New deckover area near downtown library is officially called Peratrovich Plaza

Tlingit civil rights activist Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich was instrumental in the passage of the historic Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, the first anti-discrimination law in the United States. Kaaxgal.aat was a member of the Lukaax.ádi clan of the Raven moiety. Last summer, a large mural of Peratrovich was installed on the south-facing wall of the Downtown Public Library and Marine Parking Garage. The mural overlooks an area that is now known as Peratrovich Plaza. The City and Borough of Juneau Assembly earlier this month passed a resolution making the name official. Today, February 16, is Elizabeth Peratrovich Day.

The 60-by-25-foot Tlingit formline mural was created by Tlingit and Athabascan artist Crystal Worl. Worl and a team installed the mural on the CBJ building last summer. The mural project was made possible by the Rasmuson Foundation, Sealaska Heritage Institute, and Worl, and implemented in partnership with CBJ.

The mural is a prominent feature of Juneau’s waterfront and overlooks a Docks & Harbors Department project, which expanded public space along the waterfront and decked over an open tidelands area between the Marine Parking Garage and Pier 49. Prior to the resolution, the area was known as Archipelago Lot 2A. In October, the Docks & Harbors Board voted to recommend the Assembly change the name of this area from Archipelago Lot 2A to Peratrovich Plaza. The recommendation was made as a tribute Elizabeth Peratrovich and to recognize the newly installed mural. In making the recommendation, Docks & Harbors consulted with Elizabeth Peratrovich’s son Roy Peratrovich, Jr. and granddaughter Betsy Peratrovich, as well as Worl and Sealaska Heritage Institute. All were favorable to the name change.

Before making it to the Assembly, the resolution was reviewed by the Assembly Human Resources Committee and the Systemic Racism Review Committee.

For more information, contact CBJ Docks and Harbors Port Director Carl Uchytil at 907-586-0292 or [email protected].