First modern-day Tlingit opera makes history in Juneau

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The world’s first Tlingit opera in recorded history concluded last weekend after a two-week run, and every showing of “Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles” sold out, marking a massive artistic and cultural success.

“Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles” was a joint production between Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) and Perseverance Theatre (PT). Nearly a decade in the making, the opera was based on historical facts and oral traditions as told from the Tlingit perspective. It focused on stories from the Tlingit-Russian War waged in Alaska first in 1802, when the Tlingit and Haida united against the Russians because they were assaulting Native women and appropriating land and resources throughout Southeast, and again in 1804.

“Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles” featured an all-Indigenous cast and crew and was performed entirely in the Tlingit language.  Performances were held on Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday afternoons Sept. 11-20 in the Thunder Mountain Middle School auditorium. Over 2,000 people — many traveling to Juneau from throughout Alaska, the Lower 48 and beyond — attended over the two weekends, and all 400 seats in TMMS were sold out during each performance. In a push to make the opera accessible for more community members, SHI and PT offered pay-as-you-can tickets for each performance.

“Putting on the world’s first modern-day Tlingit opera was a huge undertaking, and all of us at SHI are endlessly grateful for our partners at PT and the support we received from various organizations,” said Dr. Rosita Ḵaaháni Worl, president of SHI. “Although many Southeast Alaska Natives were once actors who drew upon ancient forms of oration and dance in natural amphitheaters, these performances stopped post-contact. This outpouring of support for the opera proves that our stories have the power to enlighten so many people to the richness of cultural diversity within our country.”

Due to contractual limitations, the recording of the opera will not be streamed online. However, once the recording is edited and transferred, it will be viewable at no cost in SHI’s Archives & Collections department located in the basement of the Walter Soboleff Building. SHI will show the recording to in-person, non-paying audiences during future events and begin exploring opportunities for additional performances.

About the Tlingit Opera

“Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles” was initiated by SHI, created by Vera Starbard (librettist), Edward Littlefield (composer and musical director), X’unei Lance Twitchell (translator and language consultant) and Rory Stitt (orchestrator and sound designer), and produced in collaboration with PT with support from Sealaska, the National Endowment for the Arts, the First Peoples Fund, the National New Play Network and the Mellon Foundation.

“The idea of creating a Tlingit Opera came to me after listening to recordings of oral accounts in the Sitka National Historic Park collection and reading historical accounts of the Tlingit-Russian war,” Worl said. “One account described the moments before a battle. The Tlingit and Haida were waiting on the beach. As the women beat their drums, the fog lifted, revealing the approaching Russians. I could see them advancing and hear the chaos of war: drumbeats, yelling and metal clashing.” 

“Ḵutulagaaw” loosely translates to “the war we are in.” The opera included a score grounded in Tlingit musical and performing arts traditions. For more information about the Tlingit opera, visit sealaskaheritage.org/shi-arts-department/Tlingit-opera.

Gunalchéesh, háw’aa, nt’oyaxsn and thank you to everyone who attended for supporting the opera. 

About Perseverance Theatre and Sealaska Heritage Institute

Perseverance Theatre is Alaska’s largest professional theatre, and a non-profit organization serving over 21,000 artists, students and audiences annually. PT’s mission is to create professional theatre by and for Alaskans, while providing educational opportunities that nurture and serve our communities. PT values and focuses on community engagement, cross-cultural and cross-racial collaboration, professional rigor and regional/national voice. PT is governed by a statewide, nine-member board of community members, professionals and artists. Established in 1979, Perseverance has produced over 70 world premieres, bringing to life new work, including many stories by Alaska Native and other Alaskan playwrights. PT often collaborates with Indigenous peoples from across Alaska, the lower 48 and Canada.

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a non-profit tribal organization founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast Alaska. Its goal is to promote cross-cultural understanding by educating the general public about the Indigenous cultures of Alaska. SHI also conducts scientific and public policy research that promotes Alaska Native arts, cultures, history and education statewide. The institute is governed by a Board of Trustees and guided by a Council of Traditional Scholars, a Native Artist Committee, a Southeast Regional Language Committee and an Education Committee.

CONTACT: Kathy Dye, Deputy Director of Publications and Communications, kathy.dye@sealaskaheritage.com

Caption: Cast members rehearse before the world premiere of “Ḵutulagaaw: The Tlingit-Russian Battles.” Photo by Brian Wallace, courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute. Note: News outlets are welcome to use this photo for coverage of this story. For a higher-res version, contact kathy.dye@sealaskaheritage.com.