Sitnews - Stories In The News - Ketchikan, Alaska - Opinions

 

Viewpoints

Retort: Real Facts About the Bridge
by Don Hoff Jr.

 

June 28, 2004
Monday


The Census Bureau reports that Ketchikan had a population of 14,070 may be true Borough wide. The articles from the lower 48 were using City of Ketchikan population of just over 7,000 if that many live there today. How many people live on Gravina Island? 50 people that actually live on Gravina Island? $230 million dollars our Federal Taxes wasted.

Were you part of "we" also verified last year that the bridge would not interfere with any graves on Pennock Island? If the boondoggle bridge goes through Pennock Island to Gravina Island. Roads will be built from the south end of Pennock Island to the north end of Pennock Island. I believe you'll be wrong to say we won't desecrate Indian graves. Pennock Island is and has been a Sanya Kwaan (Cape Fox People) and Taan ta Kwaan (Tongass Tribe People) grave sites. White people have been lying to Alaskan Natives since 1867 through 2004. Why should we believe anything you say to us today? Your letter (Grams' Letter 03/10/03), I was just being hopeful. Now, I don't believe a word of the State of Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities' findings in the Environmental Impact Statement (E.I.S.) for the Gravina Access Project. The E.I.S. Report is a joke and half truths.

I know for a fact that all of Pennock Island was used as a Indian grave site and the old timers in Ketchikan know that to be the truth, even your Governor Frank Murkowski probably played over on Pennock Island as a boy. We had memorial totems and markers all up and down Pennock Island.

What do you personally have to gain from this Bridge to No-where, Mr. Grams? Do you own property of Pennock Island or Gravina Island? I am protecting my ancestral graves from being desecrated by a few greedy white people that want stuff for free. Sorry, Mr. Grams you don't agree with me. But there are plenty of other people that do. These are the real facts. 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

 

 

Editor's Note:

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities is preparing its Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Gravina Access Project and expects to issue the document in July 2004.

For more information and to read the official reports regarding the Gravina Access Project go to http://www.gravina-access.com

 

 

 

Note: Comments published on Viewpoints are the opinions of the writer
and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Sitnews.

 

 

Post a Comment -------View Comments

Submit an Opinion - Letter

Sitnews
Stories In The News
Ketchikan, Alaska