Chief Shakes Tribal House

From left to right. Back row: Justin Smith, Wayne Price, Vanessa Pazaar Front row: Josh Lesage, Linda Churchill, Susie Kasinger, Tammi Meissner.

The chance to work on this project is a dream come true for Susie Kasinger, who is from Wrangell. So much so that she gave up her hairdressing business to fulfill her ten year dream of becoming a carver. Susie hopes to take carving classes in Ketchikan in the future and bring additional carving knowledge back to Wrangell to share with residents and tourists alike. Susie grew up in a family tourist business and likes working with tourists. Susie would like to make a living as a carver because for her carving is not just a job – it’s a calling.

Josh Lesage, who was born and raised in Manitoba, Canada, moved to Whitehorse when he was 18 and met Justin Smith at a carving studio. Josh and Justin then worked on a canoe with Wayne Price near Whitehorse. After that, Josh traveled until he found out about this project. He decided to work as a volunteer on the Shakes Island project because he wanted the experience. Josh sees carving, like any art form, as a way to transcribe the inner self to the outside and wants to be able to teach this to youth. He’s not sure what the future holds but is considering additional carving projects and living a self-sufficient life.

Tammi Meissner, who was born and raised in Wrangell, is from the Naanyaa.aayi and Deisheetaan clans. Tammi sees working on this project as the opportunity of a lifetime. Although Tammi has tried other forms of artwork as a means to connect with her Tlingit culture, such as beading, carving “feels like home.” Working on the Shakes Island project has strengthened Tammi’s connection with her culture through exposure with the intimate details of the totems while cleaning them after they were down and through the rhythm of adzing. Carving has become a passion for Tammi and she plans to continue carving in Wrangell, hopefully working with other carvers.

Vanessa Pazar, of the Kaagwaantaan, Eagle/Wolf moiety, was raised in Sitka. Over her ten years of adzing and carving, she has had to overcome a lot of resistance to female carvers. She says that Wrangell is unique because of all the community support and participation. Vanessa enjoys the harmony of adzing with a crew especially when the rhythm of adzing synchs up “similar to a drumming circle.” Vanessa also loves reading the grain of the wood, learning its story. Vanessa feels that she was “born to adze.”

Wayne Price was born in Juneau and raised in Haines. His Mom was a Wooshkeetaan from Kake and his Dad a Kiks.edi from Klukwan. Wayne began carving in 1972 as a young teen. He has completed many carving projects including 28 totem poles and 8 dugout canoes. Wayne lived and carved in Wrangell in the 1980’s when he worked on the Chief Shakes houseposts and six totem poles. In 2000, Wayne built a clan house at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage so he knows what it takes to do this kind of project.

Justin Smith, a “freshwater” Tlingit from the Yukon Territory in Canada, is a member of the Wolf clan of the Kwanlin Dun First Nation, or people of White River. Justin made his first adze in 2002 and has been adzing ever since. He worked with Wayne Price on a canoe project three years ago and came to work on this project at Wayne’s invitation. Justin comes from a family of artists: his father is a metal artist and his mother is a raven’s tail weaver. Justin himself has studied art at the Institute of Native American Arts. After the Shakes Island project, Justin wants to try working with metals such as knives, adzes, and copperwork.