This Native American Heritage Month, we honor the Indigenous Peoples of Southeast Alaska and their centuries of stewardship of the Stikine River watershed and surrounding temperate rainforest in Wrangell, where culture, language and art reflect the rivers, mountains, forest, and sea. Here, salmon run through the rivers, sustaining the land and the Tlingit culture. Millions of salmon return each year, and each harvest is taken with care so that the ancient, life-giving cycle remains unbroken for generations to come. Wrangell’s incredible biodiversity includes coastal wolves, Black and Brown bears, and centuries-old towering Sitka spruce. Yellow Cedar, also native here, is cherished by the Tlingit for its durability and is used to craft totem poles, masks, and canoes, preserving cultural stories and artistry across generations. These trees and animal are kin, woven into Tlingit heritage. This is all threatened by rapid industrialization and mining development occurring across the US-C...