Viewpoints
Desecration Bridge Retort
By Don Hoff Jr.
May 13, 2005
Friday
Mr. Mark Hoyt, I apologize to
you and the readers for inserting the wrong native grave site
picture. Here is a free history lesson that they don't teach
at Kay-Hi. Taan ta Kwaan (Sea lion People) or known as Tongass
Tribe had a village on Long Island. We also had villages on
Village Island, Annette Island (where Metlakatla is today was
a winter village) and Tongass Island. Ketchikan was a summer
fish camp at one time that belonged to the Saanya Kwaan. There
was a marriage between Tongass Tribal member and Saanya Kwaan
member. Ketchikan Creek was a wedding gift to the Tongass Tribe.
Ketchikan is a Tlingit word that means "Eagle with spread
wings".
Tlingit totem poles
and grave markers of David Andrew, Pennock Island near Ketchikan,
Alaska, June 2, 1910. Photographer: Cobb, John N. Cobb; John
N. Cobb Collection no. 418
Photo courtesy the University of Washington Libraries. Special
Collections Division
Just about 10 years ago or so, we buried a Tongass Tribe member
from the Bear House on Pennock Island. He drowned while subsisting
for herring eggs.
Mark, you lived in Ketchikan
for 40 years and you never opened your eyes. Pennock Island
from the southern end to the northern end is full of Indian graves
and some non-native graves too. During the early 20's and 30's
people started building homes on the graves. They knew they
were there too. We had a lot of grave markers and memorial totems
but slowly disappeared as more homes were being built on Pennock
Island. Now you know the rest of the story. In those days,
there was a lot of discrimination and hatred toward Alaskan Natives.
It is not too late to stop
the proposed bridge to Gravina Island VIA Pennock Island. No
moneys passed through Congress. What will be sad is all the
waste of $315 million dollars of American tax payer if they started
building the bridge and end up in some court room with the same
situation as the bridge project in Sevierville, TN and Pigeon
Forge, TN.
In closing, I will see if
I can insert a Pennock Island picture of our Tribal grave site
to correct my mistake. This is my own opinion.
Don Hoff Jr.
Aan Kadax Tseen
Gaanax adi Clan
Yei l Hit
Taan ta Kwaan
E-mail: Unukriver@aol.com
Hixson, TN - USA
Related Viewpoint:
 Re:
Desecration bridge by Mark Hoyt - Ketchikan, AK - USA
Desecration
Bridge by Don Hoff Jr. - Hixson, TN - USA
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