North to Alaska

Tongass Island early 1800'sNext week the girls and I will head to Alaska for a very important trip.  This trip will be to spread some of Don's ashes on Tongass Island. Don's wishes were for me and girls to go there when we were ready and tomorrow marks 2 years since Don drifted off into the Universe and I think we are ready. Some may have questioned my waiting as long as I did, and I will just remember when my dying husband was holding my hand and telling me to do this on my own time. He knew that others would not understand, but I was lucky to have a husband that knew I couldn't part with him until I was ready.On Sunday, July 17, the HOFF girls (Audrey, Erica, Lisa and me), Lisa's husband Scott and Don's brothers Kenny and Ken will board a chartered float plane to Tongass Island. An Island that is not exactly easy to get to! I know that Don is having a great big laugh when I was trying to figure out how to get there! I thought it was a hop, skip and jump to get there ... NOPE, it is a 1.5 hr float plane ride to this uninhabited island.The reason Don chose Tongass Island is because it is his Tlingit ancestral land. He always felt a connection to it and when we used to talk about running away from reality he always suggested moving to Tongass Island and subsist off the land.  I always laughed at the idea ... ME, subsist off the land. I am city girl! But, now Don will forever be a part of Tongass Island just as his ancestors are. It will be very powerful being on this island. I don't know how we will spread his ashes there, I think some things you can't plan and they just have to happen. But we will have Don's raven drum and will sing a song. I feel so good in my heart that we are doing this. The time is right.I will include some pictures after we return from Alaska and I am sure will have a powerful story to tell.MUCH LOVE, Susie Here is some additional information I found on Tongass Island:In the 1830's, members of the Tlingit nation's Tongass Tribe, or Tantakwaan, moved to Tongass Island from nearby Village and Cat Islands. A permanent village was established at the site of earlier Tlingit encampments.Three clans inhabited the village: the Ganax.adi (Raven clan); Teikweidi (Eagle, Brown Bear); and Dakla'weldi (Eagle, Killer Whale). Each clan was represented by several house groups. The Ganax.adi had 8 houses, Teikweidi 6 and Dakla'weidi 3 houses. Click here to read more.  Here is an editorial Don wrote to Sitnews regarding Tongass Island -- click HERE. Boy that man loved to write editorials!1887 Tongass Island

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