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Where the Wild Things Are

Peak Design heads to Alaska on a conservation mission.

By Peak Design

This year, we launched Give a Shot - an online platform that connects creatives wanting to donate their time and talent with environmental nonprofits in need of compelling content. Visual storytelling is a powerful tool for growing awareness and mobilizing the masses around a cause. In addition to rallying our network of talented photographers and videographers to use their powers for good, we decided to send some folks from the Peak team up to Alaska to shoot a Give a Shot project for the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC). We traveled north to document the land, wildlife and communities that will be impacted by a proposed metals mine.

The Constantine mine, currently in advanced exploratory stages, is located north of Haines just above the Klehini River, a major tributary to the Chilkat River. The stunning Chilkat Valley is home to abundant salmon, bald eagles, bear and moose, and to the indigenous communities who have lived off the land for thousands of years. The construction of and pollution from the mine will undoubtedly damage this river ecosystem, with potentially irreparable and catastrophic results. SEACC is fighting against its development in hopes of protecting the river and the people and animals that it sustains.

The following film and images tell the story of the people and ecosystems affected by the Constantine mining project.

Early morning ferry from Juneau to Haines

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Some people know how to ferry better than others.

Thawing out the digits.

Where the Wild Things Are

Victor interviews Guy Archibald, staff scientist at SEACC and our guide.

View from Juneau-Haines ferry.

Adam takes in the epic Southeast landscapes.

Where the Wild Things Are

Haines is a 2000-person town located on the Chilkat River watershed in Southeast Alaska.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Droves of Sockeye Salmon spawn in the Chilkat watershed, sustaining thriving populations of Brown Bear, Moose, and Bald Eagles

One of the locals.

Where the Wild Things Are

A brown bear hunts along the bank of the Chilkoot River

Where the Wild Things Are

Guy Archibald droppin some ecological knowledge.

As many as 4000 Bald Eagles congregate along the Klehini and Chilkat rivers to feed on Salmon.

Where the Wild Things Are

Victor in his element.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Abundant salmon, bald eagles, moose and bear depend on the health of the Chilkat River for their survival.

Near Haines, the town of Klukwan is home to the Chilkat Indian Village Tribe.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Mining activity along the Chilkat watershed is an existential threat not only to local wildlife, but to the village of Klukwan itself.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

The Chilkat are members of the Tlingit, an indigenous people who have inhabited Southeast Alaska for over 10,000 years.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Annie scopes the new access bridge built by Constantine to move larger vehicles to the proposed mine site.

Even in its exploratory phases, mining activity can cause serious environmental destruction.

Where the Wild Things Are

Victor interviews Guy Archibald of SEACC as they look on toward the proposed mining site.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Helicopters shuttle mining personnel from a staging area (foreground) to various drilling sites located in the mountains behind them.

Where the Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are

Find out more about the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council and their ongoing campaigns here.

Learn more about Give a Shot or volunteer to shoot a project here.

Where the Wild Things Are

Footnotes

All images by Adam Saraceno (@eastaustinsawdust) and Annie Nyborg (@annie.nyborg).

CLICK IF YOU GIVE A SHOT

FootNotes

All images by Adam Saraceno (@eastaustinsawdust) and Annie Nyborg (@annie.nyborg).

© 2026 Peak Design

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