Page 72 - Breath of the Bear

Alaska Waters is the only Wrangell company salmon begin to appear on the boulders the Stikine River and Zimovia Straits. Several
that offers island heritage tours which include and bedrock like hidden gems waiting to be petroglyph replicas are displayed on the deck
Chief Shakes Tribal House, Petroglyph Beach discovered. Over 40 rocks contain carved and visitors are allowed to make rubbings of
State Park and the Wrangell Museum. At the pictures and symbols believed to have been the replicas. Access to the beach is available
Tribal House visitors will have the unique created hundreds of years ago by the Tlingit. directly from the overlook. Instead of putting
opportunity to be greeted by a Tlingit house This is the largest collection of petroglyphs in the carved rocks in a museum, the Tlingit
presenter dressed in traditional regalia. Once southeast Alaska and at one time was even elders decided to leave the carvings on the
inside, decedents of Chief Shake will discuss more sizable, however in the 1900s many rock beach where they have always been, covered
the remarkable carvings and ceremonial carvings were lost due to the pilfering of native by waves and sand only to be rediscovered by
architecture that make the Tribal House a artifacts. The meanings of the petroglyphs someone, thus continuing the history of the
beautiful work of art. A highlight of the tour have since been lost, though some may Tlingit and honoring whatever purposes the
is a Tlingit storyteller who will entertain the have been carved to document an historical carvings served.
audience with stories and legends that have moment or special potlatch ceremony, as a
been passed down through the generations. form of writing, or were just a talented ancient
Alaska Waters’ Brooke Leslie says of the Tlingit artist expressing himself. While no one Tongass National Forest
storytelling, “Hearing the Tlingit language can ascertain their true intent or even how old
spoken is a very important experience. they are, all people can enjoy this time walking Leave the hurried pace of Wrangell and
Currently there is a language crisis with the on the beach searching for buried treasure in enter the peaceful retreat of the Tongass
Tlingit and when there is a language crisis the sand. National Forest. With a group of six or more,
there is a culture crisis. Language and culture Alaska Waters can arrange a tour of this unique
are woven together and are the bonds that The Petroglyph Beach State Historic Park coastal temperate rainforest. An Alaska native
keep the spirit of the clan community alive.” is located one mile from the Wrangell ferry
terminal and is easily accessible. There is a
Petroglyph Beach boardwalk to a deck overlooking the beach,
State Historic Park

During low tide, images of whales and

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