1945 Saskinax̂: The Aftermath

From September 1942 until October 1945, the Saskinax̂ were taken captive by Japanese forces and held in the Wakatakecho District of Otaru, Hokkaido. The conditions in the prison camps were dire. Reports of war crimes committed by their captors were rampant, leading to a staggering 44% death rate among the prisoners. Out of the numerous individuals captured, only 25 survived the brutal experience.

 

​ It wasn't until September 22, 1945, that a glimmer of hope emerged. U.S. officials received notification from the Japanese that the surviving Saskinax̂ prisoners were alive and in custody. This revelation sparked a long-awaited sense of urgency for their release and safe return home.  ​In October 1945, the U.S. Navy undertook the monumental task of repatriating the survivors. The journey was grueling, covering a staggering 16,445 miles as they made their way back to Alaska. Tragically, not all would make it back; the scars of war and captivity weighed heavily on the survivors.

 

On November 3, 1945, the ship finally docked in San Francisco, California, marking a significant milestone in their long journey home. Yet, the path to true homecoming remained fraught with disappointment. By the end of November 1945, the survivors continued their journey by ship to Seattle, Washington. Seattle served as their processing point, where they would remain for an entire month, grappling with the aftermath of their experiences.  Upon their arrival in Seattle on November 20, 1945, the Saskinax̂ were met with heart-wrenching news: they would not be returning to their homeland of Atux̂.  

 

This decision, made by the Bureau of Indian Affairs branch called Alaska Indians Services and the U.S. Department of the Interior, shattered the spirits of the Survivors. For many, the dream of returning home to Atux̂ was a lifeline, a thread of hope that sustained them through their darkest hours. The thought of hearing the birds sing again in their beloved homeland became a poignant reminder of what they had lost.​ The Saskinax̂ survivors, having endured unimaginable suffering, now faced the devastating reality of being unable to return to the place they called home.

 

Their hearts ached with the weight of loss, as the dream of Atux̂ lingered as both a memory and a source of grief, forever out of reach.