Metlakatla mayor predicts record turnout for Founder’s Day

Metlakatla Mayor Audrey Hudson predicts this year’s Founder’s Day celebration will be the biggest one yet.

The event has been getting bigger every year, she said.

“With our cultural reinvigoration and our growing pride every year, this is by far the largest celebration so far,” she said.

Mayor Hudson said Monday’s events will start at 6 a.m. and end around 2 a.m. Tuesday morning. Metlakatlans will get the day off from work to enjoy the day, which celebrates the 130^th anniversary of the community’s founding.

“It’s going to be a day packed with events and festivities and good times,” she said.

Metlakatla Indian Community was founded in 1887 by Anglican missionary William Duncan and several hundred Tsimshians after they left the Canadian community of Metlakatla in British Columbia due to a religious dispute.

Metlakatla is located on Annette Island, which is the only Indian reserve in Alaska.