The Wrangell community expects the U.S. Army to apologize this Saturday for bombarding the Tlingit village, Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw, in 1869. This counts as the third bombardment apology by the U.S. government held in Southeast Alaska over the last few months, the other two were in Kake and Angoon.
The Wrangell Bombardment that happened 155 years ago carries another name, also known as the Christmas Bombardment.
The bombardment occurred after the military held a Christmas party in Fort Wrangel and some Tlingit tribal members attended through invitation.
The bombardment stemmed from a domestic dispute originating from the party between one tribal member, Shaawan, who allegedly bit off the finger of an officer’s wife. From there, conflicting reports state that a soldier killed Shaawan and gravely injured his brother. In response, their father Shx’atoo sought revenge. Tlingit culture is about balance, so Shx’atoo killed a white ex-Confederate Navy Commander, Leon Smith. Shx’atoo then went into hiding.
The bombardment
The Army did not acknowledge the Tlingit action for justice by seeking balance. They demanded Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw leaders to turn Shx’atoo in by noon the next day. That was near impossible and the Army ended up attacking the village. Wrangell Cooperative Association’s Tribal Administrator Esther Aaltséen Reese said the military killed at least five people.
Before Shx’atoo turned himself in two days later, he made stops in Ḵaachx̱aana.áakʼw and said his goodbyes. He was hanged by court order on Dec. 29, 1869.
The Army’s apology ceremony will be held Saturday (Jan. 11) and begins at Petro Marine on Peninsula Street. A walk retracing Shx’atoo’s last steps will begin at 10 a.m., and a bus will be there for elders to participate. Each represented clan will say a few words, dance and hold a small, short ceremony at all eight stops. The walk will end at Fort Wrangel, what is now the Wrangell Post Office, where Shx’atoo was held in court and hanged.
Formal apology follows walking Shx’atoo’s last steps
The formal apology will begin at noon at the Nolan Center with lunch and proceed throughout the day.
Major General Joseph Hilbert of the United States Army Alaska and the 11th Airborne Division will request permission to be on the land to give the formal apology. Clan leaders will respond to his request.
U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski will say a few words, and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan’s wife, Julie Fate, also expects to be there.
Other notable attendees will be clan leaders, the Wrangell Cooperative Association and guests from other communities, including Sealaska’s Rosita Worl and Richard Rinehart. This also includes historians Mike Hoyt, Ronan Rooney and Zachary Jones. Additionally, veterans will also be acknowledged.
After dinner, songs and closing words will conclude the ceremony.
People should gather at Petro Marine at 9:30 a.m. for the roughly 1.7 mile walk that begins at 10 a.m. Elders needing a ride on the bus should RSVP at 907-305-0719.
Sealaska Heritage Institute will steam live the bombardment apology to Wrangell at 1 p.m. (AKDT), which can be found here.
