The Canoe That Saved Angoon
Justice Duncan, a high school student from Angoon, Alaska, has always loved being out on the ocean- hunting and fishing on his boat. Justice’s love of boats comes out through this piece. In this film Justice outlines the story of the single canoe that survived the Angoon Bombardment, and how Angoon used the canoe to survive in the years following.
On October 26, 1882 the U.S. Navy bombed and fired upon the defenseless Tlingit village of Angoon, Alaska. 142 years later, the Navy came to Angoon to offer a formal apology to the community. Students were asked by their Elders and Clan Leaders to create films documenting this historic event. 7 students created films detailing the history of the Angoon Bombardment and telling the story of the Navy’s Apology.
Special thanks to our community partners in Angoon- Chatham School District and the Angoon Community Association- for supporting this project.
Classroom Guide
Essential Questions
- How did our village come to be?
- How did it begin?
- Why is it important to know this?
- How can this help us move forward?
Standards
- Alaska Cultural Standards for Students Culturally knowledgeable students are well grounded in the cultural heritage and traditions of their community. 3) acquire and pass on the traditions of their community through oral and written history; D. Culturally Knowledgeable students are able to engage effectively in learning activities that are based on traditional ways of knowing and learning. 4) gather oral and written history information from the local community and provide an appropriate interpretation of its cultural meaning and Significance; E. Culturally Knowledgeable students demonstrate an awareness and Appreciation of the relationships and processes of interaction of all elements in the world around them. 8) identify and appreciate who they are and their place in the world.
- Alaska Content Standard: History C. A student should develop the skills and processes of historical inquiry. A student who meets the content standard should: 1) use appropriate technology to access, retrieve, organize, and present historical information
Workshop Info
More videos from this workshop:
Reflections from the Apology
In this film, by Nadine Demmertt, community members of all ages reflect on their thoughts and feelings of the US […]
Healing Through Time
After hearing about the Angoon Bombardment growing up in Angoon, Angel Jack was curious to understand if the Angoon Bombardment […]
Til’ Tlein- The Misunderstanding
Til’ Tlein was a Tlingit Shaman, who’s accidental death while working on a Northwest Trading Company’s whaling ship sparked the […]
Our Navigation Through Healing
In this film, created by Jada Mendenhall, the journey of the Angoon’s community toward healing through the Navy’s Bombardment Apology […]
The Wisdom of My Family
This film, created by Jessie Nelson, documents the thoughts and feelings of her Grandfather and Father about the Navy finally […]
Until Now
“Why now? Why is the Navy finally coming to Angoon to offer a formal apology for the Bombardment 142 years […]
Land Acknowledgement
This video was filmed on Tlingit Land. Learn more about land acknowledgements at native-land.ca.