A 40-year-old totem, carved by Amos Wallace, was raised in late September 2024 at the Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center in Juneau, Alaska.
The late Amos Wallace (1920-2004) was a Tlingit Master Carver. He created sketches, jewelry, and carvings, including totems and large wall-plaques for a number of individuals, parks, and organizations during his life time. The work of Amos Wallace is well respected and known throughout Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Even the Smithsonian has a collection of Wallace pieces.
Juneau’s Douglas Island was the long-time home of Amos Wallace so it is fitting that his Porcupine/Beaver totem be given a prominent position in Juneau for all to see. For decades the totem lived inside the U.S. Forest Service office in Juneau; now thousands of visitors to Mendenhall Glacier can set their eyes on Amos’ exceptional work.
Amos’ son Brian Wallace, a photographer, was at the totem rededication and described the ceremony as “a kind of homecoming.” Brian’s father Amos was one of many Alaska Native children removed from their families and sent off to government or church-run institutions, a practice lasting from the 1800s through the 1970s in both the U.S. and Canada. Impacted by the experience, Amos found healing through art.
The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska made the totem move possible and hosted the rededication ceremony. In 2023, a memorandum of understanding was established whereby the U.S. Forest Service and the Central Council would collaborate on management of the Recreational Area. Ten tribal members worked as ambassadors during summer 2024, sharing their personal connections and Tlingit culture.
Next time you are in Juneau, be sure to stop by the Visitor Center at Mendenhall Glacier, accessible by taxi or city bus along the highway north of downtown Juneau.
Photo: Tlingit/Haida by Raeanne Holmes
