The City Slickers
This happened on a summer day in late spring of 1980, when all the cabin dwellers were hearing rumors that the Cook Inlet Native Land Corporation was going to “select” our Forest Service land as part of the Alaskan Native Land Claims Settlement. We knew that the US Government wanted to divest itself of this land and program. So, what would happen to our leases?
A State Senator from Juneau was dispatched to Hope to meet with us and discuss possible divestiture of this land. While the Native corporation could select it, it was also possible that the State of Alaska might end up with the property.
The Senator brought along a young female recorder. Both were dressed appropriately for a Congressional hearing. Their audience, however, were in jeans and wool shirts, male and female alike. The politician was out of place and looked at askance. Young children raced around the Hope Social Hall as a large dog fight took place outside the entrance.
As hard as the politician tried to explain what MIGHT happen, he had no real answers. The crowd grew raucous and shouted he and his young female recorder out of the building, into his rental Cadillac, and back to Juneau.
Later, the State did take possession of the property, and the Native corporation board did not choose the properties.
The State of Alaska then offered the one-acre lots to the lease holders for $850 each and agreed to use monies from a special rural electrification program to bring powerlines into the area.
So the meeting represented raw politics done Alaskan style. And the outcome brought unmanaged “civilization” to the wilderness.
A State Senator from Juneau was dispatched to Hope to meet with us and discuss possible divestiture of this land. While the Native corporation could select it, it was also possible that the State of Alaska might end up with the property.
The Senator brought along a young female recorder. Both were dressed appropriately for a Congressional hearing. Their audience, however, were in jeans and wool shirts, male and female alike. The politician was out of place and looked at askance. Young children raced around the Hope Social Hall as a large dog fight took place outside the entrance.
As hard as the politician tried to explain what MIGHT happen, he had no real answers. The crowd grew raucous and shouted he and his young female recorder out of the building, into his rental Cadillac, and back to Juneau.
Later, the State did take possession of the property, and the Native corporation board did not choose the properties.
The State of Alaska then offered the one-acre lots to the lease holders for $850 each and agreed to use monies from a special rural electrification program to bring powerlines into the area.
So the meeting represented raw politics done Alaskan style. And the outcome brought unmanaged “civilization” to the wilderness.