With the good fortune of unusually calm winds and sunny skies during winter, the Chief Johnson totem pole was reinstalled on December 6th followed by a rededication celebration with the Tongass Tribe.

The restoration project was undertaken by Ketchikan Museums and the City of Ketchikan under the advisement of the Tongass Tribe. After it was removed in late September, Tlingit carver and former Ketchikan resident, Tommy Joseph spent six weeks carefully cleaning, restoring and repairing every inch of the 60 foot pole, then gave it a preservation treatment to hopefully keep it structurally sound well into the future.

Marvin Hill and Don Kellogg, the crew of Wildcatters, took down and transported the totem pole, as well as returned and reinstalled it after the restoration. This tremendous feat involved a towering crane and expanding truck bed to move the massive totem pole through downtown traffic safely.

Our many thanks to all who made this project a success. The Chief Johnson totem pole is a cultural treasure of Ketchikan that will be appreciated for years to come!

Chief Johnson Totem PoleWinter 2018 Newsletter

Removed, repaired, restored and returned!

Top left: Big smiles from Nathan Jackson and Janice Jackson.Above: Tongass Tribe rededication celebration. Carver Tommy Joseph and Richard Jackson shown center.

Above: Wildcatters team reattaches Raven’s wings.

Left: Marvin Hill with the pole on the truck and ready to move.

Tongass Historical Society Annual MeetingThe Tongass Historical Society will host its annual meeting on Thursday, January 18th at

the Tongass Historical Museum. A short business meeting will start at 5:30 p.m. followed by a 6:00 p.m. presentation by Mary Ida Henrikson. Mary will talk about her new book The

Mystery of the Fire Trees of Southeast Alaska. The meeting is free and open to the public.

It is that time of year, and in the spirit of reflection we want to say THANK YOU for the grant support that Ketchikan Museums received in the last year. Grants provide critical funds for projects above and beyond our operating budget.

Rasmuson Foundation Tier 1 Grant ($21,000) While the renovation budget covered the upgrades of the Tongass Historical Museum’s main floor, it did not include funding for furnishings or equipment within the space. The Tier 1 Grant allows us to purchase necessities like commercial grade folding tables and chairs, media equipment for exhibits and programs, plus basic visitor amenities such as new rubber mats at the entryway and signage for directions and designating spaces. This grant support will help us to better serve our thousands of summer visitors and local patrons alike.

Museums Alaska Art Acquisition Fund through support from the Rasmuson Foundation ($5,092) and Tongass Historical Society ($408)Growth of our collection is primarily through the generous donation of artifacts from current and former Ketchikan residents. Through the Art Acquisition fund, which supports the purchase of recent works by active Alaskan artists, we are able to seek specific pieces that are essential and significant to Ketchikan’s unfolding history. Coupled with the gracious support of the Tongass Historical Society, we were able to purchase a Ravenstail apron by artist Tiffany Vanderhoop.

Museums Alaska Collections Management Fund through support from the Rasmuson Foundation ($4,067.63)For the first time in the building’s 50-year history, we have a dedicated space for processing incoming donations and loans, cataloging, photography, and cleaning and care of artifacts. Rather than setting up temporary tables to meet this need, having a specific space for collections work dramatically increases our efficiency. Industrial shelving will store incoming donations, cabinets will keep collections supplies clean and dust-free, and large tables will provide workspace for box making, assessments, and cataloging.

Alaska State Museum Grant-in-Aid Award ($7,954)At the heart of our mission is the safe and secure long-term care of the artifacts held in the public trust. The renovation of the main floor necessitated moving the bulk of the collection during construction. As we repopulate permanent collections storage, we are able to both reorganize and rehouse items needing specialized care. This grant provided for customized storage racks for our growing art collection and two large gun safes for weapons and smaller valuable items like jewelry and tokens. Previous Grant-in-Aid awards were utilized for exhibit lighting and additional security.

Grants Supported Special Projects in 2017

Fond Farewell and Warm Welcome!Though we are very sad to say goodbye to Lance Bifoss as he leaves his position as the Museum Attendant and departs Ketchikan, we wish him happiness as he joins his family in Washington. Lance, you will be missed by this whole community! We will remember

your tremendous character, incredible knowledge of music, art and so much more, your kindness, honesty, inquisitiveness and creativity. May there be many incredible concerts, overflowing record stores, and plenty of painting ahead!

We are delighted to have Teresa DeWitt stepping into the vacated Attendant position, bringing her warmth and infectious laughter, and a wealth of knowledge and experience. Teresa has worked at the Totem Heritage Center for the past two seasons leading tours, greeting visitors and sharing the culture of Ketchikan’s first peoples. She is an active UAS student dedicated to learning about history and cultural heritage. Join us in welcoming her to her new role!

