KATLIAN BAY
From Gajaa Héen (Old Sitka) the people took several different routes up the mountains that separate Old Sitka from Katlian Bay till they reached the ridge tope, which they followed, continuing eastward until they could descend to the head of Katlian Bay. As they began to arrive at the bay in the late afternoon and on into the evening, they searched for and rejoined their own house groups. The main camp was set up near the old smokehouses in the southeast corner of the bay.

Early the next morning the men went to work harvesting dog salmon, flounder, and crab, while the ladies and children were busy picking berries and tidal flat grass roots. By nightfall they were all enjoying a big cookout of their catch and pickings of the day.

While they were eating, a runner arrived with this message from the rear guard forces: "The Russians are taking apart Shís'gi Noow and are towing the salvaged logs to Noow Tlein. There is not pursuit. "The shaman were pleased to hear this news for they had predicted, on the eve of their departure from Shís'gi Noow: "We see it clearly, the Anooshee will not leave the safety of their ships to follow us into the deep woods."

After the big cookout the House Chiefs met to choose the routes they would each take from Katlian to Fish Bay. The elders advised, "As in the migration stories it is important for us to walk as families, but within the house groups. We must avoid taking identical routes whenever possible. We must not follow too closely behind the house group in front of us. We must walk at a steady pace, but we must also take advantage of all the food we can find along the way including late salmon, trout, ducks, geese, berries of all kinds, shellfish, grass roots, plant roots, tree bark, deer and bear."

The House Chiefs decided that they would follow each other into Nakwasina; there they would split into three parties to cross the broad peninsula that separates Nakwasina from Fish Bay, the better to forage and hunt. They would meet again in Fish Bay to choose the routes they would take from that point on to Hanus Bay.

Once they were underway messengers from each house would keep in daily contact with the house group directly in front of them and the house group directly behind them.

Lest there be any doubts, the House Chiefs also reaffirmed their decision to remain on a full war footing. The Kiks.ádi were still at war with the Anooshee. Katlian would remain as War Chief.

As the meeting came to an end, Katlian reminded the people, "The rear guard warriors are still in action around Sheet'ká and they shall remain in action for ten or twenty more days before coming to join us. Take heart—no one is pursuing us, walk with a steady pace, this march is our survival march."

After the cook-out the badly wounded warriors announced to their relatives that they would not be going on with the main body, but would stay behind and winter in Katlian Bay rather than be a hindrance to the marchers along the way.

Next, several of the elderly stepped forward and said, "We are very old and it is not right for us to expect you to wait for us. We will stay here and winter with the wounded; there is salmon in these streams till far into the winter. Do not fear for our well being. We will be all right. Come and get us in the springtime. We will be waiting."

Early the next morning the younger members of the families of the wounded and the elders were out gathering firewood. They wanted to give them a head start on the winter wood supply. They worked all day.

Other family members made repairs to the living quarters, working far into the night. When darkness fell the families got together for a time of fellowship with their elders. There was good food to eat, stories to tell and tribal songs to sing.

The march got underway again with the morning light. There was no panic. There was no fear. The Russians were far away in Sheet'ká. When it was time to leave, the house groups left Katlian Bay according to their social ranking in the Sheet'ká village. They were still the Sheet'ká Kiks.ádi people. They still had a very special social order. Life still had a purpose.

Fish Bay, Rose Channel, Rodman Bay, Hanus Bay