Tlingit and Haida Central Council plans to renovate the former Floyd Dryden Middle School, open a new storefront in downtown Juneau, and continue work toward a new tribal education campus.
The President of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson, addressed the Juneau Chamber of Commerce during its weekly business roundtable luncheon on Thursday to dispel misconceptions and encourage partnerships with local businesses.
The federally recognized Central Council works to create opportunities for tribal citizens and the Southeast Alaska region. It is a member of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce.
Peterson presented an overview of the tribe’s purpose and projects, explaining that he has encountered many misunderstandings about the role of Tlingit and Haida.
“We believe in strong economic development,” Peterson said. “We believe in building strong businesses that support our communities. Tlingit and Haida is quite large now, and we try to invest locally, and we have local partners that we work very closely with, Native and non-Native alike. So I felt like it was really important to give a Tlingit and Haida 101, because so many people have so many questions and don’t understand.”
Peterson also reviewed future Central Council projects relevant to the Juneau business community.
Following its purchase of the Driftwood Inn in October 2023, Tlingit and Haida will soon invest in remodeling the property, with plans to have it completed by Tribal Assembly, which historically happens in April. The tribe also purchased Alaska Seafood in 2023, and hopes to expand operations with a focus on local fishermen, according to Peterson.
He invited chamber members to Thursday’s grand opening of Aan Hít, which means “Village House” in Lingít, at 209 Franklin St. Described as a new cultural and economic hub, Aan Hít will house vendor tables for tribal citizen artisans, a printing and engraving business, Sacred Grounds coffee shop, and a retail shop selling Tlingit and Haida merchandise and artwork.
Peterson said Aan Hít is aligned with supporting the tribe’s economic sovereignty, as well as the “Land Back” initiative. During his speech, he dispelled the myth that the “Land Back” initiative means non-tribal people in Juneau should give up their land or leave.
“It’s really that recognition of our place and our roles here, and oftentimes we’ve kind of been overlooked or underutilized by our role,” Peterson said.
Peterson reiterated to the business community that Tlingit and Haida serve both tribal and non-tribal communities. He used the Tribal Emergency Operations Center as an example, which had recently received a legislative citation for its response to the glacial lake outburst flood in August 2024.
“I felt really weird getting the accolades we were getting, because we’re just here as a community trying to help,” Peterson said.
A key theme in Peterson’s speech was the role of infrastructure projects in supporting a long-term vision for education in Southeast Alaska.
He announced that Tlingit and Haida will begin renovating the former Floyd Dryden Middle School, with hopes to open a Head Start and day care in the space for the upcoming school year. While Peterson said he opposed the 2024 school consolidation that left the building dormant, he is eager to see it put to use.
“That’s for the community of Juneau, that’s not just for our tribal citizens, both the Head Start and the day care,” Peterson said.
He said the organization’s long-term educational goal is construction of a tribal education campus on the tribe’s land behind Fred Meyer.
Peterson also discussed the importance of job training that will provide opportunities across Southeast Alaska.
“I’m a big proponent of education, but everybody has different needs and different outlets for their talent,” Peterson said. “Do you want to go be a doctor, lawyer? Great. Let’s get you there. You want to be a plumber, electrician? Let’s get it. You want to be the person administrating that? Let’s get you there.”
Peterson encouraged Chamber of Commerce members to form partnerships with Tlingit and Haida.
“We really do want to be good partners. I really do believe healthy tribes make healthy communities, and at the end of the day, we all want healthy communities,” Peterson said.
• Contact Natalie Buttner at natalie.buttner@juneauempire.com.
Jasz Garrett / Juneau Empire Aan Hít opened on Thursday, Tlingit and Haida Day, featuring Sacred Grounds Coffee Shop, a retail shop, artisan vendor tables, and a printing and engraving business.
