Unalaska creates its first Key to the City, carved from walrus ivory by Unangan artist Gertrude Svarny

The Unalaska City Council adopted Resolution 2026-59 on Sept. 22, creating the city's first official Key to the City. The city clerk's research of past council actions found no earlier key.

Unangan artist Gertrude Svarny carved the original from walrus tusk ivory. According to the city's policy, she drew on the skeleton key from her childhood home. The two-sided key has a seal along the shaft, the faces of a woman and a man, and a second seal arching above them.

The former city manager came up with the idea and commissioned Svarny. Acting City Manager Marjie Veeder recommended adoption, calling the key a "relatively low-cost instrument for public relations, community building, and economic diplomacy" in her memo to the council.

The policy lists four reasons to give the honor. One covers a "visiting dignitary or leader fostering positive relations with the City of Unalaska." The others cover outstanding leadership or service, representing Unalaska at the regional, national or international level, and contributions to the community. The key can also go to organizations, and it carries no legal rights or privileges.

Fifty numbered replicas are being engraved. No recipient has been named. Nominations may come from the mayor, a council member or the city manager, and the council must approve each one. Mayor Vincent Tutiakoff Sr. is to present the key on the council's behalf at public meetings or ceremonial events, and the city clerk will keep a record of each presentation.

The artist fee, the replicas and their custom boxes came out of money already set aside in the council's operating budget. Engraving and provenance cards are not yet paid for, but the memo said existing appropriations will cover them. It gave no dollar amounts.