Kake

About Kake

Opening of Daylight

Located 100 miles south of Juneau on the northwest coast of Kupreanof Island and nestled in the Tongass National Forest lies the community of Kake. Kake comes from the Tlingit word “Keix” which means “opening of daylight” and is, in many ways, a traditional Tlingit town.

Home to one of the world’s largest totem poles, this beautiful beachfront village has been home to the Kake tribe of Tlingit Native Americans for thousands of years. Nearly 70% if the village’s residents are of Tlingit heritage and many Tlingit traditions remain the foundation of the community. Many residents of Kake continue to live off of the land through hunting, fishing, and gathering of the local vegetation.

Visitors can immerse themselves in a rich heritage that includes traditional dancing, storytelling, basket weaving, beading, and carving.  Or visit the village’s 132-foot totem pole, one of the most iconic traditions of Kake. The totem pole was created in 1971 by a trained Native carver and raised according to the traditional ceremony. The totem pole is recorded as one of the largest in the world.