The Rematriation of Kiks.adi At.óow
Katlian Collective is commissioning Kadusné Ursala Hudson to weave a Chilkat robe (naaxein), which will become new at.óow. This robe will commemorate the repatriation of Sheey Káa Sh K’ut Yéil, the Raven Helmet worn by K’alyáan (Katlian) in the 1802 and 1804 Battles of Sitka.
This robe was designed by the late Clarissa Rizal and will be woven by her daughter, Kadusné. The creation of new Kiks.adi cultural patrimony signals our commitment to pair rematriation with repatriation. Through this project, we chronicle history while generating Lingít futurity based in Lingít ways of knowing, relating, and living.
Repatriation Must Be Met with Rematriation
In 2025, Sheey Káa Sh K’ut Yéil, the Raven Helmet, was repatriated to the Kiks.adi clan
in Sheet’ká (Sitka) Alaska. This was the war helmet K’alyáan wore in the 1802 Battle of
Sitka, when Sheet’ká Lingít first ejected Russian intruders from our lands, and the 1804
Battle of Sitka, when Russian and American traders overcame our defenses. Over 100
years ago, Sheey Káa Sh K’ut Yéil was improperly taken by Presbyterian missionaries.
Since then, it has been stored in various museums.
Sheey Káa Sh K’ut Yéil is at.óow of the Kiks.adi clan. At.óow is clan-owned cultural
patrimony that chronicles Lingít history, serves essential ceremonial purposes, and is
central to Lingít diplomacy and jurisprudence. Regardless of form, at.óow serves to
remember events “through the places, names, stories, songs, and artworks that
accompany it” (Dauenhaur et al 2018, p. 104).
In spite of the early conflicts between the Tlingit and the Russians, by 1817 relations had restored to the extent that Tikhanov was able to paint members of both sides of the war. Perhaps not all Tlingit where comfortable with the presence of Tikhanov, but enough where willing to have their portrait painted, most notably Chief Katlian, who had led the vanguard assault during the first day of Russian-Tlingit hostilities.
In the painting Sitka Island Chief Katlian With His Wife we can see that Chief Katlain, in a bold statement of defiance, also wears a medallion. In this case, rather that signalling his submission to the Russian Empire, it represents the absolute sovereignty of him and his people. His wife sits in the background, drawn in both portrait and profile, as is typical of Tikhanov’s paintings. In the background we see the Russian fortress of Castle Hill rising from the ocean. This Russian fort marks the first European settlement of what will eventually grow to become the city of Sitka, Alaska.
By the time Tikhanov arrived aboard the Kamchatka both groups had settled into an uneasy peace, both Russians and Tlingit alike preferring the advantages brought by sustained trade over the initial disagreements which had led to the conflict.
Notice design elements from this painting of the robe. Used in present day robe. Fragments were unearthed on Noow Tlein (castle hill) and are in the museum that also have this design element on them.
YEIL KOOWÚ • QWĒGAL GIA’T • RAVEN’S TAIL WEAVING
Noow Tlein dax Yeil Koowú, The Ravens Tail Robe of Castle Hill
Sitka Tlingit, Circa 1820-30s
ASM 2016-2
These fragments are the only known pieces of an original robe to remain in the land where the technique originated. The black dye helped preserve the wool, as undyed areas are more deteriorated. They are all that remain of a robe uncovered unexpectedly during a 1998 archaeological excavation in Sitka. The fragments were found at the base of a prominent rock called “Castle Hill,” where the Russian-American Company built a fur trading post and residence for their chief manager, dubbed “Baranov’s Castle.” To the Sitka Tlingit, the rock was Noow Tlein, belonging to the Kiks.ádi clan.
Archaeologists recovered a handful of boldly patterned cloth fragments, and though muddy and deteriorated, the cloth’s geometric patterns were still clear, and quite unlike any fabric the crew had seen before. Visiting the site a few hours later was Janice Criswell, a Haida/Tlingit weaver and a grandchild of Aakw’taatseen (Rudolph Walton), a Kiks.ádi leader. Surveying the artifacts recovered so far that day Criswell caught a glimpse of the cloth and its geometric pattern—and was hit by a sudden burst of recognition. “I was stunned to see something so special and so unexpected,” she later said. Recovering from her astonishment, Criswell explained to the archaeologists that they had uncovered the delicate remains of a Tlingit “raven’s tail” robe. To illustrate, Criswell showed the archaeologist the designs on her raven’s tail tee shirt that she happened to wear that day. Criswell and other weavers were in the process of helping to revive the raven’s tail weaving tradition.
The largest fragment is from the upper left-hand corner of the robe. It includes a portion of an intricate zig-zag pattern called “lightning” by contemporary weavers—and below it, an incomplete pattern called kaa jikóol kajóolani (back of an old person’s hand tattoo), derived from a tattoo pattern. Also, a smaller fragment of nested rectangles, called woosh kináadei ádi (one within another).
Make a donation
Help us pair repatriation with rematriation by bringing a new Chilkat robe (naaxein) into being as at.óow for generations to come.
Frequency
One time
Monthly
Amount
$20
$50
$100
$200
Other