Port dedication and a nod towards the original peoples of the area

(Continued from front page) ments that exist here today, that existed when I was born here.”

He explained that this historical moment will feel different for Native people.

“But you do have to keep in mind for the indigenous peoples who are from here, it’s sometimes difficult to watch people take your land and give it to someone else right in front of your own face when they don’t recognize what’s been lost and what’s been taken from the indigenous peoples who have lived here. And who caused no one harm.”

He encouraged residents to learn about indigenous history, pointing out that Soapy

Smith, “a guy who scammed people out of buying soap with money in it, is more famous than any single Native person who has ever lived here.”

Twitchell referenced the former Pius X Mission Catholic Resident School for Native Children, where Garden City RV is now located, owned by the municipality.

He challenged the audience

“to give the land back. Even if you just start with a little chunk, land back is a wonderful initiative.”

“There’s a lot of wonderful things that happen in this community,” Twitchell said.

“I think it has come a long ways from when I lived here.

And I think we can still go farther by listening to each other, by seeing each other, by learning and committing to the complex histories that sometimes still contribute to erasure.”

After the dedication, Twitchell and his family participated in the town photo, which was organized chaos as residents crowded around a Skagway Volunteer Fire Department fire engine and Liz Lavoie, chair of Ports and Harbors Advisory Board, cut the oversized blue ribbon with giant scissors borrowed from Juneau.

Following the photo, much of the town headed to the Red Onion Saloon for a beer.

Election results certified on ballot propositions

(Continued from front page) pick which day and I think I’m centering on Tuesday, when I’m going to go down on the White Pass Dock and panhandle for money. I won’t be busking. I’ll just be panhandling to try and get some money raised, so I can help pay for the clinic…”

The Municipality of Skagway (MOS) will need to keep contributing to the clinic because voters smacked down Proposition 3, an advisory question asking if the MOS should lease the clinic to SEARHC and allow SEARHC to assume clinic operations.

Seventy-four percent of voters (294) were against the change. Twenty-four percent (96) voted in favor of SEARHC.

“Rarely, I think, do you see an election where you have an issue that gets an overwhelming vote,” said Mayor Andrew Cremata. “So, loud message from the community that they want this body to do whatever we have to do to fund the clinic. So I think that should be our intent moving forward … So, clear messages are good, makes our job a lot easier. Budget time, it might be a little more complicated. But right now, it’s clear direction, and in my opinion, during budget time, the clinic’s a priority.”

The results for Proposition 2 were also definitive. Placed on the ballot by initiative petition it read: “The

E.A. & Jenny Rasmuson Community Health Center building and the Dahl Memorial Clinic business shall not be leased or sold without ratification by public vote.”

With 317 votes for (80%) and 75 votes against (19%), the assembly will now need voter permission to lease or sell the clinic building.

Dahl Clinic Interim Executive Director Thomas Steiner’s contract was unanimously extended through October 2023. Normally a point of frustration on the part of some assembly members as the interim director costs the municipality ap- proximately $150,000 every three months, there were no complaints when the contract was extended at the April 20 meeting.