Lance Bifoss has departed the Museum

Attendant position, and we welcome Teresa

DeWitt to the post at the Tongass Historical

Museum!

Ravenstail apron by Tiffany Vanderhoop

Native Arts Studies Program2017 Fall Season

Top row, left to right: Michelle Eakman in Introduction to Power Tools; Justin Cristobal in Introduction to Northwest Coast Carving; Josephine Guthrie in Mixed Level Spruce Root Weaving. Lower row, left to right: David R. Boxley’s Intermediate and Advanced Northwest Coast Design class; Delores Churchill teaches Christina Weber in Mixed Level Spruce Root Weaving.

Thank you to all instructors and students for your dedication to helping perpetuate and strengthen Northwest Coast art.

To find out about spring classes at the Totem Heritage Center, visit www.KetchikanMuseums.org or call 225-5900. Sign up two weeks before the class start date to receive a discount on your registration fee!

Please join us in thanking the Ketchikan Indian Community for generously supporting Native Arts Studies Program students through the Esther Shea Cultural Studies Scholarship Program.

As the new year starts, we reflect upon the fall season of Native Arts Studies Program. World-renowned instructors taught classes in Northwest coast carving, weaving and regalia to full classes of students seeking to learn and uphold the Native arts of our area for the future.

The season began with Introduction to Power Tools taught by returning instructor Jebidiah Knutsen, who introduced students to the wood shop and the safe use of tools and equipment, and guided them in the creation of a dance paddle form. Master weaver Delores Churchill taught Mixed-Level Spruce Root Weaving at the Totem Heritage Center for the first time in many years in order to help foster this precious endangered artform in Ketchikan. Experienced weavers dedicated to perpetuating knowledge

worked on an array of projects that challenged their abilities and responded to their interests. Churchill focused on teaching fine-weaving techniques, false embroidery and learning multiple endings. Accomplished Tsimshian carver Wayne Hewson of Metlakatla returned to teach Introduction to Northwest Coast Carving, giving students a foundation in three-dimensional formline design, design transfer basics, and the tools and techniques of carving. Tsimshian artist David R. Boxley also returned to help students build upon their knowledge of formline design and gain additional mastery of this complex visual language in Intermeditate and Advanced Northwest Coast Design. We look forward to the spring class season, and invite you to be part of the Native Arts Studies Program!

Nonprofit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDKetchikan, Alaska

Permit No. 95

Totem Heritage CenterTongass Historical Museum

Ketchikan Museums CalendarNative Arts Studies Program

Spring 2018 Classes

Drum Making and Design Mike Dangeli, January 18–27Intermediate and Advanced Cedar Bark Weaving Holly Churchill, February 3–16Mixed Level Ravenstail Weaving Evelyn Vanderhoop, March 2–10

OPEN CRAFT NIGHT, Thursdays 6 - 9 P.M. January 18 - March 22

629 Dock StreetKetchikan, Alaska 99901

Cedar Bark Weavingwith Holly Churchill

8 A.M. – 12 P.M.

Northwest Coast Design

with Kelly White1 – 5 P.M.

Spring Break Youth ClassesMarch 12 –16

Joshua Alguire in Cedar Bark Weaving, 2017

Nathan Jackson speaks about his work and his history in the Upholding Balance exhibit for a Museum Midday presentation. In 2017, we also enjoyed presentations by Tommy Joseph and Dorica Jackson. Thursdays in 2018!

Enjoy a series of Museum

presentations and programs for your lunch hour

Tongass Historical Museum 629 Dock Street, Ketchikan 907.225.5600

Anita Maxwell, Museum Director Tara Taro, Administrative SecretaryHayley Chambers, Sr. Curator of CollectionsErika Brown, RegistrarSteven Villano, Curator of ExhibitsTeresa DeWitt, Museum Attendant Totem Heritage Center 601 Deermount Street, Ketchikan 907.225.5900

Marni Rickelmann, Sr. Curator of Programs Ann Froeschle, Program CoordinatorStacey Williams, Program Assistant

Open Hours * October – AprilTongass Historical Museum

Tuesday – Saturday; 1:00 – 5:00 P.M. Totem Heritage Center

Monday – Friday; 1:00 – 5:00 P.M.www.KetchikanMuseums.org

upholding balanceAn exploration of Modern Northwest Coast Design from 1900 to present

On exhibit through March 17, 2018

Permanent ExhibitOpening April 27, 2018

Want to learn more ways to participate, and see the creation unfold? Join our e-mail list!

Call 225-5600 or e-mail TaraT@ktn-ak.us