Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

The Raven House is undergoing renovations this year to return it to pristine condition. Over the past few years, the five-bedroom clan house located on Front Street has fallen into disrepair.

"We want to continue to use the Lukaax̱.ádi clan house as a clan house and for educational purposes," said one of the clan trustees Jackie Pata, who is spearheading the renovations with clan leader, Nathan Jackson.

The building has a long history. It was initially constructed in 1898 in Kluctoo at 19 mile. After surviving a mudslide, it was relocated to Yandeist'aḵyé. The house was subsequently dismantled, again, and relocated to Front Street where it was used as the primary home for clan house leaders and elders, a gathering space, and place for out-of-town clan members to stay when visiting Haines.

Pata said it's been close to four years since the house has been used for these purposes. Around the same time, clan members started working on renovating the space.

"We started it around four years ago, when my brother, Jim Mason, worked on the drainage and slope issues around the home. We then gutted out the kitchen and bathroom and put in new linoleum. We installed an on-demand hot water heater, painted the interior rooms and replaced bedroom carpeting," Pata said.

A series of events, ending with the COVID-19 pandemic, put renovations on pause until this April when Pata's nephews, Jace and Jake Mason, who work in construction, moved to town. "With two nephews and my other brother (John Mason), who has some time, I thought, we can do this," Pata said.

The family construction crew is currently working on the downstairs portion of the building, installing new, durable flooring in the living room and dining room. Pata said they're planning to redo the cabinets, install a new heating source, and upgrade the wiring and lights.

"Our goal is that we'll have a clan work party to paint the outside of the house in June. We're still figuring out the dates," Pata said. The hope is to have the renovations done by the fall, in time for a clan-wide gathering.

Pata said she's proud of the work the clan is putting into the restoration. She sees it as an act dedicated to future generations.

"I'm so proud of the members of our clan because they're so committed to teaching the next generation. As our late clan leader Daanawáaḵ (Austin Hammond) always said, 'It's for the grandchildren,' and you can see that vision still today in the leadership of our clan," Pata said.