The Tlingit people are on a significant initiative to restore Cube Cove, a 22,000-acre addition to the 1 million-acre Kootznoowoo wilderness on Admiralty Island. This land is sacred for the Tlingit, who have lived here for generations. For more than 10 millennia, it’s served as a dynamic cradle to indigenous agricultural practices. In 2020, the U.S. Forest Service purchased Cube Cove from Shee Atiká for $18 million. This acquisition catalyzed restoration of the whole ecosystem and rebirth of cultural practices grounded in huna.
To the Tlingit people, Cube Cove is sacred ground, a site deeply connected to their ancestral wisdom and traditional subsistence way of life. The habitat has suffered immense degradation over the decades, most notably from logging in the area that have put its character at risk. In June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture declared its intent to exclude the protections provided by the Roadless Rule. The final ruling opened up 7 million acres of the Tongass National Forest to future clearcutting, shocking local residents.
Rob Cadmus, director of the Southeast Alaska Watershed Coalition (SAWC), emphasized the importance of restoration efforts in the wake of years of exploitation. The region is only just beginning to heal from the violence of clearcutting,” he said.
In 2022, a passionate and experienced crew advanced to combat the spread and persistent impacts of logging. This crew, led by local luminary Daniels, included his son Justin and crew members Roger Williams and Walt Washington. Their mission focuses on the removal of the 80 of 89 culverts remaining from the loggers’ legacy. They’re targeting the elimination of three bridges within five years. This effort is part of a broader project aimed at restoring ecological functions, reconnecting streams, and supporting the Tlingit’s cultural practices.
“Every culvert we remove, that’s a promise to our children that the land will heal.” – Daniels
Decommissioning these structures is more than a technical undertaking. It speaks to our dedication to this land that has long given life to the Tlingit people. Washington articulated this sentiment, stating, “Sometimes you have to set a bone before it can heal properly.” His words highlight the importance of explicit action and agency intervention to create conditions for ecological regeneration.
The story behind Cube Cove is one of fights against environmental destruction that started over 30 years ago. During the 1970s, relatives of Daniels and other Tongass Islanders from Angoon, like her, helped organize grassroots campaigns to spare the island from clearcutting. They held bake sales, bingo games, and raffles to raise money. Their mission was to go to Washington D.C. and lobby for protection of their native homeland. Over the next three decades, though, over 80% of the Tongass territory was a casualty of clearcutting.
While the staff team across each state tirelessly carries out restoration projects, they’re ever-aware of the link to their past. Each member knows their work is more than just healing the earth. Through these initiatives, they are taking control of their identity and future as a community.
“We’re here doing more than just fixing roads or removing culverts – we’re reconnecting with our history, our identity and our future.” – Daniels
The Tlingit community’s dedication to this work demonstrates a long-standing knowledge of their relationship with the land. Washington explained, “If you leave the land in peace, it will heal itself.” He highlighted the ways ecosystems rebound when simply afforded the opportunity to do so. He shared his perspective on the collective experience of working together in nature: “When we’re out here working side by side, we build a bond that’s stronger than words.”
This initiative comes at a pivotal moment for the Tongass. Eco-tourism and commercial and sport fishing industries are booming, and their futures depend on keeping these areas beautiful, pristine, and ecologically diverse. Through their efforts, the Tlingit people hope to encourage sustainable practices that respect both their heritage and our oceans.
Perhaps no place has garnered more attention for its restoration efforts than the once-abandoned village of Cube Cove. This news carries promise for a revitalized relationship between the Tlingit and their ancestral territory. Now, the community has turned its attention to returning to restoration of this sacred ground. Their work is a true testament to environmental stewardship and cultural renaissance that respects past generations.
“I know that this hard work we’re doing out here is for my children, and for their children down the line.” – Washington