Celebrity at Icy Straight Point

When I first moved to town I noticed loads of tourists wandering up and down the main street. They would stop at the school and take pictures of the totem pole and the hand crafted canoes. They would whale watch and go for rides the kayaks. One day a couple asked where town was. I answered that this was it. We engaged in a delightful conversation. I discovered that Hoonah was a major stopping point for cruise ships.

All Summer long, huge boats dock just off shore at Icy Straight Point. The staff floats people into visit the refurbished cannery, museum, gift shop, invites them to take a ride on the longest zip-line in the world and take them on guided tours of Hoonah, “An Authentic Tlingit Village.” Oddly enough, because the Point is privately owned and designated for the cruise travelers, citizens of Hoonah aren’t allowed to visit, but for one weekend a season.

Thursday afternoon a Celebrity cruise ship docked and once more travelers were all over the village and enjoying the amenities of Icy Straight Point. One of the member of the school board works at the Point as a greeter for the Native Tlingit show. She invited Steve, as the Superintendant to see the last performance of the season. Thankfully, Steve got the OK to bring us along.

The show introduced five Tlingit natives wearing traditional clothing and telling a version of their creation story. The Tlingit people have occupied this area for over 12,000 years and believe that the placement of the stars, moon and sun are due to the craftiness of the great Raven. Side note: When I first moved here one of Andrew’s classmates, Nina, asked me if I was an eagle or a raven. I had no idea what she was talking about. I learned while watching the show, that all Tliglit people are either Ravens or Eagles. They follow their mother’s blood line and if they are a raven, they must marry an eagle and vice versa. I think Nina has a crush on Andrew and wanted to figure out if he was future marriage material :)

After the show we walked around the “Point”, visited the museum and the school store. As we meandered out on to the pier, we saw the most amazing sight: three or four killer whales arching through the water. The orcas were races and playing. Joined by the tourists from the cruise ships we stood transfixed at the vision of the true celebrity’s of the water. These creations are amazing. How lucky we were to witness there brief appearance.

We hoofed it back home, about a 1.8 mile walk, talking about all we had seen and learned; the colorful costumes of the dancers and story tellers, the interesting symbolism of the Tlingit culture, the cruise ship and the killer whales. It was a rich afternoon full of new experiences. Another great day in “Hoonah-lulu.”