U.S. Navy formally apologizes to Village of Kake for military bombardment over 150 years ago

Senator Lisa Murkowski, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and Admiral Mark B. Sucato, the senior military officer who oversees the Navy Shore presence in Alaska, attended and spoke at a ceremony in Kake, Alaska, where the U.S. Navy formally apologized for bombarding the Alaska Native village of Kake, Alaska in 1869.

Over 150 years have passed since the U.S. Navy bombarded Kake, a Tlingit village located in Southeast Alaska. The Navy formally apologized for the winter attack, which left many people to starve or die of exposure after the village was destroyed.

The ceremony, held at Kake’s community center on September 21 and broadcast on YouTube, welcomed nearly a dozen elders, where they saluted the American flag as a Navy musician sang the Star-Spangled Banner.

The attack took place in January of 1869, just two years after the Seward’s Folly, in which the United States purchased Alaska from Russia.

The year before, American soldiers had attacked a Chilkat leader, Colchika, who left the fight with one of their rifles. Soon after, an army soldier shot and killed two Kake Tlingit people who were trying to leave Sitka by canoe. The group’s sole survivor asked the Army garrison for compensation for their deaths, which was denied by General Jefferson C. Davis.

In retribution, a party of Kake Tlingit people killed two white trappers on Admiralty Island. When General Davis learned of the killings, he ordered the USS Saginaw to attack Kake. The warship’s crew found the village mostly empty, but they still burned and bombed it, and in its wake left homes, food stores, canoes and totem poles destroyed and the people of Kake with no food or shelter.

The ceremony was overseen by Joel Jackson, the president of the Organized Village of Kake, who spoke to the Navy’s historic injustice and the need for an apology for the community to truly heal.

“This has been 155 years in the making,” said President Jackson. “We know we lost people that day. And it’s becoming real. Becoming real, because we never talked about it. And now we are.”

The Navy’s formal apology was presented by Admiral Sucato.

“I stand here on behalf of the Navy to formally apologize to the affected Alaska Native clans for the wrongful military activity taken against the Tlingit villages of Kake in 1869,” Admiral Sucato said. “The Navy recognizes the pain and suffering that was inflicted upon the Tlingit people, and we acknowledge these wrongful military actions resulted in the loss of life, the loss of resources, the loss of culture, and inflicted multigenerational trauma to those impacted.” The Admiral went on to say that the Navy takes the actions seriously and recognizes that an apology is long overdue.

Senator Murkowski had advocated for this formal apology for many years, hearing directly from the leadership of the respective villages and clans about the pain and suffering that was inflicted on the Tlingit people by the attack and how, generations later, it continues to affect the community. This formal apology is long overdue but marks the start of healing for the community.

“It was incredible to be present at this ceremony to witness the United States military’s historic apology for the devastating 1869 bombardment of Kake. I have heard for many years how the people of Kake have not been able to heal from the trauma of the Navy’s attack. Families have shared the stories of the destruction, which led to deaths among children and elders. These families have had to live with that sadness and unresolved trauma for too long,” said Senator Murkowski.

“The Navy remains committed to long-term community relationships and healing, maintaining strong, enduring relationships with federally recognized tribal governments in Alaska.” Admiral Sucato then presented a signed apology to the members present.

Following the Navy’s apology, Dr. Ruth Demmert stood to accept the U.S. Navy’s apology.

“All of our five houses, we accept this apology,” said Dr. Ruth Demmert. “We as Kaach.ádi accept this apology, which is long overdue. Our ancestors went through lots to keep this whole thing going. We are still here as the generations. And for the future generations, this place will always be home. Gunalchéesh, United States Navy for your late apology.”

Following Dr. Demmert’s speech, representatives of many other clans stood to accept the Navy’s apology and offer their reflections. President Jackson, on behalf of the Organized Village of Kake, also accepted the Navy’s apology.

“One of the cultural values the people of Kake carry is spiritual and cultural balance. When trying to find that balance, apologies need to be made, to say ‘I am sorry, we failed you.’ While far overdue, it is appropriate now that our military offered this apology to the people of Kake for their loss. I commend the clan leaders in Kake for their humble acceptance of the Navy’s apology, and hope that this acknowledgment will promote healing from the intergenerational trauma caused by the United States government’s mistakes. It was my great honor to have worked alongside the community of Kake to advocate for this historic event.”

The U.S. Navy’s formal, public apology will be conveyed at a ku.éex’ (traditional Tlingit payoff party) in Angoon on October 26, 2024.