The Welcome Home Ceremony
Victoria Moore, Cina Martinez, Billy Ware and Brandon Ware carefully lift the remains of the infant Tlingit girl out of the Alaska Airlines jet last Friday. A 'Welcome Home' ceremony took place at the airport for the child who has been repatriated from the Burke Museum in Seattle for burial in Petersburg after her remains were taken from a cave near Thomas Bay nearly 100 years ago.
Leaders of Petersburg's Native community were on hand as the specially crafted box transporting the baby Tlingit girl's remains was unloaded from the Alaska Airlines jet and a procession followed it off the tarmac at Petersburg's James A. Johnson Airport on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026. Petersburg's Séet Ká Kwáan Dancers sang during the welcome ceremony. Dozens of community members gathered at the airport to bear witness to the historic return of the repatriated remains. Stephanie Aikins of Petersburg Indian Association spoke about the repatriation effort and invites the community to attend a potluck...
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