Shu sit'aa dm lukwil amaniits'a Maalsk
"A new start for the care of our history"
The Duncan Cottage Museum is located in Metlakatla Alaska and was built in 1891, the same year that our island became the Annette Island Indian Reserve through an Act of Congress. It is the oldest building in our community and the only building that has National Historic Site Status. (See the map below to view where Annette Island is located)
The Duncan Cottage Museum was the home of the late Missionary William Duncan who was originally sent to work among the Tsimshian of British Columbia by the Church Missionary Society of England. He worked among our people for sixty-one years before his death in 1918. The six-bedroom cottage was hand-built and designed for him by our people as a place for him to live and work. He played many different roles in our community in addition to leading the church and he dedicated each room to one aspect of his work.
Currently the cottage has the two main rooms open as part of our exhibit space and the rest of the smaller rooms are used as archival space until we can secure funding for a seperate building to properly house the archives. The title of our exhibit is Sigyemsa̱x which roughly translates to "make you feel at home" or to "make you feel welcome". The exhibit title was chosen because as most indigenous cultures we have a fairly turbulent history and we want the cottage to be a place of healing that all people feel welcomed to come to. The first room within the exhibit is dedicated to the Tsimshian and our culture and the second room is dedicated to Mr. Duncan and all of his teachings in an effort to create a balance between both cultures. (virtural tour coming soon!)
~Metlakatla Alaska~
Duncan lived in multiple places within British Columbia for a few years before making the move with 823 Tsimshian to found "New Metlakatla" which is located on Annette Islands in Alaska. The move was a result of a few unresolved disputes with the provincial government over land claims and tribal sovereignty, and with church authorities who ultimately seized their church and some Tsimshian land. After permission was granted to select land in Alaska by President Cleveland, an appointed Tsimshian search committe was formed and selected what was then known as "Taquan". It was Tlingit hunting grounds so permission to obtain the island was then granted by Chief Johnson. The move was the beginning of a remarkable journey and the many accomplishments of a very progressive minded group of Tsimshian.
The Duncan Cottage Museum was the home of the late Missionary William Duncan who was originally sent to work among the Tsimshian of British Columbia by the Church Missionary Society of England. He worked among our people for sixty-one years before his death in 1918. The six-bedroom cottage was hand-built and designed for him by our people as a place for him to live and work. He played many different roles in our community in addition to leading the church and he dedicated each room to one aspect of his work.
Currently the cottage has the two main rooms open as part of our exhibit space and the rest of the smaller rooms are used as archival space until we can secure funding for a seperate building to properly house the archives. The title of our exhibit is Sigyemsa̱x which roughly translates to "make you feel at home" or to "make you feel welcome". The exhibit title was chosen because as most indigenous cultures we have a fairly turbulent history and we want the cottage to be a place of healing that all people feel welcomed to come to. The first room within the exhibit is dedicated to the Tsimshian and our culture and the second room is dedicated to Mr. Duncan and all of his teachings in an effort to create a balance between both cultures. (virtural tour coming soon!)
~Metlakatla Alaska~
Duncan lived in multiple places within British Columbia for a few years before making the move with 823 Tsimshian to found "New Metlakatla" which is located on Annette Islands in Alaska. The move was a result of a few unresolved disputes with the provincial government over land claims and tribal sovereignty, and with church authorities who ultimately seized their church and some Tsimshian land. After permission was granted to select land in Alaska by President Cleveland, an appointed Tsimshian search committe was formed and selected what was then known as "Taquan". It was Tlingit hunting grounds so permission to obtain the island was then granted by Chief Johnson. The move was the beginning of a remarkable journey and the many accomplishments of a very progressive minded group of Tsimshian.