Living in Kake

Kake has a rich history. This page will give you a small snapshot of what it is like in Kake and a short explanation of some basic history.

Keex' Kwaan

Chiefs Toskone and Tooktoelth in Kake sometime between 1898 and 1912.

Taken by Case and Draper, found in Alaska State Archives

Get to Know Kake

Kake is a first-class City located on the northwest coast of Kupreanof Island along Keku Strait and Frederick Sound, 95 air miles southwest of Juneau. Centrally located in the Southeast panhandle of the State, Kake is a Tlingit village rich in cultural history and tradition. The region of Kake has been inhabited by the Tlingit people for thousands of years. Kake is home to the third tallest totem pole in the world, towering over the village at 132 feet, and was carved in 1967 for the Alaska Purchase centennial.

Kake is a prime spot for viewing whales, which migrate through the area in large numbers. Kake also has a large black bear population, with moose, Sitka black-tail deer, wolf, bald eagles, sea otters, and seals thriving in the area. Fishing for salmon and halibut is superb in Kake. Freshwater streams are abundant in trout, steelhead, and salmon in season.

Kake Past and Present

The Kake Cannery is a registered historical landmark and one of the best preserved examples of a working cannery in Southeast.

Cannery

In 1869, there were a series of conflicts between a few members of Kake and the U.S. Navy. Determined to punish the community, the U.S. Navy bombed and burned three village sites in Kake territory. In 2024, the U.S. Navy came and there was an official apology ceremony.

U.S. Navy Bombardment

After being commissioned and carved in Southeast Alaska in 1969, the totem pole was first sent to Japan's 1970 world fair before coming back to Kake for a 3 day traditional celebration in 1971.

1971 Totem Pole Raising

Hosted by OVK yearly in the summer for Kake youth, children elementary though high school have a chance to learn about Tlingit history, subsistence, and language elements.

Culture Camp