My name is James Reed, and I am Ḵínsá win of the Tongass Tribe of the Tlingit people. I am of the Eagle Moeity. As a fourth-generation shipwright and Indigenous artist, I am deeply rooted in the rich maritime traditions of the Pacific Northwest. We have a long history as “The People of the Tides,” a canoe culture thriving along the coast of North America. I am honored to carry on this legacy, drawing inspiration from my ancestors and the vibrant culture of the Tlingit people. Gunalchéesh (Thank you in Tlingit) for visiting my website!
I hail from Southeast Alaska, born in Juneau, a region where my indigenous ancestors thrived as mariners, navigating the waters in canoes, and living off the land as fishermen, hunters, and gatherers. This maritime heritage deeply influenced my path. My Mother is from Saxman Village near Ketchikan. Our ancestors moved to Saxman from Tongass Island in the late 1800’s.
My grandfather and ancestor, Charlie Brown, was a renowned shipwright and artist, known for his masterful carving of totem poles in Saxman Village and Totem Bight State Park in Ketchikan. Alongside my great-grandfather, Chief William Brown, who was also a ShipWright, and Carver James Starrish, they played a crucial role in the preservation of these cultural treasures.
Our Tlingit Tribe boasts a rich legacy of craftsmanship and artistry and my clan comes from Tongass Island (We are of the Tongass people, Taant’a Ḵwáanx̱ áat, the Sea Lion People.) Like my grandfather, I pursued my passion for boat building at the same school, Bates Vocational College in Tacoma, Washington, where I earned a certification in this craft. I further shared my knowledge by teaching boatbuilding at Northwest Indian College for two years after completing my associate’s degree.
I’ve been living aboard my sailboat, SV SpiritHawk, for over two decades. This magnificent 1972 Pacific Northwest Schooner was rescued from a Seattle boatyard and lovingly rebuilt by my own hands. Recently, SpiritHawk underwent a significant refit, preparing her for exciting adventures in the Bahamas and eventually Guatemala and beyond.
You can follow my progress on the refit of SpiritHawk on Facebook. www.facebook.com/sailingspirithawk
Why Ḵínsá win? Why was Kingsawin Designs’ Etsy Shop was formerly called A Pony on My Boat?
I am often asked how I came to be known as Ḵínsá win, pronounced Keen-sa-win. I only recently learned how to correctly pronounce it and spell it in Tlingit. That is why our online store is called Kingsawin Designs. Our people are part of a matriarchal society. My Grandmother Margaret gave me my Indian name, Kingsawin, which I use as my artist name. When my Grandmother gifted me the name she told me to write it down how it sounded and at 16 that is how it sounded to me. It was my Great Uncle’s Charles Indian name and I consider it a great honor for me to have received this name. I am not the only grand child of Charles Brown as I have 3 siblings and have 5 first cousins living today, as I write this in 2022, along along with his great and great great grandchildren. As for our former Etsy Shop name, A Pony On My Boat, it came from living on a boat and it is one of my favorite songs by Lyle Lovett: If I Had A Boat.
Gunalchéesh *, Thank you….
— Kingsawin
*Gunascheesh Definition: Thank You in Tlingit or Lingít as our language is known.
*Kootéeyaa : totem pole in Tlingit.