For visitors looking to learn more about the Tlingit people, look no further than Kake. Northwest of Petersberg, Kake is located on the Inside Passage, and home to less than a thousand residents. Though the village is small, its history runs deep, as the Kake tribe once controlled the trade route around Kuiu and Kupreonof Islands.
A jet charter airport in Kake will have visitors craning their necks and they take in the 132-foot-tall totem pole. At that staggering height no wonder it’s the third-largest totem pole in the world!
Like most visitors to Alaska, guests in Kake will be in awe of their natural surroundings. Anglers will be overjoyed at the rich bounty of halibut and salmon in the local waters. Others may prefer to take in the largest congregation of humpback whales in the state. July and August are peak feeding months for these magnificent mammals as they make their way through where Frederick Sound, Stephens Passage, and Chatham Strait meet.
The summer activities in Kake continue with the Dog Salmon Festival in July, the only Native festival in southeast Alaska. Play games, savor local dishes, and dance to Tlingit music as all things salmon are celebrated.
As more than 70 percent of the residents are of Tlingit heritage, there is a sense of community throughout the village that will be evident from the moment of your arrival. Take time to learn about Tlingit traditions, particularly the ongoing dedication to a subsistence lifestyle that is maintained through hunting, fishing, and gathering.
