A Vision Rooted in History, Hope, and Community

As I begin this journey of creating the Metlakatla Heritage Foundation, I want to share a little of what is in my heart and why I am doing this.

I am working on this project because I believe in our community.

It saddens my heart to see some of our old structures slowly falling apart. These are more than buildings. They are pieces of our story—physical reminders of the people who came before us, the lives they lived, the sacrifices they made, and the community they worked so hard to build.

In my heart, I believe we can rebuild. I believe we can restore. And I believe we can do it not simply for the sake of repairing an old building, but because history is right in front of us.

The task ahead is daunting. There is a lot to learn, a lot to organize, and a tremendous amount of work that needs to be done. At times, it can feel overwhelming when I think about everything that will be required to turn this vision into something real.

But right now, the foundation has been laid—not just in paperwork and planning, but in an idea.

An idea that says we can do something.

People have said to me, “Man, you are crazy for taking this on.”

Maybe I am.

But in my heart, there is hope.

And I believe there is always hope.

Hope to restore.

Hope to preserve.

Hope to honor.

Hope to bring respect and attention back to the things our ancestors built with their hands, their hearts, their faith, and their determination.

We cannot bring yesterday back. But we can choose what we do with what has been left to us.

We can protect the stories.

We can preserve the buildings.

We can listen to our Elders.

We can teach our young people.

We can document what remains.

And we can create a path forward where our history becomes part of our future—not something we simply remember after it is gone.

This foundation is still in its early stages. There is much work ahead, and I don’t pretend to have all the answers. But I am willing to learn, to listen, to ask for help, and to keep moving forward.

My hope is that someday we can look around our community and see places that were once forgotten being brought back to life.

Not just buildings.

Our history. Our heritage. Our stories. Our pride.

This is the beginning.

And perhaps the greatest thing we can give to those who come after us is the knowledge that we cared enough to try.

There is hope.

And as long as there is hope, there is still something worth saving.

— Alexander Atkinson Jr.
Metlakatla Heritage Foundation