Metlakatla is a community on Annette Island, about 16 miles south of Ketchikan in Southeast Alaska, and the home of a largely Tsimshian population. Founded in 1887 when followers of the missionary William Duncan moved from British Columbia, it lies within the Annette Island Reserve, the only Indian reserve in Alaska. The community had 1,454 residents in 2020 [1].
| Location | Annette Island, about 16 miles south of Ketchikan |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1887 |
| Reserve approved | 1891 by Congress |
| Reserve size | About 132,000 acres |
| Population (2020) | 1,454 |
| Peoples | Mainly Tsimshian |
The Tsimshian Community
The community is mainly Tsimshian. Membership is largely by lineage, though other Alaska Native people can join with tribal council approval. The name comes from a Tsimshian phrase for a saltwater passage where the wind dies down. The land was once a Tlingit hunting ground, and Tlingit Chief Johnson allowed the Tsimshian to settle there [1].
William Duncan
William Duncan, an English lay missionary with the Church Missionary Society, left Metlakatla, British Columbia, after a doctrinal dispute. He lobbied Washington for land in Alaska and remained in Metlakatla until his death in 1918 [1].
The 1887 Move
Duncan’s followers relocated to Annette Island in 1887 and founded a settlement in the Port Chester area. It had a church, a school, a cannery and a sawmill, and they named it after their former town [1].
Annette Island Reserve
Congress approved the reserve in 1891, and it is the only Indian reserve in Alaska. In the 1970s the community declined to join the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, keeping its reserve status and land and water rights, including exclusive commercial and subsistence fishing rights in nearby waters. The reserve covers about 132,000 acres [1].
Population
The community had 823 residents in 1890, fell to 465 in 1900 and grew to 1,407 in 1990. It had 1,375 in 2000, 1,405 in 2010 and 1,454 in 2020. In 2020 about 76.5 percent of residents were American Indian or Alaska Native [1].
Economy and Services
The community historically ran a cannery and sawmill, hosted a wartime airbase and later a Coast Guard search-and-rescue base, and provided commercial airfield service until the 1970s. Fishing rights remain central to the local economy [1]. See the entry on Alaska Native village corporations.
FAQs
Where is Metlakatla? On Annette Island, about 16 miles south of Ketchikan.
Who founded Metlakatla, Alaska? Followers of the missionary William Duncan, who moved from British Columbia in 1887.
Why is Metlakatla unique? It is the only Indian reserve in Alaska, having declined to join ANCSA.
How big is the Annette Island Reserve? About 132,000 acres.
What is the population? 1,454 in 2020.
Sources
More in Anthropology
Key facts
Quick checkWhich Alaska community is home to the state’s only Indian reserve?Show answer
Metlakatla
Sources
- Wikipedia. Metlakatla, Alaska. 2026 (accessed 2026-11-12)
Editorially reviewed by Specialty Digest Editorial TeamLast reviewed November 12, 2026Researched and drafted with AI assistanceReport an issue