The JKCHC building design by The Portico Group. (JKCHC website)

The heritage center building design by The Portico Group. (JKCHC website)

The Rasmuson Foundation recently approved a $750,000 grant for interior construction of Klukwan’s Jilkaat Kwaan Heritage Center.

The Rasmuson Foundation Board paid a visit to Haines and Skagway in June. They saw the Chilkat Indian Village’s heritage center during that trip. Rasmuson Foundation Communications Director Cassandra Stalzer said the group appreciated learning about the background of the center and the importance of preserving the artifacts set to be housed there.

No one from the heritage center was available for comment by deadline Wednesday. Project Director Lani Hotch said in a previous interview that the center was waiting on approval of the Rasmuson grant before continuing with interior construction.

The Jilkaat Kwaan center was the recipient of another grant last month. The $107,000 grant from the New York-based Surdna Foundation will fund six pieces of art for the center’s ‘Cultural Landscape’ exhibit.

While the Rasmuson board was in Haines, they announced a $35,000 matching grant for the Chilkat Valley Community Foundation. Those funds will go toward growing the community foundation’s endowed assets.

The heritage center and community foundation grants are part of $7.6 million in grants and initiatives announced by the Rasmuson Foundation late last week.

Other grantees in Southeast include the City of Saxman near Ketchikan, Metlakatla Indian Community and Yakutat.