WordWrap 2017: Historical Reflections on The Law of the Land was created for the group exhibition “Voices of Change: Perspectives on the Transfer of Alaska from Russia to the United States” at the Sitka National Historical Park in Sitka, Alaska. 14 prints were on view along the walking trail and 1 print was shown inside the gallery.

This series of digital prints, WordWrap 2017: Historical Reflections on the Law of the Land, explores the legal and legislative response to the Treaty of Cession. I was inspired reading the history of the struggle for Alaska Native land rights and wanted to create montages that both highlighted some of the key cases and honored those who persisted through the courts in the face of many challenges. Placing them on the trees offered a unique opportunity to literally connect words to the land and create a corridor for reflecting on history and the legal process.

I am grateful to the many people who answered my questions along the way and/or graciously permitted me to include their quotes in these prints, especially: The Native American Rights Fund, The Tuzzy Consortium Library, Megan Alvanna-Stimpfle, Rose Coveney, Peter Grennen, Wendy Lanchester, Trevor Link, Nancy Marks, Lisa Moriarty, Nancy Rabener, Margie Root, Ron Spatz, Lee Wallace, Sarah Weatherbee and Robin Zucker. With gratitude to all the staff at the Alaska State Library Historical Collections, JFK Presidential Library, and the Library of Congress who make their materials accessible to the public. Thank you to Karinna Gomez, Kelsey Lutz, and all the wonderful people at the Sitka National Historic Park and the University of Alaska Museum of the North for hosting this exhibition.