Eva Davis

Eva Davis was highly respected for many things, including her love of Tlingit culture, stories and knowledge of traditional ways.  She belonged to the Chookaneidí clan, Xóots Hít (Brown Bear House).  Regarding thanksgiving rituals among Hoonah Tlingit, when taking seagull eggs, Eva Davis (and her sister Jennie Lindoff) said “Before you took the eggs, people asked the gulls’ permission and explained that they needed to use them  They would say to the gulls: ‘Give us some of the food that you have laid on this island so we can survive.   So be kind to us as we’re being kind to you.’”  This quote is from A STUDY OF TRADITIONAL USE OF BIRDS’ EGGS BY THE HUNA TLINGIT by the National Park Service, 2002.

In the book Haa Tuwunáagu Yís, for Healing Our Spirit: Tlingit Oratory edited by Nora Dauenhauer and Richard Dauenhauer there is a photograph of Eva Davis that reads “Eagle guest Eva Davis holds and speaks on Geesan tunic, formerly owned by Bert Dennis, addressing host Austin Hammond at the Raven House rededication, Haines, October 1974.  Her husband George, also of the host moiety, stands at Austin’s right Eva explains the history of the tunic, who is about to put it on, and why.”  Regarding the Brown Bear House that burned during the Hoonah fire of 1944, the book also mentions “Although the house itself was lost in 1944, other members of the family still live in Hoonah, and are caretakers of the clan at.oow.  Among these are Eva Davis, Mary Johnson (the widows of George Davis and William Johnson) and Jennie Lindoff.”

There is also a quote in the Introduction to the book Across the Shaman's River: John Muir, the Tlingit Stronghold, and the Opening of the North, By Daniel Lee Henry that reads “A pitch glob sizzled and snapped.  In the flare, a brown hand tentatively emerged and grasped a corner of the Sockeye Robe.  Twin tears tracked Eva Davis’s ruddy, round cheeks as she recalled her grandfather telling her that one day she would be the last in the family to tell their stories.  “I’m not talkin’ about myself, I need to save all my grandchildren!”  Gently, her hand tugged at the robe with the cadence of her speech.  “Now all our people are scared to use this blanket.  I’m not afraid to protect all my people, all the way down.” 

The following is from the Juneau Empire and was posted on Wednesday, January 29, 2003:

Hoonah resident Eva Davis died Jan. 27, 2003, at her home in Hoonah with her grandchildren by her side. She was 93.

Takdeintaan yedi, Sai'lshex, of the Chookaneidi clan, she was born on April 12, 1909, to John and Susie Isaac James at Tee Harbor. She was a longtime cannery worker, and nurse's aide midwife. She was a lifetime member of ANS Camp No. 12.

She was preceded in death by her husbands George Davis, Frank Wilson, George Bell; 12 children; five grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and siblings Mary Joanne Johnson and Wilbur "Jumbo" James Sr.

She is survived by grandchildren Mary Joanne Felipe, Elaine Knudson, Celeste Garcia, Ken Willard, Thomas Bell and George Bell, all of Juneau; Wilbur Knudson of Hoonah; John Bell Jr. of Sitka; and David Bell of Anchorage; great-granddaughter and caretaker Teresita Escalante. She also is survived by 18 other great-grandchildren, 19 great-great-grandchildren, and her sister Jennie Lindoff of Hoonah.

Pallbearers will be Walter Jewell Sr., Johnny Bell Jr., Thomas Bell, Thomas James, Bernard Wolf and Sam Willard.