"Skookum boards"

[David D. Robertson]

Here's one that was new to me.  At the Sheldon Jackson Museum in
Sitka, Alaska, hangs the famous plaque that once adorned the front of
Saginaw Jake's house ("...I am the grand tyhee / of this entire illahee").
Staff there, as well as local historians, refer to this as a "skookum
board".  This is very similar to another Alaskan term, "skookum
papers", of which there are several remaining examples:  Sort of
letters of introduction for Native leaders written usually by American
dignitaries, consequently by military commanders, in the early days of
US rule.  I don't find this term on the Internet by using Google, or in
print yet, but its use in Alaskan English is confirmed.  Now to get it into
the OED.

:-)