SHI announces apprentices in Sitka for Kootéeyaa Deiyí project

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has selected three apprentices in Sitka to work under master carver Nicholas Galanin as part of Kootéeyaa Deiyí (Totem Pole Trail), a major public art and education project aimed at revitalizing the practice of monumental carving and increasing the number of trained Alaska Native artists.

The apprentices—Carl Lindstrom IV (Daḵl’aweidí), Karl Cranston-Simmons and Jennifer Younger—have begun their training and are now assisting Galanin with the carving of a Kiks.ádi pole that will be installed in Juneau in 2026.

“Through this project, I’ve gotten more experience using gouges, chisels and different types of adzes,” said Cranston-Simmons. “I’ve also become more attentive to making sure my high points are level and that I’m keeping symmetry as I get down to the finer details.”

The Sitka carving team is currently working in a University of Alaska Southeast (UAS) classroom, where they are in the early stages of shaping the totem pole. The design for the Kiks.ádi pole has been approved and applied to the red cedar log, and the team has begun roughing out the forms. The crests on the pole will represent the Frog, Raven, Sun and Taalḵunax̱k’ushaa (the mountain that saved the Kiks.ádi people from the great flood, also known as Devil’s Thumb).

Apprentice Lindstrom said carving has deepened his appreciation for symbolism and craftsmanship.

“This opportunity offered a meaningful way to honor ancestral stories, preserve Indigenous art forms and contribute to something larger than myself,” he said. “With carving I have found an appreciation for symbolism, craftsmanship and heritage. All of which this pole represents.”

SHI is encouraging community members in Sitka to stay tuned for guest visit opportunities. Galanin has requested that public visit hours align with an upcoming UAS open house event, and SHI will share more information when those details are confirmed.

The Sitka apprentices are part of the second phase of Kootéeyaa Deiyí. The goal is to expand the number of artists with training in monumental carving and increase visibility for Indigenous public art. Apprentices who complete the program may be eligible for up to 18 credits toward an Associate of Arts degree with an emphasis in Northwest Coast arts through UAS.

About the Artist
Nicholas Galanin (L’uknax̱.ádi) is a Tlingit/Unangax̂ multidisciplinary artist based in Sitka. His work is rooted in Indigenous perspective and focuses on the intersections of culture, land and resistance. Galanin’s practice includes customary carving, video, sound and installation. He holds degrees from London Guildhall University and Massey University in Indigenous visual arts and apprenticed with master carvers and jewelers in his community. His work is held in major public collections worldwide.

About Kootéeyaa Deiyí
In 2022, SHI installed the first 12 of 30 totems for Totem Pole Trail, an initiative launched through a $2.9 million grant from the Mellon Foundation. The poles form a cultural entry point to Heritage Square in downtown Juneau and reflect clan histories, crests and migrations of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. Each kootéeyaa is accompanied by interpretive signage. (Totem Pole Trail Guide)

About Totem Poles
One of the most widely known art forms of the Northwest Coast, totem poles (kootéeyaa in Tlingit) are carved from red cedar and raised to mark significant occasions or honor important individuals. The figures and crests on totem poles reflect the rich clan histories, migrations and oral traditions of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. SHI’s Totem Pole Trail is part of a larger movement to reclaim and elevate these public cultural expressions.

Sealaska Heritage Institute is a tribal organization founded in 1980 to perpetuate and enhance Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures of Southeast 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 a newly formed Education Committee.

CONTACT: Therese Pokorney, SHI Communications Officer, therese.pokorney@sealaska.com

Caption: Apprentices work on carving a totem pole in Stika. Photo by Nicholas Galanin. Note: Media outlets are permitted to use this image for coverage of this story. For a higher-res image, contact therese.pokorney@sealaska.com