Staff | Chief Shakes'

Item number 1-1443 from the The Burke: University of Washington.

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Exhibit Label

The staff is an emblem of high esteem. Like the crest hat, it was brought out only on occasions of great importance, carried by the bearer of the lineage title, Shakes, or by his speaker or representative. A dynasty of seven consecutive chiefs held the name Shakes, dating back to the capture of the name Weeshakes in a war with the Nishga. This must have been a very long time ago, for when the Nanyaayi moved to the site of present-day Wrangell in 1833 the title was already held by Shakes IV. The seventh and last chief to assume the name of Shakes died in 1944. (Holm, Spirit and Ancestor, 1987)