Rich Lavalle

Adopted Tlingit since 2000

Rich has been a carver working in the tradition of the Northwest Coast Native Peoples for thirty-five years. He has been carving for the Tlingit for eight years. Rich is a Raven and his wife is a Killer Whale, and they are both Deishu Hit, Deisheetaan. The George family adopted them into the Tlingit tribe in October 2000. Rich’s Tlingit name is Kut Daa Jaa Gu and his wife’s Tlingit name is Shawat Googh. They are authorized to wear symbols of the Raven Cave, two headed raven, raven, killer whale, bull head, sockeye salmon, wood worm, rat and North Star. They currently spend part of their time each year at their cabin on Killisnoo island which is part of the town of Angoon, Alaska.