, at a time when families are already carrying a great deal.
Last year's work party at Kayaashka Hít is a good example of what this kind of support means. Outer Coast helped get Chuck's house ready so that his family could spend less time worrying about the physical preparations and more time focusing on honoring him. That assistance gave the family some peace of mind and the space to grieve, heal, and fulfill the responsibilities that were most important to them.
We think it is important to recognize Outer Coast for what they contribute to Sitka beyond the classroom. Their students and staff have shown a genuine willingness to be involved in our community, and we hope these relationships continue to grow. Sitka benefits from having people who are willing to participate, learn, and lend a hand when it matters.
Gunalchéesh to everyone at Outer Coast who helped with Chuck's ḵu.éex̱ and the preparations at Kayaashka Hít. We are grateful for the time you gave our families, and for the understanding that your contributions allowed us to spend that time where it was needed most.
Shaaḵaatk’í Faleene Fisher
Kayaashka Hít
(Chuck's Forever Favorite Sister)
Lduteen Jerrick Hope-Lang
Kiks.ádi, X'aaká Hít (Point House)
Founder and Director,
Katlian Collective
