CCFR to unveil ambulance featuring Northwest Coast formline on Sept. 15

One of Capital City Fire/Rescue’s ambulances now features Northwest Coast formline designed by local Tlingit artists. CCFR’s goal with the newly refurbished ambulance is to be more inclusive and representative of the Juneau community. The ambulance will be officially unveiled to the community on Tuesday, September 15, at 9 a.m. during a live virtual event organized by CCFR and the Unity Group.

Watch the ambulance unveiling ceremony on YouTube Live here https://youtu.be/bwrLfzdo078. The ceremony will include speakers, the tradition of CCFR staff pushing the ambulance into the fire station, and a video by the Unity Group.

The Unity Group – made up of Douglas Indian Association, Goldbelt, Huna Totem Corporation, Kootznoowoo, Sealaska Heritage Institute, Sealaska, SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, and Tlingit-Haida Regional Housing Authority – commissioned the art for the ambulance. The Healing Hand and Spirit Face were designed by Juneau Tlingit Artist Crystal Worl and Sitka Tlingit Artist Mary Goddard. Commercial Signs and Printing produced the vinyl decals of the art.

Both sides of the ambulance are designed in Northwest Coast formline. The hand represents healing. The Spirit Face represents the belief that everything is interconnected, which has a great impact on health. To keep the ambulance balanced, one side is day and other is night. The sun and the stars represent the hope and help that EMTs and first responders bring when responding to calls.

For more information, contact CCFR Assistant Chief Chad Cameron at [email protected].