Russian Orthodox Tlingit




Native Center House and Russian Blockhouse

Before the Russian Orthodox Father Ivan Veniaminov came to Sitka, the Russian-American Co. sailed into the harbor in 1802 to establish a base of operations on the site of an already established Tlingit village.  Some of the Natives resented this intrusion and a bloody confrontation ensued.  Subsequently the Russian-American Co. fortified their new village by building a tall wall of sharpened logs connecting three blockhouses - a D-shaped blockhouse, an octagonal blockhouse, and a small square blockhouse.  

Replica of Octagonal Blockhouse

The small square blockhouse was removed soon after the 1867 transfer of Alaska; the badly rotted D-shaped blockhouse was dismantled in 1899, and the octagonal one dismantled in 1921.  The blockhouse seen today is a replica of the original octagonal blockhouse.  After the battle of 1804, the Company remained wary of the Natives, maintaining a stockade between the communities, but the Russian Orthodox mission established a sympathetic relationship with the Tlingit's.

Hand-drawing of Russian-American Co. Fortification and Blockhouses

Czar Alexander required that the Russian-American Co. support the Orthodox missionary work so the Company paid for clergy and built churches and schools.  Many Natives accepted the teachings of the Orthodox religion including Creoles (children of mixed Russian and Native households) who became cartographers, navigators, master craftsmen, accountants, and trusted merchants.  The first priest of Alaskan Native heritage was Yakov (Jacob) Netsvetov ordained in 1828.  He served churches in the Aleutians for 15 years and later assigned as a missionery in the Lower Yukon for 19 years.  He died in 1864 while serving as priest at St. Michael’s Cathedral in Sitka and is buried at the site of the blockhouse.   Father Ivan Veniaminov arrived in Sitka in 1834 having done missionary work throughout Alaska.  In addition to building the Orthodox Cathedral (1844), he taught carpentry, masonry, and blacksmithing.  Through his extensive travels in Alaska and priesthood at Sitka, he learned several Native languages and wrote dictionaries and grammars for their languages, devising a writing system.  

Bishop Innocent Veniaminov 

He also wrote religious works and translated parts of the Bible in their languages.  Father Veniaminov respected the Natives and did not object to their customs nor did he rush into making converts but encouraged those who where were ready and willing.  Father Ivan Veniaminov (1797-1879) who was declared Bishop in 1840, lived in what was called "Bishop House" in Sitka.  He was given the name Bishop Innocent Veniaminov.  When Russia left Alaska, the Russian Orthodox clergy stayed behind and the church endured.  The Tsarist government continued to support the clergy and Russian schools continued to teach Native children.  Another benefit provided by the church was keeping birth, death, baptisms, and marriage records.  

The Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Community House, Sitka

Today the Russian Orthodox Church continues to be part of the religious fabric among the Native population.  Although resistant at first, the Tlingit were able to meld their own religious beliefs with those of the Orthodox Church.  Today the Tlingit's continue to speak their native languages and carry on their traditional art and dance.  

Dance Performance, Tlingit Community House

We had the pleasure of attending a dance performance by local Tlingit's at the Sheet'ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Community House.  The performance included children who matched the adult's steps perfectly, they were absolutely adorable.  Duane, the commentator shared his Tlingit name, “Little Herring,” and joked that he was teased about it as a child.  He explained the purpose of the various dances and shared Tlingit words and pronunciations.  It was a nice presentation, not too touristy and not too casual.