🌲 Defend Yakutat – Protecting Tlingit Ancestral Lands
Defend Yakutat is a grassroots initiative focused on protecting the ancestral homelands of the Yakutat Tlingit people in southeastern Alaska. The movement formed in response to concerns over clear-cut logging operations that threaten sacred Indigenous sites, subsistence resources, and the region’s ecological integrity.
📍 Background
From 2019 to 2023, Yak Timber—a subsidiary of the village corporation Yak-Tat Kwaan—carried out extensive clear-cut logging across areas including Situk River Road, Ophir Creek, Humpback Creek, Canoe Pass, and Sawmill Cove. Many community members voiced concern over the environmental impact and the lack of consultation with shareholders and tribal leaders.
🛡️ Cultural and Environmental Importance
The Yakutat region includes culturally sacred locations such as Khantaak Island, an important buffer against tsunamis and a site with deep spiritual value. These lands are used for subsistence fishing, berry picking, and traditional ceremonies. Clear-cut logging threatens both the land and the cultural continuity of the Tlingit people.
🤝 Community Action
The Defend Yakutat movement has galvanized shareholders, tribal leaders, and citizens to demand greater transparency, environmental protection, and Indigenous-led land management. Community actions have included petitions, educational outreach, and peaceful protests calling for the cessation of destructive logging practices.