Chief Shakes is a distinguished Tlingit leadership title passed down through generations among groups of native people from Northwestern North America.
A construction called the Chief Shakes Tribal House is a registered site per the Federal US National Park Service (NPS)[1] which regularly features on websites advertising tourist experiences in the relevant region of Alaska.
[2][3][4] Purportedly the modern construction is a reconstruction established in 1940 of an earlier structure made by the Tlingit Indigenous Americans themselves and seated members of the royal line.
The orphan Gush X’een (translation: Dorsal Fin Screen, English: Gushklin) lived at Ch’aal’in.
A proper burial was held for these invaders from the Tsimshian villages of Mitlagaatla, Giitgáatla and Wakuutl’, members of the Laxsibuu and Giitxaangiik clans.
The title passed to his younger brother X’adanéik who was also known as Tl’akwu Sheiyksh or Shaawát Chooku Éesh (Short Woman, Father.
His successor, Shakes IV, was known as Keishíshk’ whose wife was S’eitlin, a Deisheetaan (Gaanax.ádi) woman from Aan goon (Angoon).
In 1924, when legislation was passed granting them citizenship, voting rights were not ensured, but two-thirds had already gained the franchise through moves off reservations and other actions.
Upon being tried in court, and represented by the famous Tlingit attorney from Wrangell, Mr. William Paul (Shkúndee) of the Teehítaan Clan, Jones was acquitted and Indians were given the right to vote.
One of the "white" laws was that property and titles might no longer be passed from uncle to nephew in the traditional way, only from father to son.
In the 1930s the Civilian Conservation Corps decided to build a model community house in the old style, as there were some elders alive then who still remembered how they were built.