Daily Sitka Sentinel

May 14, 2020, Community Happenings

Sitka High School Plans

Graduation Event Monday

Sitka High School and the City and Borough of Sitka will hold a vehicle parade and outdoor graduation celebration on Monday, May 18, to honor the Sitka High graduating class.

The parade will be at  approximately 7:40 p.m., starting at Sitka High School and going to the UAS-Sitka Campus ramp via Lake Street, down Lincoln Street and to Harbor Way, so family members in the Pioneers Home can be included in the celebration.

The parade will consist of about 75 vehicles. Intersections will be shut down to allow the procession to pass through unhindered, the police department said.

The public is being asked to abide by social distancing standards.

Prior to the parade graduation ceremony will be held. It can be viewed via the school’s Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SitkaHighSchool/.

‘‘We regret that the diploma ceremony (previous to the parade) is private and limited to one car per graduate and his or her family members,’’ the school said in a press release.

‘‘The class of 2020 has lost a lot due to COVID-19 – show them they haven’t lost our support,’’ the school said. 

Eagle Release to Honor

2020 High School Grads

The Alaska Raptor Center will release two of its fully-recovered eagle patients 10 a.m. Monday, May 18, in honor of the 2020 graduates at Sitka, Pacific and Mt. Edgecumbe high schools.

The release will be streamed live on its Facebook page: Alaska Raptor Center. 

“We want graduating students, their families and the community to know that we celebrate this important milestone and wish them success and happiness in their chosen path,” said board member Paula Scott. “Our staff and board of directors understand that it is disappointing to end the school year without being able to celebrate in the traditional ways, but we hope this gesture helps make graduation memorable and special.” 

To the Alaska Raptor Center, it is a fitting and symbolic tribute. 

“Eagles are powerful and determined birds-of-prey with incredible eyesight,” Scott said. “Just as we send these healthy eagles back into the wild, our community’s high school seniors are launching into their futures and we wish them perfect 20/20 vision as they navigate the next chapter of their lives.”

Founded in 1980, the Alaska Raptor Center is a non-profit avian hospital and sanctuary that provides medical treatment to around 200 injured birds each year. Although it specialize in raptors, it will aid any wild bird in need. The ARC strives to heal, rehabilitate and release all of their avian patients. 

For information, visit the website (alaskaraptor.org), Facebook page, or a call 747-8662.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alaska Raptor Center is unable to allow visitors on its property to view the releases in person.

Police Memorial

Day Observed

In Sitka May 15

Seventy fallen Alaska police officers will be honored at a Police Memorial Day event on May 15 in front of the Public Safety Academy. A flag formation begins at 7:45 a.m., followed by the ceremony.

The event should last about 10-15 minutes, organizers said. Each name, their agency and end-of-watch date will be read.

Members from each department, family members, and community members are invited. Attendees can park in front of the trees to the right of the building as they pull in, or, if that area is full, on the right side of the building, wherever there is room, the academy said.

Those in uniform may stand to the right of the patrol cars (as they face the building) along the grass line; those not in uniform may stand on the asphalt just past the railing, or under the covered area if it is raining.

STA, Sitka Land Trust Give

Housing a New Full Name

Sitka Tribe of Alaska and the Sitka Community Land Trust have announced a new name for Sitka’s affordable housing community at 1306 Halibut Point Road.

‘‘S’us’ Héeni Sháak’’ Community is a Tlingit name which refers to the watershed area around Harlequin Duck Creek/Cascade Creek, on which the SCLT land is located.

“Our Tlingit people have used the ancient place names since time immemorial, and they should still be used,’’ said STA Culture and Community Liaison Daanax.ilséik Chuck Miller. ‘‘It’s because of our local elders, like Charlie Joseph Sr., Ethel Makinen, Vida Davis and Anne Johnson, that we have these place names documented and preserved through the support of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska.”

With staff support from Miller and STA Tribal Community Elder Coordinator Xannie Borseth, the name was discussed and recommended by STA’s Cultural Resource Committee, a group of Tlingit elders and culture bearers who hold monthly meetings.

Utilizing the entire Tlingit name for this property was suggested by one of the elders attending the CRC meeting.

“It’s important that the whole name is used to describe the area, because without the whole name, the concept of the location is not properly conveyed,” Daasdiyaa Ethel Makinen said.

The STA Cultural Resource Committee often receives requests from organizations wanting to give Tlingit names to different locations and programs in Sitka, and elders and culture bearers often point out that full names are given but not often utilized, a STA press release said.

STA Tribal Council Chairman KathyHope Erickson reflected on this renaissance of Tlingit place names in Sitka and Southeast Alaska.

“Sitka Tribe of Alaska is pleased that people and organizations are open to having Tlingit names associated with properties, and in general that Tlingit is used more by the community,’’ Erickson said. ‘‘It’s important to remember that all these places we lay our eyes upon had Tlingit names that had been used for thousands of years prior to Russian and American colonization. STA invites all who have requests for naming a building, a street, a property, or simply to know the name of an item to please reach out to our Cultural Resources Department. STA staff and elders will be more than happy to offer their expertise.”

STA and the Community Land Trust hope to see a rise in both affordable housing and the use of Tlingit place names and language in Sitka – connecting past to present, and present to future, with equitable and historically minded stewardship of this land, STA said.

 For more information contact Tristan Guevin at tristan.guevin@sitkatribe-nsn.gov or 738-5415 and Chuck Miller at chuck.miller@sitkatribe-nsn.gov or 738-4025.

BMS Laptop

Return Scheduled

Families who borrowed school laptops can return them to Blatchley Middle School 9 a.m. -2 p.m. on May 18 and 19.

Seniors Offered

Chair Yoga Class

Seniors can attend a free six-week series of chair yoga via Zoom, facilitated by Sue Conrad, certified personal trainer and group exercise instructor, in partnership with SEARHC. 

Classes will be held noon Tuesdays and Thursdays May 19-June 25. No experience is necessary to attend and participants can join at any time during the series. 

Contact Erin Matthes at 966-8720 or ematthes@searhc.org for login information and assistance setting up Zoom. 

Donuts & Diplomas

For Eighth-Graders

The annual Rites of Passage Ceremony for Blatchley Middle School eighth-graders may look a little different this year, but staff members plan to honor the class just the same.

On Friday, May 22, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., BMS staff members will be in front of the school holding Rites of Passage certificates and an individually wrapped donut for each member of the class.

Vehicles should turn into the main parking lot (the one most typically used for morning drop-offs) and proceed slowly to the front curb (outside the main doors) and stop. Students will be handed their diploma, along with a gourmet donut. Vehicles then will exit out of the parking lot on to Halibut Point Road.

Staff members will be on hand and there will be “fanfare,” the school said.

Those who have items to be returned to the school may do so at this time.