Landback
Across Wrangell History
As one of the earliest communities occupied by settlers, Wrangell has been at the forefront over the debate around Alaska Native land claims.
Fish Trapped: Salmon Streams of Wrangell’s APA Cannery
To understand how the Alaska Packers Association cannery in Wrangell produced tons of canned salmon each year, here are the freshwater streams that provided the salmon.
Landback 1890: The Tlingit Hire a Laywer
In 1890, President Benjamin Harrison (above) received a letter written by a lawyer representing “the Indians of South Eastern Alaska.” This is often recognized as the first legal step in the fight for Alaska Native land claims.
Landback 1898: Kadashan Confronts the Past
In 1898, John Kadashan of Fort Wrangel was among the Tlingit leaders to confront Governor John G. Brady about their stolen fishing streams.
Landback 1899: The Right to Kick
When the Alaska Packers Association seized another salmon stream in 1899, Tlingit leaders from Fort Wrangel wrote a letter in protest, and passed the torch to a new generation.