Raven Canoe at the Smithsonian, Washington DC

Thompson Boat Center, Potomac River
In early June, I called my friend Doug Chilton in Juneau (I was still in Seattle) and he told me that the installation & ceromonies was moved up to late June. Well... I quickly changed my plans and bought a round trip ticket on Northwest Airlines from Seattle to Washington DC for $405... two days before departure! Those websites for air fares are great, you might have to surf the web for a bit, but if you are lucky, you can get great deals. I arrived in DC on June 18th at night, met my friends from Juneau, and the next day I laid eyes on the finished canoe that Doug Chilton and his brother Brian carved. I only worked on the canoe for about 4 months. I looked great to see it in all 'her' glory, sitting there waiting to go in the water.
The Raven Canoe was given the name "Raven Spirit."
Many representatives from the Sealaska Corporation, the Sealaska Heritage Institute, and our State Senators were there to witness, talk about the canoe project and present the canoe to the officials of the Smithsonian Museum. It was quite warm that day, temperatures in the high eighties, but the humidity is what I will remember... it was sauna like. The canoe was given the name "Raven Spirit"... the design on the canoe is from an old Tlingit story called the 'Box of Daylight', where Raven steals a box of daylight from a wealthy old man,... when raven opens the box the sun flew out up in the sky, where it has been ever since. The naming ceremony was done by Tlingit tradition. Many of our elders were there to witness it and to make sure it was done by proper protocol.
Master carver Doug Chilton and the 'Raven Spirit.'














Doug Chilton was the one who recieved the commission to carve the Raven canoe for the Smithsonian. Many people, myself included, are so proud of Doug for this project. The canoe will be in the Museum of Natural History in the new Oceans Hall... forever... for all to see.
Doug Chilton is the Captain of the 'Raven Spirit' in the Potomac


















The 'Raven Spirit' is finally in the Potomac River. When I was helping Doug & Brian with the canoe, we would often talk about this day... paddling the canoe in Washington DC. Back then when it was cold out last winter, paddling the canoe in the Potomac seemed like a far away dream. It was so great to see 'her' going up the Potomac. In my mind I can say, the Tlingits were here in Washington.
Group photo around the 'Raven Spirit'















The carvers and paddlers... are posing for a group photo with the Raven Spirit. Brian Chilton (wearing a black vest on the left), myself, Doug Chilton (wearing a black vest on the right), and our State Senator of Alaska, Albert Kookesh (right of Doug) were along side the canoe. It was a proud moment.
Carvers: Sonny Grant, Doug Chilton, Brian Chilton.














Doug, Brian, and myself had official visitors passes for the Smithsonian Museum, we could walk anywhere we wanted... including to the depths of the basements where the really interesting art is kept. Here we are standing in front of the Museum of Natural History where the 'Raven Spirit' will be displayed. Come and see it... all the museums of the Smithsonian are always free.
The White House, ol' George wasn't there at the moment.


















This was my first trip to Washington DC... it is a great city to visit. I went to the White House Museum, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, and to the Vietnam War Memorial. There is so much history here. It was nice to see it in person.