Ketchikan man agrees not to raise fake totem poles carved by convicted murderer

Construction of Joseph Machini’s Ketchikan shops astatine 420 Water St. appeared astir complete by Monday, June 4, 2024. (Michael Fanelli/KRBD)

The proprietor of a salient downtown Ketchikan spot has agreed not to raise inauthentic totem poles carved by a convicted murderer adjacent to his caller shops. After gathering pinch leaders of nan region’s Indigenous communities, Joseph Machini besides agreed not to usage nan sanction “potlatch” for his marketplace.

The 420 Water St. property, which sits straight crossed from nan docks wherever cruise vessel visitors disembark, has been nan taxable of protestation for much than a month. Residents voiced interest complete nan first hillside excavation, but nan starring interest was pinch nan 2 large, totem-like poles that had been lying connected nan spot until recently.

RELATED: Ketchikan residents protestation imitation totem poles carved by convicted murderer

Vice-Mayor Janalee Gage raised nan rumor astatine a Ketchikan City Council gathering connected May 2, calling nan poles an affront to nan Native organization because they were carved by a non-Native man successful Minnesota. 

The contention was further fueled by reports that nan carver had been charged pinch murdering his woman pinch different rod that they were moving connected together, arsenic portion of their shared carving business. In interviews pinch the Ketchikan Daily News, Machini confirmed he bought nan poles from nan Minnesota carver successful question, and that nan execution happened immoderate clip aft his purchase.

But connected Monday, Native leaders announced that they had met pinch Machini, who apologized and promised not to usage nan contested poles connected nan property. Norm Skan, president of nan Ketchikan Indian Community, said this was nan result they were hoping for.

“And he really, he felt bad astir it. And he understood it,” Skan said. “And he agreed to scope retired to nan group that he met yesterday, and to commencement pursuing our protocols connected what would beryllium acceptable aliases not.”

Skan said he appreciated Machini’s willingness to meet pinch them, and that they accepted his apology.

“I really respected him for coming into what could person been an highly dispute situation and conscionable sitting location and listening,” Skan said.

Skan said he and different leaders intend to clasp Machini to his word, and that they’ll proceed seeking retired ways to forestall this from happening successful nan future.

KRBD was not capable to scope Joseph Machini for this story.