Metlakatla, AK

Metlakatla is a Tsimshian community on Annette Island, about 20 miles south of Ketchikan, and the only Indian reservation in Alaska. William Duncan founded the settlement in 1887 after Tsimshian people moved from British Columbia; the Metlakatla Indian Community still governs the reserve through its Tribal Council. Water sets the rhythm here: fishing, seafood processing, ferry and boat travel, and the long trip to the rest of southeast Alaska. A traditional longhouse, totem poles, and Sm'algyax language work sit alongside the Annette Island School District and local services. Metlakatla is a working Tsimshian community with its own land, waters, government, and pace.