Jolene Chikigak is struggling to recover her son Pace's belongings from Mt. Edgecumbe High School after his death in April. Pace, a straight-A student, was a third-generation attendee at the boarding school. His mother says she requested the school to send his belongings but received a memorial plaque instead. The items are crucial for Pace's traditional funeral rites in his home village of Akulerak, which were held without all of his belongings.
Pace Carson Chikigak passed away on April 22, 2024. Since then, his mother Jolene has been trying to recover his belongings from Mt. Edgecumbe High School .
When Pace died in April at home, Chikigak says she called the school to let them know, and asked if a staff member could pack up her son’s belongings from his dorm room and mail them to her. The person she spoke with on the phone said they would. “I always made him come back because I wanted him here for his birthday. So he only brought home the clothes he was clothed , sweaters and other items he wasn’t going to be bringing back,”Chikigak said. “I know left his towels, bedding, probably extra clothes that he didn’t bring. I think maybe shoes, toiletries and whatnot he did leave behind that we did not receive.”
After 40 days, they held the feast without all of Pace’s belongings. But she continued to reach out to staff at Mt. Edgecumbe, holding out hope that the items were still on their way. Via email, staff said they would look for them, but then she says they didn’t follow up about whether the items were lost or found.40 days after Pace passed away, his family held a feast and traditional burning of his belongings in Akulerak.
KCAW also reached out to the Chair of the Alaska Board of Education and Early Development, which oversees Mt. Edgecumbe High School. We were referred to a public affairs staff member, but have received no statement.
Obituary Mt. Edgecumbe High School Sitka Traditional Funeral Alaskan Culture
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