Among the stately cedars of the Kitsap Peninsula, David Boxley is carving a niche for his people.
"I've been wishing for this since I heard the museum was going to happen," he said from the workspace outside his home in Kingston.
Boxley is a member of the Tsimshian tribe, located on a 10-mile-long island near Ketchikan, Alaska. Only about 10,000 members remain. Barely 100 still speak the native tongue.
"It's a culture than came close to disappearing," says Boxley.
David Boxley is a world reknowned wood carver -- and former Ballard High School teacher. These days his energies are focused on trying to keep the tribe's culture alive. His work is on display all over the world. He even has a 40-foot totem pole at Walt Disney World's Epcot Center.
Boxley's reputation has now earned his latest work, a 22-foot tall totem, a place at the National Museum of the American Indian at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
"We're reaching all across this country and placing this very significant part of our culture for the world to see," said Boxley.
To help rebuild the culture once nearly extinguished by white settlers and missionaries, Boxley is teaching the totem tradition to young members of his tribe, who've travelled down to Washington. He's also teaching it to his very own son. The younger Boxley, also named David, works on the carving with his dad. He says this rare opportunity for his family to have a permanent place in history has been rewarding, if not a bit stressful.
"Every once in a while I'll say, 'Hey dad, this is gonna go to the Smithsonian!' Normally you'd expect someone to be all excited, but instead he says, 'stop saying that. You're making me nervous! I just want this to be done!'"
The totem pole is 22 feet long and carved from a log weighing 3,000 pounds. It will be permanently installed at the Smithsonian on January 14th.
"This is a privilege," said the elder Boxley.
"This is about watching our culture live," said his son.
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