 By Don Hoff Jr. July 15, 2005
I never said that the whole Pennock Island is a Tribal grave yard. I did say that our Tribal graves and some non-native graves are on the Ketchikan side of the (Eastern side) Pennock Island. My argument is that I don't oppose the bridge to Gravina Island just not through the Pennock Island route at first pick - another route is all I am saying. But now I change my mind, spending $315 million dollars of yours and my federal tax dollars to Gravina Island that so few actual residents live on is ridicules. Ms. Emma Williams is my Great Aunty. She was born on Gravina Island. Aunty Emma is from the Bear House of the Taan ta Kwaan or known as Tongass Tribe. I have a friend in Whiskey Cove that has found evidence of grave markers behind their house. You just have to know what you are looking for and I disagree with your analogy. Mr. Fast, we have evidence of grave sites that you can not see. The Pennock Island Tribal graves sites that you are talking about are protected by the Federal Bureau of Land Management but in my opinion, they are not doing a great job in stopping all the encroachment through the years. But they are protecting what is left of our Tribal graves. In closing, easy Access to our grave sites on Pennock Island is what we are going to protect from further desecration now and in the future. Don Hoff Jr.
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