“Welcome to Deishú”? A mysterious sign change sparks discussion of Haines Borough’s name

A sign welcoming people to town as been changed from saying “Welcome to Haines ” to “Welcome to Deishu” on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Sometime in late April, someone replaced the word “Haines” with “Deishú” on the welcome signs at either end of town — one at Picture Point and the other at 1 Mile Haines Highway. Borough manager Annette Kreitzer noticed the change at Picture Point as she drove down Lutak Road on her way back from Chilkoot Lake one morning.She asked Mayor Tom Morphet to take a look; he found the original cedar panel with the word “Haines” carved into it lying in the dirt next to the sign — and in its place was a plywood board with “Deishú” spelled out in similar black letters.

Regarding the idea to change the borough’s name, Hart said the council hasn’t had any official discussions on the issue. “This isn’t a CIA position, but I think it is a discussion that needs to be had with the whole community,” he said. The word itself — Deishú — means “end of the trail” or “beginning of the trail.” Hart said his understanding is that it signifies the area’s historic position as a trading route with access to both the ocean and the interior.

He noted that on one of the welcome signs the “Deishú” lettering was etched into a “pretty crummy piece of wood that you wouldn’t even use to patch a hole in the wall of your house.”

Chilkoot Indian Association Deishú Haines James Hart Kevin Forster Lee Heinmiller Tom Morphet

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