France has its Millet, Italy its Raphael, and the natives of Alaska
look with almost equal pride upon their Tsimpsean artist, Henry S.
Haldane. He does not know when he was born. It was long before Father
Duncan brought his gift of the gospel to the Alaskan Indians. But no
one can view the paintings of this self-taught native without feeling
that—with proper training—the divine spark implanted in him would have
brought rich fruitage.
On the wall of Father Duncan’s church in Metlakatla hangs a picture of
an open Bible. So perfect is it that you will have to look closely to
see that it is painted on canvas. It is the work of this artist,
painted over thirty years ago. A hundred years from now it will be
preserved in our national museum as one of the most valuable of early
Alaskan art treasures.
“Christ’s Agony in Gethsemane” was recently painted by Haldane for the
new Salvation Army Hall in Metlakatla, although he is now almost blind.
The paintings of the Sun, Star, Moon and Rainbow Houses reproduced in
this book are his work.
The first native photographer in Alaska, unassisted, he acquired a
knowledge of photography that for a time opened up to him an
interesting field of work. But six years ago unkind Fate dealt him a
cruel blow. Born blind in one eye, an accident made him almost blind in
the other eye. While chopping wood a chip struck the eyeball,
hopelessly injuring it.
Still the urge to create is strong within him. With amazing perfection
of detail and color he paints pictures and carves the totem poles which
portray so vividly the history and legends of the Alaskan Indians.