A long overdue apology

On October 21, 2024 the Douglas Indian Association received a long overdue formal apology from the City and Borough of Juneau for the destruction of the Tribe’s Douglas Island village in summer 1962.  At that time, following the pattern of countless generations, Tlingit residents of the village were away at fish camps up in the nearby Taku watershed.  Non-Natives, seeking land for their own purposes, as well as an opportunity to reduce Taku commercial fishing competition, declared the indigenous village “abandoned” and burned it to the ground.  The Juneau Empire published an article about the apology which can be read here: https://www.juneauempire.com/news/juneau-offers-formal-apology-for-1962-burning-of-the-douglas-indian-village/

It has taken decades for DIA to recover, at least partially, from this tragic setback.  As the shameful wrongdoing is finally acknowledged, and as the Tribe has taken a growing interest in the stewardship of the Taku, including calls for the closure and cleanup of Tulsequah Chief, RWB is proud to stand with DIA in efforts to keep the Taku thriving.