Yadaa.aayi x’éen

The screen combines design elements to represent both Tlingit and Russian Culture.

NPS Photo/ Cinnamon Dockham

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Automated External Defibrillator (AED), Information - Ranger/Staff Member Present

Yadaa.aayi x’éen- a nickname for early people living near the mountain, roughly translates to “Around the Face of Mount Edgecumbe”. This screen was commissioned by the park in commemoration of the 200^th anniversary of the Battle of 1804, fought between the Tlingit Kiks.ádi and Russian forces at the mouth of Kaasdahéen (Indian River). The location of the battle lies within current park boundaries and is a monumental piece of Alaskan history.

The screen combines design elements to represent both Tlingit and Russian Culture. It was dedicated in July of 2004, making it the youngest piece on display in the lobby.

The 2004 ceremonies and commemorations illustrate significant changes for the Tlingit of Sitka. In 1804 they battled a Russian warship and hundreds of their allies to hold on to their homelands. By 1904, under the influence of American colonization, they grudgingly prepared to lay to rest the final vestiges of their culture with one “final” potlatch. In 1965, two decades after the American government reconsidered its viewpoint of native American art and culture as “American heritage”, the Tlingit welcomed the opportunity to share their worldview with others.  In 2004, as mourning songs were sung, poignant speeches were given and heartfelt dedications were made, the Tlingit found a way to rise above the ugly events of the past to heal and strengthen their community for a better tomorrow.