1869 bombardment of Wrangell, US Army Apology

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stikine

stikine

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Today we participated in probably a once in a lifetime event where the US Army officially apologized for the 1869 bombardment of the Tlingit village clan houses in Wrangell.
The day started with a walk around the harbor where each of the clan houses were once located many years ago.
IMG_20250111_100233_MP.jpg IMG_20250111_112012_MP.jpg IMG_20250111_114950_MP.jpg IMG_20250111_120842_MP.jpg
 
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The formal apology and ceremony was held at the Nolan community center.
General Hilbert giving the apology.
IMG_20250111_173939_MP.jpg
Followed up by acceptance or not by each of the eight clans
IMG_20250111_175814_MP.jpg
 
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lxskllr said:
I like NW indian art. It's some of my favorite. Did any clans not accept the apology?
Click to expand...
Well, that was a bit interesting. Around half of them said it was the beginning of new relationships and more or less a start. The other half accepted and wanted to move forward.
 
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It was over a shooting incident. The KSTK article I linked tells the story much better than I can type on my phone.
 
"The bombardment stemmed from a domestic dispute originating from the party between one tribal member, Shaawan, who allegedly bit off the finger of an officer’s wife."

I wonder how that came to pass? I also wonder what balance would dictate as recompense. Chopping off Shaawan's finger? I don't think I'd be too happy with that. I care much less about any of his fingers than I do one of mine.
 
Expanding on that, I was thinking what I'd consider good recompense. Depending on which finger I lost, I think I'd accept Shaawan's finger, 10# of smoked salmon, and a totem pole carved to commemorate the event. That got me thinking about what a totem pole really is, so I looked it up on wikipedia. Turns out shame poles are a thing. I'd definitely want a shame pole carved to pay back my finger :^D

"Another example of the shame pole is the Three Frogs pole on Chief Shakes Island, at Wrangell, Alaska. This pole was erected by Chief Shakes to shame the Kiks.ádi clan into repaying a debt incurred for the support of three Kiks.ádi women who were allegedly cohabiting with three slaves in Shakes's household. When the Kiks.ádi leaders refused to pay support for the women, Shakes commissioned a pole with carvings of three frogs, which represented the crest of the Kiks.ádi clan. It is not known if the debt was ever repaid.<a href="Totem pole - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totem_pole#cite_note-53"><span>[</span>53<span>]</span></a> The pole stands next to the Chief Shakes Tribal House in Wrangell. The pole's unique crossbar shape has become popularly associated with the town of Wrangell, and continues to be used as part of the Wrangell Sentinel newspaper's masthead."

en.wikipedia.org

Totem pole - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org
 
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