Klawock Cooperative Association

Klawock Cooperative Association
Heinÿaa Ḵwáan (Tlingit)
Historical image of Klawock
Klawock Cooperative Association
Klawock Cooperative Association
Coordinates: 55°33′26″N 133°05′54″W / 55.55722°N 133.09833°W / 55.55722; -133.09833
Constitution RatifiedOctober 4, 1938 (1938-10-04)
CapitalKlawock, Alaska
Government
 • TypeRepresentative democracy
 • BodyKlawock Tribal Council
 • PresidentDennis Nickerson
DemonymKlawock Tlingit
Time zoneUTC–09:00 (AKST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC–08:00 (AKDT)
Websitefacebook.com/klawocktribe

The Klawock Cooperative Association is a federally recognized Alaska Native tribe of Tlingit people.[2] This Alaska Native tribe is headquartered in Klawock, Alaska Tlingit: Lawáak.[3]

They are known as the Klawock Tlingit and Tlingit: Heinÿaa Ḵwáan.[3]

Government

The Klawock Cooperative Association is led by a democratically elected tribal council.[4] Its president is Dennis Nickerson.[5] The Alaska Regional Office of the Bureau of Indian Affairs serves the tribe.[5] They ratified its constitution and corporate charter in 1938.[4]

The tribe is a member of the National Congress of American Indians.[6]

Territory

Previously, the Heinÿaa Ḵwáan lived in Tuxekan, a winter settlement, but they migrated south to Klawock, which had been a summer settlement.[3]

Klawock is on the western edge of Prince of Wales Island that is part of the Alexander Archipelago in Klawock Bay.[1] Klawock not connected to Ketchikan by highway, so travel off the island is airplane or boat.[2]

Three other tribes are located on Prince of Wales Island: Craig Tribal Association, Hydaburg Cooperative Association, and Organized Village of Kasaan.[1]

Economy

Fishing is central to the tribe's economy,[3] as is cultural tourism and timber.[1] The Klawock Cooperative Association is affiliated with Sealaska Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation,[2] and the Klawock Heenya Corporation, an ANCSA Village Corporation.[3]

Climate change

Alaska Natives are already feeling the effects of climate change from increased fires, harsher storms, melting permafrost, erosion along the coasts, and weather patterns shifting. To address these threats, in 2006, 162 Alaska Native tribes, including the Klawock Cooperative Association, and corporations working with the Native American Rights Fund, signed a Climate Change resolution calling upon Congress to pass laws to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[7]

Language and culture

The Klawock Cooperative Association speaks English and the Tlingit language.[3]

Notable tribal citizens

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Klawock Cooperative Association". Tribal Transportation. US Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  2. ^ a b c "Klawock Cooperative Association". Alaska Handbook. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Lawáak (Klawock)". MySealaska. Sealaska. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  4. ^ a b "Klawock Cooperative Association". National Indian Law Library. Native American Rights Fund. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  5. ^ a b "Tribal Leaders Directory". Bureau of Indian Affairs. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  6. ^ "Tribal Directory". National Congress of American Indians. Retrieved 15 January 2026.
  7. ^ "Climate Change Resolutions". Tribal Law Gateway. National Indian Law Library. Retrieved 15 January 2026.