Skagway Traditional Council and the Municipality of Skagway are moving towards a closer working relationship.

The federally recognized tribal government for Skagway Tlingit and Haida members requested an increased partnership with the Municipality of Skagway this week.

Skagway Traditional Council President Jaime Bricker says the council’s mission is to nurture and protect tribal members and preserve cultural heritage and natural resources–but that’s not all.

“Improving partnerships and economic sustainability, and especially right now with what Skagway is facing, with the absence of a cruise season this year and not knowing exactly what to expect for 2021,” she said.

Bricker says there are lots of opportunities for the municipality to better represent Tlingit and Haida history and continued presence.

“A lot of business that’s been conducted in the valley sort of has treated the tribe like an afterthought. And I don’t think it should be that way. I think the tribe and our local government should be working very closely together on all things that affect our community,” said Bricker,

But she said in the last seven months of pandemic, the municipality and tribal government have demonstrated they can work together for everyone’s benefit. A couple examples include cooperation on building CARES Act distribution plans and when STC helped fund pandemic mitigation strategies at the school.  

“I think it’s long overdue,” said Skagway Mayor Andrew Cremata. He said the municipality and council leaders are brainstorming different ways to connect.

“I’d like to see a really robust integration of the traditional councils goals, along with our goals and the municipality,” he said.

Cremata said the council was critical in jump starting early COVID-19 testing and he knows the two groups will be able to achieve more by working together.

“The more we have the ability to communicate between the two entities, the more will have the opportunity to create these kinds of Coalitions and partnerships to, you know, better flesh out this relationship that we should have had many years ago,” said.

Bricker committed to writing a monthly update to the borough to keep municipal leaders up to date on STC’s projects. She and Cremata both said they’re excited about a project to include Tlingit language, place names, and history into signage and trail maps around town.