Annette Island

Annette Island is an island in the Alexander Archipelago of southeast Alaska that hosts the community of Metlakatla and the federally designated Annette Island Reserve.

A single main settlement occupies part of the island, with docks and community facilities serving local residents; the island’s coastline and forested interiors are used for fishing, subsistence activities and small-scale tourism. Cultural visits focus on Tsimshian heritage and community-run attractions.

The island became the site of a Tsimshian settlement established in the late 19th century; it was later designated as an Indian reserve. The community has maintained a distinct local governance and cultural life since that time.

Situated in southeast Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago, the island lies offshore of the Alaskan panhandle and is reached by sea or air from regional centres in that part of the state.

• Reservation status: Home to the Metlakatla community and the Annette Island Reserve, the island contains the only federally recognized Indian reservation in Alaska.
• Access: Access to the island is by ferry or small aircraft from regional ports in southeast Alaska; there is no road connection to the Alaskan mainland.

What to See #

• Metlakatla community settlement: The town of Metlakatla, the main settlement on the island and the administrative and cultural centre of the local Indigenous community.