Metlakatla

Metlakatla lies on Annette Island, about 25 kilometres south of Ketchikan on Alaska’s southeastern coast. The community is accessible by the Alaska Marine Highway ferry and by seaplane. As a cruise destination, Metlakatla is less frequently visited than Alaska’s busier ports and tends to attract smaller expedition vessels.

Since the late 19th century, Metlakatla has been the main settlement of the Metlakatla Indian Community of the Annette Island Reserve, the only remaining reserve in Alaska. The community consists primarily of Tsimshian people and chose to opt out of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of the 1970s, retaining rights to its land and waters. Annette Island was selected after a Tsimshian search committee found its calm bay, accessible beaches, nearby waterfall and abundant fish particularly suited to the community.

The settlement’s history reaches back to 1887, when the group arrived on the island and established a community in the Port Chester area. The town was laid out in a European style grid, with a church, school, cannery and sawmill forming part of the early settlement.

Metlakatla has a wet and windy climate throughout the year, with cool winters and mild summers. Its maritime location makes it one of the warmer communities in Alaska, with an annual mean temperature of 47.7 degrees Fahrenheit. For visitors, the community offers opportunities to learn about Tsimshian culture, including carving traditions and performances that may be included in shore excursions. A visit to Metlakatla offers a quieter setting for discovering Alaska Native heritage and the community’s distinctive history.