Wrangell’s tribal government, Wrangell Cooperative Association, is planning a potluck dinner on Wednesday to commemorate one year since a fatal landslide happened on November 20th, killing six people. 

Tribal Administrator Esther Aaltséen Reese said they want to honor the community’s resilience. They also want to remember the lives lost.

It’s a time to commemorate and not rehash

Reese said that local officials will only say a few words at the beginning of the event. She said they won’t be rehashing what happened the night of the tragic incident. The potluck dinner will happen following the ceremony. Wrangell Search and Rescue are also expected to be there with their dogs.

“We’ve asked Steve Prysunka to bring his dogs, because they, you know, were sort of our hard workers during the whole thing,” Reese said. “We were trying to get back the dogs that they brought into the schools that everybody loved, but just couldn’t figure out who and where.”

WCA is also planning an activity for community members to partake in, which will be painting flat shale rocks. 

“Everyone will get a chance to paint the rocks via whatever vision they have, if they want it to be a happy message, a sad message or whatever it might be,” Reese said. “And [we will] create a mosaic out of the rocks. This will probably be in the spring, where we’ll take all the rocks, we’ll seal them, and we’ll encase them in concrete to make like a pad.”

The rock mosaic will be a base for a bench, signifying a space for reflection. WCA released a statement that says the “area will be a peaceful sanctuary where memories are honored and community bonds are celebrated.”

In addition, WCA is bringing therapists in from Juneau to work in the schools for a week, starting Tuesday. 

“They’re going to be here the 19th all the way through next Tuesday,” Reese said. “So if kiddos go home or run into issues, they can come back, and the therapists are there at the school.”

The commemoration, remembrance and potluck will be held at the Nolan Center on November 20th starting at 6 p.m.