by Colette Czarnecki and Liz Ruskin
Tribal members from the Wrangell Cooperative Association were introduced on the west lawn of the U.S. Capitol Building this week for the Christmas Tree lighting. They blessed the tree and the people at the ceremony with traditional songs.
Tribal Administrator Esther Aaltséen Reese told the crowd that she was excited to share the Sitka Spruce from Wrangell with the nation.
“We are honored that the Capitol Christmas Tree comes from the homelands of the Shtax’heen Kwaan in Wrangell, Alaska,” Reese said. “For the Tlingit people, the trees are our life givers. They are how we create our canoes, our homes and our totems, which tell our stories. They are our connection to our ancestors and they show our love for our children.”
She said trees also show their love to those who come after them as they steward the land.
Reese acknowledged the Wrangell High School Teaching Through Technology STEM students who contributed to keeping the tree green as it traveled for a month across the country.
The students built a watering system with PVC piping, mister nozzles and a battery-powered pump to mist the root wad and recycle the water.
“I am so proud of them (I see a couple of them in the front row here) for creating the first ever misting system to bring this tree all across the country to be in the wonderful shape that it is in today,” Reese said. “Our Tlingit culture is about balance, reciprocity and respect. Gunalchéesh (thank you) for allowing us to share a part of ourselves, bringing this balance of love and respect.”
She then introduced totem carver Aak’wtaatseen Mike Hoyt. He is one of the artists who created the Capitol Christmas Tree logo. He explained to the crowd how the blessing works.
“Life can be fragile and it can be precious, and that when we take from the world around us we have to be thankful and we show respect for what we’re doing,” he said. “So part of that process involves, when we take down things like trees, is talking to the Tree People.”
Tree People are spirits of the trees. And Hoyt said it’s important to let them know why they’re doing what they’re doing.
He said it’s been an honor to know that the tree was going across the country and seeing, in video, everyone having a great time at the tour stops.
“It’s just been an honor to see all of the happy faces,” Hoyt said. “To me that really embodies the Tlingit language; that phrase that we put on the bottom of the logo of that peace, joy and happiness: Kayéil, Sagú, Ka Toowúk’éi
The Wrangell visitors then sang two Tlingit songs to bless the tree. The first was a paddle song to acknowledge the journey that the tree went through. The second was a welcome song to welcome the tree in Washington, D.C. and everyone there.
