Downtown Juneau in Juneau Borough, Alaska — Northwest (North America)

Kaagwaantaan Kootéeyaa

Kootéeyaa Deiyí • Totem Pole Trail

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2024

1. Kaagwaantaan Kootéeyaa Marker

Inscription.

[Totem pole effigies, top to bottom]
• CLAN HAT WITH KILLER WHALE
• CLAN MEMBER
• KILLER WHALE
• EAGLE
• BEAR

The Kaagwaantaan, who are of the Eagle moiety, are identified as the Wolf clan. They migrated northward from the Naas River and settled at Kax'noowú (Ground Hen Fort) near Hoonah. They built the Gooch Hit (Wolf House), and when their house burned down, they took the name Kaagwaagaanihitaan (Burned Down House), which was later shortened to Kangwaantaan. They spread from Kax'noowú to Hoonah, the Chilkat area, and Sitka. The Kaagwaantaan clan is interrelated with the Chookaneidí, Wooshkectaan, and Dakl'aweidí clans.

DESIGNS
The designs on the Kaagwaantaan totem pole include three of their crests. It depicts Killer Whale mounted on a clan hat, a Kaagwaantaan clan member, Killer Whale, Eagle, and Bear. These crests were obtained through supernatural encounters.

CARVER
Nicholas Galanin, Tlingit/Unangax̂ Master Artist, Sitka
Apprentices William L. Burkhart Jr., Lee Burkhart, Menitt Johnson

Erected by Sealaska Heritage Institute and the Mellon Foundation.

Topics. This historical

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marker is listed in these topic lists: Animals • Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Indigenous Peoples and Communities.

Location. 58° 17.901′ N, 134° 24.202′ W. Marker is in Juneau, Alaska, in Juneau Borough. It is in Downtown Juneau. It can be reached from Marine Way. Marker is on Elizabeth Peratrovich Plaza, along the Juneau Harbor boardwalk south of the Marine Park Garage. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 290 Marine Way, Juneau AK 99801, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Alaska,

in Tlingit and Haida & Tsimshian Region.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Inside Passage,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Russian Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Raven - Eagle Sculpture (a few steps from this marker); Grace Taeko Akiyama (a few steps from this marker); Manila Square

Kaagwaantaan Kootéeyaa (Totem Pole) and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2024

2. Kaagwaantaan Kootéeyaa (Totem Pole) and Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich (within shouting distance of this marker); The Alaska-Juneau Mine (within shouting distance of this marker); Racism and Discrimination (within shouting distance of this marker); The Early Days • The History Around You (within shouting distance of this marker); Wooshkeetaan Kootéeyaa (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Juneau.

Also see . . . Sealaska Heritage Institute. (Submitted on October 3, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

Kaagwaantaan Kootéeyaa Eagle and Bear Totem Detail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., August 25, 2024

3. Kaagwaantaan Kootéeyaa Eagle and Bear Totem Detail

Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,668 times since then and 274 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 3, 2024, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.