K9471WRdaniellew
Aug 2023
Thank you so much for the amazing time Sharon! I really enjoyed learning about the Totem's in Totem Bight and their connection to your family. I also loved all the pearls of ancestral wisdom sprinkled throughout the tour such as fearing the land otter, knowing to be more cautious of bears when the skunk cabbage is out, and all the insights of new learning about the historical practices of carving, preserving and returning the Totem's to the Earth. Your patience as our group would stop and talk and share, allowing us time for visiting and then picking up where you left off before we left helped me really enjoy my short visit - the pacing felt perfect. Loved the rich stories and learning of the cultural practices such as how the ceremonial house was used and that the family walked behind the Matriach - love it! This trip has been powerfully healing to me. If I were to capture a headline for this trip, it came from Sharon. "Finding my grandmother's voice," she shared, was a concept meaning really finding that deep connection to your roots, to who you are, discovering your inner wisdom. Wow. So powerful, and to return to my childhood home, so many memories - some good, some bad, so fortunate to have spent my extremely brief visit with Sharon. Her warmth, passion for learning and teaching about her culture really shines through. Sharon has such a wealth of knowledge about the Native culture, plants, wildlife and the Ocean. Sharon is a true Alaskan gem, one of the wise leaders among the indigenous Natives of Ketchikan, taking great pride and joy in teaching the culture as a way of preserving and protecting their history and cultural practices. Along with the wisdom from her elders, she shares new insights from what they are learning now about the history and restoration of these magnificent totems. I could listen to her share all day long! Thank you so much for making this trip so special Sharon!