Tlingit Elder, clan leader David Katzeek passes away

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Thursday, October 29th, 2020 12:36pm

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David Katzeek (Photo courtesy Sealaska)

Juneau, Alaska (KINY) - David Katzeek, a respected Tlingit elder, mentor, and clan leader of the Shangukeidí, has passed away.

Katzeek was born in Klukwan in November 1942 to Anna and George J. Katzeek. He was a Chilkat Eagle Tlingit of the Shangukeidí Clan from the Thunderbird House, the House Lowered by the Sun, and the Tree Bark House in Chilkat Kwáan Klukwan, and a child of the Gaanaxteidí Clan.

Katzeek moved to Juneau in 1948 and worked from 1969 to 1982 in business and finance as a Chief Auditor and Financial Officer for the City & Borough of Juneau.

With the establishment of Sealaska Heritage Institute in 1982, Katzeek became its first President, a position he held until 1992.

He later served as a consultant to numerous Tlingit organizations such as the Sealaska Heritage Institute and Goldbelt Heritage Foundation and also served on the Sealaska Heritage Institute’s Council of Traditional Scholars.

In his later years, he devoted much of his time to providing cultural education to K-12 students in the Juneau School District.

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