Leaders of Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI), Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority (THRHA) and the Juneau Community Foundation talk with Ed Kunz, Jr., right, and his daughter, Micalyne Kunz McGhee, second from right, during an annoucement of a partnership between SHI and THRHA to replace two totem poles and refurnish a screen at the Gajaa Hit building on Thursday. The Juneau Community Foundation, represented by board member Mandy Mallott, third from right, presented a $2000 check to help in the planning of the project. From the left are Lee Kadinger, COO for SHI, Rico Worl, Art Director for SHI and Ricardo Worl, CEO of THRHA. The 26-foot poles were carved and painted by Tommy Jimmie, Sr., Edward Kunz, Sr., Edward Kunz, Jr., and William Smith in 1977 to honor the Raven and Eagle Clans of the Auk Tribe. The Raven pole is a copy of a totem from Wrangell carved by William Ukas in 1896. The screen was designed by Tommy Jimmie, Sr., and painted by Ed Kunz, Sr., and Ed Kunz, Jr. Ed Kunz, Jr. will serve as the master carver of the new Raven totem. The groups will also identify apprentices who can work on the project. Sealaska will donate the logs.
Michael Penn / Juneau Empire
Leaders of Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI), Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority (THRHA) and the Juneau Community Foundation talk with Ed Kunz, Jr., right, and his daughter, Micalyne Kunz McGhee, second from right, during an annoucement of a partnership between SHI and THRHA to replace two totem poles and refurnish a screen at the Gajaa Hit building on Thursday.
Comments (6)
Add commentthe only thing Sealaska is donating is the logs?
Something doesn't seem right about that.
log donation
Based on the price of cedar in Don Abel's, I would guess that a single 35 foot log would be valued at $35,000. So, a $70,000 donation seems to be a sizeable one.
SHI & Tlingit-Haida Housing Authority, plus Central Council
Let's see - Rosita Worl heads up Sealaska Heritage (as well as being a member of the Sealaska board) and her son Ricardo is now head of Tlingit & Haida Housing Authority, Ed Thomas is head of Central Council and on the board of Sealaska, but there is no conflict of interest here, is there?
Why so negative?
^^ seadog: Why take something positive like this and smear it with negativity? The caption doesn't even mention Central Council nor Ed Thomas for that matter. Despite the gossip mill, Ms. Worl, Mr. Worl and Mr. Thomas have all worked very hard to preserve, advance, and promote Tlingit-Haida-Tsimshian culture and do a lot to pay-it-forward within the community, the region, and even across the state/nation, but those people easily distracted by hate or greed see only negativity where there is none.
AK NTV Corporate Oligarch Nepotism....
you forgot to mention the her grandson Rico worl is Art Director for SHI. Is this typical native-corporate-oligarch-nepotism or just a coincidence?
@JNUborn-raised, the content of the story is positive, but the corporate players aren't. I'm sorry if your seeing nepotism as a "smear it with negativity" action but it's illegal and unjust. UNfortunately AK NTV corporate politics smears itself with it's own negativity and people like seadogg55 and me just need to point it out and call it a "spade."
As a Sealaska shareholder, you should have watched Thomas & Worl
Today they had their annual meeting, took up hours of time and allowed less than 30 minutes for shareholders questions. So, tell me, JNUBorn, why would I be feeling all positive about two board members that care so little about what shareholders have on their mind?
Thomas & Worl have personally profited handsomely from their positions and always advance themselves first. I hear Rosita is upset that the Soboleff building is not being named after her, that she is more deserving than Dr. Soboleff.
There is no pay it forward with Rosita & Ed Thomas, Ed Thomas has run Central Council right into a financial hole, again. I don't know how well you keep up but it's clear that you have not.