Ketchikan Indian Community tribal leaders officially opened the KIC Gift Shop and Artist Market, on the corner of Dock and Main Street, at a ribbon cutting ceremony on Monday. Tribal CEO Emily Edenshaw said that a store to support Indigenous artists, and get their work on the cruise ships, has been part of KIC’s strategic plan since 2018.
“Tourism is education, education is tourism, and when you look at the nearly 2 million visitors that come through our community, we need more spaces like this that could help tell the story of not only the artwork that they’re buying, but of our community,” Edenshaw told KRBD.
The new shop sells everything from jewelry, to blankets, to dishware. All of it is made by Indigenous artists, some of which are KIC citizens. Creators can sell their work in permanent installments, or on their own time in daily vendor booths.
The shop is at the site of the tribe’s former seasonal warming shelter, which closed this spring. Edenshaw said the tribe will open another temporary warming shelter in a new location this fall. She said the location of the new shelter will be announced soon.
Edenshaw said artists who sell in-person at the new store will get to keep all of their profits. And while the goal is to be open year-round, she said the shop is a way to bring more tourism dollars to the community.
“We’re supporting our artists, we’re providing workforce development opportunities for our youth, but also we’re helping to educate our tourists, whom I know are so hungry to get that firsthand knowledge from people who are of the land,” Edenshaw said.
On opening day, artist Diane Douglas-Willard sat behind a table splayed with abalone earrings, cedar bark and seal skin sewings. She normally sells her jewelry around the holidays, but heard about KIC’s new shop and decided to purchase a vendor table for the day.
Douglas-Willard said other cruise ship towns, like Juneau, have gift shops that prioritize Native-made goods, and is happy to see another come to Ketchikan. For those selling in-person, she said the new shop will allow tourists to meet the artists behind the work.
“I have a feeling it’s going to go really good,” Douglas-Willard said. “I think it’s probably needed in this society, in our neighborhood, in our community. It’s good to see.”
Edenshaw said she’s eager to explore the new store’s potential. She envisions it hosting pop-up shops and First Friday events, while also employing local youth and selling their art. She said the store provides another Native space to tell the story of Ketchikan.
“I love the quote, ‘The greatest responsibility of an artist is to reflect the times,’ and I’m excited to see all the beautiful art that can come through here,” Edenshaw said. “Just knowing that there is a ripple effect, you’re not only supporting the artists, you’re supporting the person that harvested the materials, you’re supporting their families.”
Edenshaw said KIC’s new gift shop will work to support other Native-owned businesses in town, too. There’s a map at the front of the shop highlighting those stores.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
