Alaska native and artist Roy Peratrovich Jr. shares a childhood story of Tlingit American Indians
Roy Peratrovich Jr. spent more than 40 years working as a registered engineer, then another 20-plus years pursuing his love for creating art full-time after retirement. Now, at 82 years old, he’s added published author to his résumé. “Little Whale: A Story of the Last Tlingit War Canoe” is based on the true story his grandfather, Andrew Wannamaker, told him as a child. The story is an adventure filled with life lessons, a window into the daily life of the Tlingit tribe and includes tense moments.
The book takes the reader to a village in Alaska, now known as Sitka, in the late 1890s. Kéet, the 10-year-old son of a Tlingit tribal leader, sneaks onto his father’s canoe for a 200-mile journey to another village in an area now known as Ketchikan. Kéet’s father and other men from the village travel across sometimes choppy waters to settle a dispute with another clan. Along the way, they have an unforgettable encounter with a whale pod.
“The whole idea is to show a little background about our native culture so people would look at that and see how the people lived in those days,” Peratrovich said. “Many people believed everything had a meaning for being. Everything had a spirit — the ocean, birds, the animals of all type. They all had a special reason for being there.”
According to Peratrovich, Tlingit (pronounced kleen-kit) American Indians are one of 11 separate cultures of Native people in Southeastern Alaska who survived through hunting, fishing and gathering. They were also skilled artists. Tlingits are divided into two moieties or groups — Raven or Eagle. Peratrovich is a Raven.
The chapter book includes an introduction that explains customs, beliefs and cultural traditions of the Tlingit people. There’s also a glossary of Tlingit words and their meaning including gunalchéesh (thank you), cháatl (halibut) and yáay (whale) to help readers.
Peratrovich uses detailed descriptions, transporting the reader to his grandfather’s world. His illustrations of a halibut hook, his grandfather’s village and ceremonial clothing further tell the story.
“Kéet jumped out of bed, thrilled at the thought of fishing for halibut with his father. He had always loved the tastes of the large, flat fish, but also knew it could be dangerous to fish for them. Some halibut weighed hundreds of pounds,” Peratrovich wrote. “Kéet was afraid that if he woke his brothers, his father might change his mind and bring them instead, so he quietly tugged on his soft deerskin clothes, slipped on his moccasins, and tiptoed around, gathering the rest of his things before stepping into the large common area.”
Peratrovich didn’t plan embarking on the endeavor of writing a book. But his family and a friend convinced him the story he could share was significant.
“My wife helped me a lot on the editing,” he said. “My daughter, bless her, without her it never would’ve happened.”
It took four years of writing, editing and illustrating for Peratrovich to complete “Little Whale.”
Peratrovich was born in Klawock, Alaska, in 1934 to Roy and Elizabeth, who were devoted to securing equal rights for Alaska natives. When they moved their family of seven to Juneau, they faced discrimination.
“Juneau even had signs up that said ‘no Indians or dogs allowed’ that kind of stuff,” Peratrovich said. “They tried to buy their first home, and they weren’t allowed to live outside of a village in Juneau.”
His mother’s advocacy helped secure the passage of the Alaska Anti-Discrimination Act in 1945, while Alaska was still a territory. The law called for full and equal accommodations, facilities and privileges to all citizens, essentially eliminating the Northwest version of Jim Crow laws.
Peratrovich said the Tlingit people were converted early by Presbyterian ministers who came to Alaska. His grandfather even became a lay minister.
“He traveled southeastern Alaska and filled in in the summertime for ministers who were taking summers off, then in the fall they’d be returning,” Peratrovich said. “He could preach in both Tlingit language and also English.”
Today Peratrovich lives in Gig Harbor with his wife, Toby, and their dog, Henry, a friendly beagle. Dozens of ravens appear throughout his home along with family pictures and numerous pieces of Native art — his own and from other artists. With one book, complete Peratrovich is still being encouraged to keep writing.
“My kids and my wife and close friends want me to start writing stories again of just little incidents in my life that I remember,” he said.” Particularly of the past that happened in Klawock.”
“Little Whale” is more than just a children’s book. It’s a notable documentation of a way of life that’s no longer prevalent.
“In Alaska they’re now trying to make the Tlingit language into a written language. It was just an oral language,” Peratrovich said. “The difficulty now is the people who knew the Tlingit language best have died.”