Uploaded November 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
On August 1, 2025, the next in a line of Killer Whale totem poles was raised, followed by a ku.éex’. In this lecture, George will share the history of the poles that came before and the cultural knowledge, artistry and community collaboration that went into preparing for the raising of the most recent pole.
Shgendootan George is the daughter of Gabriel and JoAnn George, and the granddaughter of Jimmy and Lydia George and Kelly and Olive Callahan. She was raised in Angoon, Alaska, in her clan house, Kéet Ooxú Hít (Killer Whale Tooth House). At nine years old, she was brought out by her grandfather as the next leader for her clan house. She continues to maintain and live seasonally in the Killer Whale Tooth House with her partner Jason Frank and their two daughters. George graduated from Angoon High School in 1991 and earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Puget Sound in 1995, followed by study at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She completed her teaching certificate through the University of Alaska Fairbanks and spent 22 years blending teaching with culture and art, creating meaningful learning experiences for her students. Now retired from classroom teaching, she is a co-owner of T.I.D.E.S. Education Associates where she collaborates with local Native organizations and school districts to design, implement and provide training in cultural education.
Learn more about Sealaska Heritage here: sealaskaheritage.org
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On August 1, 2025, the next in a line of Killer Whale totem poles was raised, followed by a ku.éex’. In this lecture, George will share the history of the poles that came before and the cultural knowledge, artistry and community collaboration that went into preparing for the raising of the most recent pole.
Shgendootan George is the daughter of Gabriel and JoAnn George, and the granddaughter of Jimmy and Lydia George and Kelly and Olive Callahan. She was raised in Angoon, Alaska, in her clan house, Kéet Ooxú Hít (Killer Whale Tooth House). At nine years old, she was brought out by her grandfather as the next leader for her clan house. She continues to maintain and live seasonally in the Killer Whale Tooth House with her partner Jason Frank and their two daughters. George graduated from Angoon High School in 1991 and earned a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the University of Puget Sound in 1995, followed by study at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She completed her teaching certificate through the University of Alaska Fairbanks and spent 22 years blending teaching with culture and art, creating meaningful learning experiences for her students. Now retired from classroom teaching, she is a co-owner of T.I.D.E.S. Education Associates where she collaborates with local Native organizations and school districts to design, implement and provide training in cultural education.
Learn more about Sealaska Heritage here: sealaskaheritage.org
facebook.com/SHInstitute
instagram.com/shinstitute
twitter.com/SHInstitute
