Tangirnaq Native Village (Aka Woody Island) is a federally recognized tribe, originally recognized as Leisnoi Village (Aka Woody Island), as defined in P.L. 103-454, the Federally Recognized Tribe Act of 1994. The Woody Island Tribal Council is the governing body for our tribe. The council felt it was important to honor our cultural heritage with a more traditional tribal name. Leisnoi Village (Ak
a Woody Island) then became Tangirnaq Native Village (Aka Woody Island) in 2007. Previous to foreign influences, the Native people of Tangirnaq, the Tangirnarmiut, were described as stoic and not demonstrative except in the care and treatment of their children. They were strong people, used to the hearty rigors of their traditional lifestyle, kind hearted and generous, trusting and loyal. They were endlessly patient and endowed with a most remarkable endurance. Foreign influences came to bear on Woody Island and the Alutiiq region, the local people adjusted. These adjustments are captured in and expressed by housing style and location, artifact assemblages, genealogy, and historic photographs. Russian industry (late 1790’s), the commercial resource era (mid-1800’s), Russian Orthodoxy and sea otter hunting (mid-to-late 1800’s), Christian Missionaries (early 1900s), military communications and territorial schooling (mid 1900s), US military (Naval radio station, WW I, WW II, Cold War) (mid 1900s), and the Alaska earthquake and tsunami (1964) all impacted Alaska Native Villagers who lived on Woody Island. Local Sitka Spruce trees were the predominant vegetation that gave the island its Russian name, Ostrov Leisnoi, on the 1808 Russian Chart. The availability of timber, fresh water, and other environmental factors, including cold winter temperatures (permitting thick ice formation for harvesting) and low elevation (ensuring long sunlight exposure for summer gardening), also attracted Russian commercial interests. These interests would begin the transformation of Woody Island from an aboriginal homeland to an international commercial center. Because of its low elevation and flat topography relative to the nearby islands, it was, and continues to be attractive as a marine and aviation communications site, and currently houses a FAA navigation beacon. The lack of a deep natural boat harbor precludes access by large modern boats. Currently only a single year-round resident inhabits the island, in addition to a Baptist Church summer camp and two seasonal family residents. There are eight freshwater lakes on Woody Island, of which two (Icehouse/Mirror lake and Tangirnaq/Upper lake) were modified for power to run a saw mill and for ice production by the Woody Island Ice Company. Tangirnaq Lake supplied the Baptist Mission, harbor defense personnel, and local villagers with fresh water. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially built a site on the East side of Woody Island in 1941 during World War II. This was significant to the villagers as children could now attend grades 1-8 without leaving the island. Also of great importance, an FAA boat began providing daily ferry service from Woody Island to Kodiak. Woody Island villagers, during this time period, relied heavily on the FAA station for employment, educational, and ferry services. The FAA built and maintained a dock at Woody Island which was used by most who visited. While still standing today the dock has been condemned. was introduced pursuant to the provisions of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act as a Native Village Corporation for Woody Island Village. As part of its land selection, Leisnoi gained title to the eastern third of Woody Island which includes the FAA site. The traditional village site, on the west side of the island was not available in the selection process because it was located within a two mile radius of Kodiak.
