Traditional Knowledge Camps
Perpetuation of subsistence lifestyle skills and traditional fine arts are the main focus of the Klukwan Traditional Knowledge Camp. For many years the Tlingit people, as well as other Alaska Native peoples, underwent cultural oppression at many different levels - in the schools, government, churches, and even the market place. These years of oppression injured the psyche and emotional health of natives. By returning to our cultural roots, through the activities of the Klukwan Traditional Knowledge Camp, local natives have found healing and wellness in body, soul, and spirit. The Camp and wellness movement in Klukwan has been an inspiration to other communities in Southeast Alaska and beyond.
The movement towards our cultural roots was evident with the creation of the Klukwan Traditional Knowledge Camp. Construction of the camp began in 2002 when a group of local men, working only with wedges, and mauls began splitting planks off of local spruce logs to create the lumber needed to build a traditional smoke house.
The building of the smoke house was a learning experience as this type of construction had not been practiced locally for at least 100 years. Once the planks were split from the logs they were smoothed and shaped with traditional adzes and laid aside until enough were stockpiled to begin actual construction. The smoke house was only the beginning. In the summer of 2004, the crew completed construction on a 35' X 50' traditional long house. The long house was given the name: "Kaay Ya Haay Yee Hit" by a local elder. The camp currently consists of a smokehouse, long house, drying shed, and an adzing shed.
Seasonal Klukwan Traditional Knowledge Camps include demonstrations of traditional salmon harvesting, moose preparation, and hooligan processing with Tlingit language and cultural instruction integrated in each of the activities. Salmon is prepared for smoking, drying and more modern techniques such as pressure processing. Hooligan harvest techniques have also been taught, smoke/drying, and the rendering of oil. Moose butchering, preparing a moose bone stock and a traditional stew, and more contemporary skills such as grinding meat, sausage making, and pressure processing of meat in jars are some of the activities of the moose camp. Traditional hide tanning and other fine arts such as carving, basket weaving, Chilkat/Ravenstail Weaving and sewing/beading are some additional activities of the camp.
When the Village is not hosting the seasonal subsistence skills camps the campsite is used as a cultural interpretive center for visitors to Klukwan through Klukwan Tribal Tours.
