July 03, 2004
Saturday

It just amazes me how people are looking at this proposed bridge project to Gravina Island via Pennock Island in Ketchikan, Alaska. How one race of people can push aside another minority race of people's thoughts, feelings, customs, human rights, inherent rights, civil rights and God given rights. Treat us like we are a vanished people.

It was discrimination at its best in the past and exists today. I can give you plenty of examples of discrimination today; the denial of Subsistence Rights (fishing, hunting, timber, digging clams, gathering of herbs/roots and minerals ) to Native People, the State of Alaska does not recognize Tribes nor Indian country and employment opportunities. How do you think it makes us feel? Yes, it makes me vocal on plenty of issues that effects my family and Tribe.

The imposition of State of Alaska and Federal regulatory subsistence laws on a people where heretofore have never been denied or denied anyone their inherent rights to provide for their families. In a few basic words, that is called human rights. Human rights do not exist if someone is a racist... Whom are the racist? Not me.

I never said you can't build a bridge from Ketchikan to Gravina Island, just not through Pennock Island. Pennock Island is a sacred grave sites of Tlingits, Haidas, Tsimshians and where poor white people are buried. One of the options was to build the proposed bridge from Wolff Point to the airport. Build a underwater tunnel instead of a bridge, they are being used in Virginia. Cheaper and would not impede ships or boats traffic in the channel. All these suggestions fell on deaf ears.

You talk about economic development and Ketchikan s future growth. Why then open up the north, south and east of Ketchikan for economic development? You think you're going to drive on this proposed bridge for free if it is constructed? No, there will be a toll bridge. The citizens of Ketchikan and Borough residents will be paying for maintenance costs by higher taxes.

Some of you read my opinions and get angry because I want to protect our tribal burial grounds from being desecrated and robbed. There are plenty of other opinions against the bridge to nowhere besides mine. Yet, you single me out of the entire United States. I love a good debate on issues that I am passionate about.

It is really "Pork Barrel" spending project that came at the wrong time and the wrong place. We don't want to spend $230 million dollars of my Federal tax dollars on bridge to "No-where" when we have a war to pay for, roads to maintain, or send a man to Mars.

Don Hoff Jr.
Aan Kadax Tseen
Gaanax adi Clan
Yei l hit
Taan ta Kwaan
E-mail: Unukriver@aol.com
Hixson, TN - USA

 

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