Angoon
On October 26th, 1882 Angoon Alaska was shelled and burned by the US Navy after a dispute and alleged hostage situation. The Shaman of the Tlingit tribe was taken on a whale boat where a harpoon gun exploded, killing the medicine man of the tribe. The tribe mourned for 4 days after they received the news, they did nothing. After the monstrosity, the tribe only asked for 200 blankets and an apology from the US Navy, what they received was $90,000 from Congress. The conflict occurred because the US Navy shelled Angoon and destroyed everything the community had. The compromise to this horrible devastation is that Angoon has fully recovered from the bombardment and the people of Angoon celebrate life to the fullest extent.
BACKGROUND
On …show more content…
They speak the language Linigit which means “People of the Tides.” The culture places importance in family; wealth and economic power are important indicators of rank, but so are generosity and proper behavior. Art and spirituality are incorporated in all areas of Tlingit culture. The people of the tribe are peaceful and happy hard workers.
In 1878 the Northwest Trading Company moved into Killisnoo. At the time Angoon’s population was 420. Volunteers from Angoon to help the Northwest Trading Company were eventually paid $1-2 a day (22-44 dollars now.) During the time the Natives of Angoon didn’t know much english, however those living in Sitka and Wrangel had an understanding of the language. The tribe was a peaceful people until their medicine man was killed. (Kiffer)
On October 22nd, a whaling ship was attempting to take a whale out to Chatham Strait. On the boat a harpoon gun exploded, showering the crewmen with sharp pieces. One of them hit and killed Tith Klane, the Shaman of the Tinglit tribe. Other native crewmen took his dead body to the shore. …show more content…
135 years later the tribe has made a full recovery and Angoon is a beautiful site. The people are loving hard workers and deserve an apology for their ancestors. The US government has been wrong in their actions. They were brutal and unjust in the bombardment of Angoon.
The 1882 shelling of Angoon Alaska was the US Navy’s fault. The conflict occurred because the US Navy shelled Angoon and destroyed everything the community had. The compromise to this horrible devastation is that Angoon has fully recovered from the bombardment and the people of Angoon celebrate life to the fullest extent.
Works Cited
Kiffer, Dave. “US Navy Bombed Angoon 125 Years Ago.” SitNews - Stories in the News - Ketchikan, Alaska, Sitnews, 29 Oct. 2007, www.sitnews.us/Kiffer/Angoon/102907_angoon_bombed.html.
GAGNE-HAWES, GENEVIEVE. “1882 Letter Sheds Light on Angoon Tragedy.” Juneau Empire, 12 Aug. 1992, juneauempire.com/stories/081299/Loc_angoon.html#.WdE_JVdeCi4.
Caldwell-Gilbert, Tamás Flinn. “Capt. Edgar C. Merriman.” geni_family_tree, Geni, 8 Mar. 2017,
On October 26th, 1882 Angoon Alaska was shelled and burned by the US Navy after a dispute and alleged hostage situation. The Shaman of the Tlingit tribe was taken on a whale boat where a harpoon gun exploded, killing the medicine man of the tribe. The tribe mourned for 4 days after they received the news, they did nothing. After the monstrosity, the tribe only asked for 200 blankets and an apology from the US Navy, what they received was $90,000 from Congress. The conflict occurred because the US Navy shelled Angoon and destroyed everything the community had. The compromise to this horrible devastation is that Angoon has fully recovered from the bombardment and the people of Angoon celebrate life to the fullest extent.
BACKGROUND
On …show more content…
They speak the language Linigit which means “People of the Tides.” The culture places importance in family; wealth and economic power are important indicators of rank, but so are generosity and proper behavior. Art and spirituality are incorporated in all areas of Tlingit culture. The people of the tribe are peaceful and happy hard workers.
In 1878 the Northwest Trading Company moved into Killisnoo. At the time Angoon’s population was 420. Volunteers from Angoon to help the Northwest Trading Company were eventually paid $1-2 a day (22-44 dollars now.) During the time the Natives of Angoon didn’t know much english, however those living in Sitka and Wrangel had an understanding of the language. The tribe was a peaceful people until their medicine man was killed. (Kiffer)
On October 22nd, a whaling ship was attempting to take a whale out to Chatham Strait. On the boat a harpoon gun exploded, showering the crewmen with sharp pieces. One of them hit and killed Tith Klane, the Shaman of the Tinglit tribe. Other native crewmen took his dead body to the shore. …show more content…
135 years later the tribe has made a full recovery and Angoon is a beautiful site. The people are loving hard workers and deserve an apology for their ancestors. The US government has been wrong in their actions. They were brutal and unjust in the bombardment of Angoon.
The 1882 shelling of Angoon Alaska was the US Navy’s fault. The conflict occurred because the US Navy shelled Angoon and destroyed everything the community had. The compromise to this horrible devastation is that Angoon has fully recovered from the bombardment and the people of Angoon celebrate life to the fullest extent.
Works Cited
Kiffer, Dave. “US Navy Bombed Angoon 125 Years Ago.” SitNews - Stories in the News - Ketchikan, Alaska, Sitnews, 29 Oct. 2007, www.sitnews.us/Kiffer/Angoon/102907_angoon_bombed.html.
GAGNE-HAWES, GENEVIEVE. “1882 Letter Sheds Light on Angoon Tragedy.” Juneau Empire, 12 Aug. 1992, juneauempire.com/stories/081299/Loc_angoon.html#.WdE_JVdeCi4.
Caldwell-Gilbert, Tamás Flinn. “Capt. Edgar C. Merriman.” geni_family_tree, Geni, 8 Mar. 2017,