Naay I'waans ("The Great House", Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House)

Naay I'waans ("The Great House", Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House) Náay I'waans (The Great House) Chief Son-i-Hat (1829-1912), of the Yáadaas clan (Eagle moiety), became one of the wealthiest of the Haida chiefs.

Son-i-Hat (Kóyongxung) built Náay I'waans (The Great House) around 1880 and lived there until his death in 1912. Now the last remaining traditional Haida house, Náay I'waans got the name "Whale House" from the stories conveyed on its original interior house posts. Between 1938 and 1940, the Civilian Conservation Corps program reconstructed the Whale House and created a nearby totem park, using

totem poles from Old Kasaan (Gasa'aan, "pretty town" or "beautiful village"). The National Register of Historic Places listed the "Chief Son-i-Hat Whale House and Totems Historic District" in 2002. Once again, Náay I'waans has deteriorated into disrepair and needs significant reconstruction. Many of the surrounding totems show signs of their age as well. The Organized Village of Kasaan (Kasaan's local Tribe) and KAVILCO, INCORPORATED (the local ANCSA village corporation, which owns the property), have teamed to begin the restoration effort.

from inside the front door...
10/04/2019

from inside the front door...

meanwhile, inside Naay I'waans....
08/02/2018

meanwhile, inside Naay I'waans....

Recently, inside Naay I'waans....
07/11/2018

Recently, inside Naay I'waans....

"texture adzing" on the wall planks of Naay I'waans
06/05/2018

"texture adzing" on the wall planks of Naay I'waans

07/26/2017
this weekend...
07/17/2017

this weekend...

saw two bears today...photo of the bigger one...
05/09/2017

saw two bears today...photo of the bigger one...

peek-a-boo...
05/01/2017

peek-a-boo...

a recent snowy afternoon at Naay I'waans...
03/14/2017

a recent snowy afternoon at Naay I'waans...

always a good morning at Naay I'waans
03/12/2017

always a good morning at Naay I'waans

Address

Kasaan, AK
99950

Telephone

(907) 542-2230

Website

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