Hospitality House - "Likoodzi Kaayuwateen Hidi"
In December of 2007, Chilkat Indian Village received word that the Economic Development Administration had awarded a $1.8 million Economic Adjustment Assistance Program grant for construction of the Hospitality House. Other funding for the project has been provided a grant from the Alaska State Legislature. Construction of the Hospitality House is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2008.
In Tlingit the Hospitality House is called "Likoodzi Kaayuwateen Hidi" which literally translates as "generous reception house." The Hospitality House will accommodate our visitors in a comfortable manner. Hospitality and generosity are at the heart of Tlingit Culture. For example: sharing is instilled at an early age as youngsters are taught to share the berries they pick with their elders and fishermen live by the creed that "generosity with the first catch of the season will ensure a bountiful season."
The Hospitality House will create an environment that encourages innovation, increases business development and extends the tourist season. Native artwork will be displayed and sold in the facility's gift shop and gallery. More than 20 local artists plan to create art to sell in the gift shop. The Chilkat Indian Village will also work closely with tour operators to provide quality cultural tours for visitors from around the world.
The Hospitality House will serve the community, as well as visitors, with its commercial quality kitchen, dining facility, restroom, and showers. The community will use the kitchen during the subsistence skills camps to process salmon, moose or other fish and game. The restroom and showers will allow the community to offer extended stay camps to urban natives or others, who are interested in reconnecting to their native culture and lifestyle. The Hospitality House will ensure the community that their standards of hospitality can be properly extended to visitors, both extended stay campers, or visitors who stay for only one hour.
