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3                                                             CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA

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5                                                                  RESOLUTION NO. 2020-23

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Sponsors: Knox / Eisenbeisz

7. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF SITKA CONCERNING
8. THE RELOCATION OF THE ALEXANDER BARANOV STATUE TO THE
9. SITKA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM

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11. WHEREAS, the City and Borough of Sitka recognizes the fact that Sitka is built upon the homelands
12. and villages of the Tlingit people, who have occupied this land they called Sheet’ka since time
13. immemorial, and without whom the building of the City and Borough of Sitka would not have been
14. possible; and

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16. WHEREAS, although Sitka’s history includes war, the Tlingit people now share these bountiful lands
17. and waters with the City and Borough of Sitka and welcomes all visitors to live in peace, and with this
18. message, the citizens of Sitka holds that our public gathering spaces should exemplify a diverse Sitka
19. that is safe, just, and welcoming to all; and

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21. WHEREAS, the City and Borough of Sitka was generously gifted a statue of Alexander Baranov by
22. the Hames Family; this statue and stone pedestal is placed in front of Sitka’s Harrigan Centennial
23. Hall, and is one of the first monuments displayed to greet a visitor to Sitka; and

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25. WHEREAS, it is well known that Alexander Baranov as director of the Russian-American Fur
26. Company left an indelible mark on the history of Sitka; however, it is also well known that much of this
27. history involves Baranov directly overseeing enslavement of Tlingit and Aleut people to hunt fur
28. mammals to near extinction; violation of Native women, families, and law; murder, and theft of
29. indigenous property – often justified under a theory of racial and cultural superiority; Baranov’s cruelty
30. earned him the Tlingit nickname Loosh Te’ix “No Heart”; the violence dispensed by Baranov continues
31. to ripple through time, with waves of historical trauma still causing pain for Native people this very
32. day; and

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34. WHEREAS, the Baranov statue’s prominence at a focal gathering spot in Sitka continues to incite
35. divisions in our community; the placement at a center-point risks a wrong message to Sitka’s
36. residents and visitors; the monument to Baranov continues to normalize a figure steeped in racial
37. division, violence, and injustice; Sitka has a choice regarding the values it can project, and should
38. lead with our nationally recognized voice as a leader in wellness, reconciliation, and healing; and

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40. WHEREAS, relocating the statue of Baranov to the Sitka Historical Society Museum will allow a full
41. display providing historical context, as well as important lessons to be passed onto future generations.

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43. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Assembly of the City and Borough of Sitka directs
44. the relocation of the Baranov statue to an appropriate location within the Sitka Historical Society
45. Museum in Harrigan Centennial Hall as soon as possible.

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47. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, a committee of three Assembly representatives, three Sitka Tribe of
48. Alaska Tribal Council representatives and one Sitka Historical Society representative will coordinate
49. the relocation, provide important historical background and context, and assist in the museum
50. curation of the statue;

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52. BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED, it is the intent of the Assembly of the City and Borough of Sitka to place
53. the statue in the care of the Sitka Historical Society Museum.

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