Tlingit shadowbox theater tells why mosquitos are so mean

As two students on the far left of the stage narrated, fourth grade students silently enacted the scenes in front of a bright light and behind a white screen, allowing their shadows to tell the story of a young hero who takes his revenge on a fearsome cannibal for the murder of his older brothers.

After the cannibal is killed and his body is burned, his scattered ashes become mosquitoes, inflicting painful bites in revenge.

The fourth graders, with help from students in the high school Tlingit class, presented a shadowbox theater production of "How the Mosquito Came to Be," at Evergreen Elementary School on Nov. 27.

"It's just really nice to see these young people learning our stories and our culture and performing, and it's really nice to see all of you learning. Gunalchéesh," Richard Oliver said to the audience.

Ben Jackson addressed the students, speaking in English and Tlingit. "You guys are all doing what we were taught when we were your age," he said. "We learned it very well, listening to our people. ... Right now, it's almost fading away, which is sad. ... I'm also proud to stand up in front of you and give you my knowledge of the Tlingit language."

Jackson said later that there aren't many people left who remain proficient in the language. "I'm 77 years old right now, and I don't really want to die with it because there's not too many of us that can actually speak it."

Tlingit language teacher Virginia Oliver, who helped organize the play and served as host, welcomed the audience to the afternoon performance, alternating between English and Tlingit. "It is so good to see all of you ... It's good you've all come. Gunalchéesh!"

Elders sat along the left wall and other visitors sat along the right at benches and tables in the school multi-purpose room, while grade schoolers provided the bulk of the audience, filing in, one class at a time, to sit on the carpeted floor.

Many of the elders wore traditional hats, robes and regalia. Oliver also thanked students and staff, including Schools Superintendent Bill Burr and Principal Ann Hilburn, for the opportunity to perform in celebration of National Native Heritage Month in November.

Oliver also thanked fourth grade teacher Brian Merritt, whose students performed in the production. "Mr. Merritt has graciously allowed us to do this with his class and we really appreciate it."

Freshman Bella Ritchie read a proclamation on Indigenous Peoples Day 2023. "The story of America's Indigenous people is a story of their resilience and survival, of their persistent commitment to their right to self-governance, and of their determination to preserve cultures, identities and ways of life," she said.

Before the play, the production opened with a traditional song and dance to a drumbeat from some of the elders in attendance. "People ask us, 'Why do you dance,'" Oliver said. "'Who taught you to dance?' Raven. Raven taught us to dance. We dance in appreciation. We dance at feasts. We appreciate anything that is shown to us, so today in honor, we dance for you."

Oliver closed the event with elders performing a final traditional song and dance. "This is a language chant. It's inside of you, our grandparents' language," she said. "It's here forever. Let it exist forever."

Jude Johnson played the hero who vanquished the cannibal, who was portrayed by Syler Churchill.

One of the dancers was Sandra Churchill, Syler's grandmother, who has been the Head Start teacher in town for the past 26 years. "That's why all the kids know me," she said with a laugh. "And their parents. I'm on the second generation."