Back To Lands Week 2024 – Sealaska Interns Take Lessons Learned in Prince of Wales Into the Workplace and Beyond

Sealaska interns unload after a long journey to Howkan, a traditional Haida village site. Sealaska interns left to right: Evan Link, Operations Fellow at Icemar; Allison Mills, Natural Resources Intern at Sealaska; Addy Mallot, Storytelling & Engagement Intern at Sustainable Southeast Partnership; and Alicia Maryott, Traditional Food Security Intern at Tlingit & Haida

Earlier this summer, Sealaska’s cohort of summer interns embarked on a journey to Prince of Wales Island during Back to Lands Week, immersing themselves in Sealaska’s community-driven initiatives. Hosted by the Natural Resources and Shareholder Development departments, the interns participated in cultural and educational activities aimed at deepening their understanding of Sealaska’s holistic approach to workforce development, sustainable land management and cultural preservation.

The trip began with an introduction to master carver Jon Rowan, who spoke on the historical importance of totem poles and the need to preserve the resources used in carving for generations to come. In this way, the interns learned about Sealaska’s Carving & Bark program, which provides cultural woods for totem poles, paddle workshops, cedar weaving and more to carvers like Rowan. To learn more about Sealaska’s carving and bark program, click here.

[Left] Master carver Jon Rowan addresses the intern cohort about the importance of totem carving and cultural preservation. [Right] Addy Mallott, Sustainable Southeast Partnership Storytelling & Engagement Intern, stands inside Sealaska’s Natural Resource department’s storage of cedar bark.

The following day, the group had the rare privilege of visiting Howkan, a traditional Haida village site accessible only by boat from Hydaburg. This journey was particularly special as it marked a first-time trip not only for the visiting interns, but for a number of their local escorts as well, underscoring how precious this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was. After leading the group in a welcome song, K’uyáang Ben Young and Xaad Kíl birth speaker Dr. Ilskyaalas Delores Churchill shared the rich history and significance of the site. One of the most meaningful moments of the day took place when several of the interns had family members in historical photographs of Howkan pointed out to them, showing the interns that they were literally retracing the footsteps of their ancestors.

Dr. Ilskyaalas Delores Churchill (left), K’uyáang Ben Young (center) and their families share the history of Howkan during the trip to the village site. K’uyáang Ben Young led the group in song upon entering and exiting the site.

Day three brought the interns to a stream restoration project managed by the Alaska Youth Stewards (AYS), where they worked collaboratively on a salmon habitat rehabilitation initiative. Alaska Youth Stewards is a collaborative effort with Tlingit & Haida that trains youth in several rural Southeast Alaskan communities in sustainable land management skills. The AYS crew and Sealaska team worked to redirect a stream, strategically placing trees, moss and dirt to create pools that provide resting spots for the incoming spawning salmon as they journey upstream.

Sealaska interns Clara Mooney, Storytelling & Engagement Intern at Sustainable Southeast Partnership, Frances Zoloth, Sustainable Seafood Fellow at New England Seafood International and Devyn Howard, Human Resources Fellow at New England Seafood International, help move material while assisting the AYS crew on salmon habitat rehabilitation.

The visit concluded in Kasaan, where the interns received hands-on carving lessons from local expert Nang K’adangáas Eric Hamar as they made spoons using the same adze (carving tool) Hamar uses for large-scale projects such as totem poles. As the primary caretaker of the carving house in Kasaan, Hamar was able to give the group a thorough tour of the Kasaan totem park, which culminated in a visit to the beautifully restored Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House.

Sealaska interns examine a totem pole inside the Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House in Kasaan.

By incorporating the stories and lessons learned on Prince of Wales Island into their internships and professional lives, these interns equipped themselves to champion and support initiatives that uplift communities like the ones they visited on Prince of Wales. These future leaders will carry forward the spirit of community-driven work, ensuring that the cultural heritage and sustainability initiatives they experienced continue to thrive and inspire generations to come.

About Sealaska’s Internship Program

Sealaska’s internship program provides career experience and cultural connection for shareholders and shareholder descendants pursuing higher education. Our interns work with our teams to provide new perspectives, innovation and research throughout the company. By choosing to intern with Sealaska, you’ll have opportunities to explore your career interests, grow your professional skills and connect with the unique and vibrant cultures of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people. You will spend the summer with peers who share an Alaska Native heritage, learning from each other and building a community as you venture into your careers.

Applications open in early October each year and close in January, with the program running from mid-June to late-August.

To learn more about Sealaska’s internship program, visit MySealaska.com

Photos throughout by Christian Gomez