History of the
Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA)
Alumni Scholarship Assistance Program (ASAP)
Annual Spring King Salmon Derby

• On April 17, 1991 Archie Cavanaugh was hired by the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (CCTHITA) as the Higher Education Services Manager of the College Student Assistant (CSA) program.

• In 1992 he developed the Alumni Scholarship Assistance Program for the purpose of raising additional scholarship funds to support Tlingit & Haida tribal members pursuing a higher education.

• June of 1995, Archie contacted the organizers of the Juneau Little League Derby to inquire why they no longer sponsored this event, and to obtain information on its formation.

• On May 1, 1996, based upon the information compiled from the Juneau Little League Derby, Archie organized and implemented the 1st Annual Spring King Salmon Derby.  This derby had only fifty (50) participants resulting in a deficit of $1,200.  King salmon were weighed in the “round” for poundage (not gutted and gilled); one could fish from ship or shore and you could keep your fish.  Having this derby open to shore fishing opened up the opportunity to those who did not own a boat.  Many a fish has been caught from the shore as shown in the pic to the right.

• On May 1, 1997 Archie initiated the 2nd year attempt of the derby resulting in yet another dismal turnout of participants. Serious consideration was given to not doing this derby the following year.
• To your left is Archie holding up his 40-pounder caught during the derby.  Of course, he elminated himself leaving the derby open to those paying participants!  The winner ultimately was Rick Lewis with a 41.4-pounder. 

On May 1, 1998 the 3rd attempt at the derby produced a profit and more entrants than in the two previous derbies, thereby ensuring its continuance year after year.

• On March 22, 1999 Leslie Isturis was hired as the Education Specialist of Higher Education Services. She also assumed the responsibilities as the Spring King Salmon Derby Coordinator.

• On July 1, 2000 Tana Bell was hired as the Administrative Clerk II of Higher Education Services.  She also provides administrative support to the Spring King Salmon Derby.

• On December 1, 2000 Mrs. Marlee Isturis volunteered to assist with the activities of the Spring King Salmon Derby.  She is called the "money lady," being the one to take care of the derby ticket sellers and account for all monies earned directly from these sales.  She has been an important contributor to the success of the derby each year.

• On May 1, 2002 the Spring King Salmon Derby initiated a “gutted and gilled” policy for weighed king salmon. This change resulted from cases of the Ketchikan Derby that found some fisherman forcing trolling leads down the throats of entered kings for added weight.

Below is a table depicting the statistical accomplishments of the Spring King Salmon Derby since it’s inception in 1996:

05 May 2007

Archie Cavanaugh