Juneau Empire story about upcoming book signing
02/25/10 Filed in: Articles | Author Events
The Juneau Empire has posted a story by Amy Fletcher, previewing Willie’s upcoming appearance at Hearthside Books.
The beginning of the piece is about a fictional book, Village of the Ghost Bears, by Stan Jones, which is set in Kotzebue. Scroll down, and you’ll see this section about Fifty Miles from Tomorrow.
From the Juneau Empire:
The real-life Kotzebue lies at the heart of "Fifty Miles from Tomorrow," an autobiographical story by William Iggiagruk Hensley, a prominent advocate for Native land rights.
Hensley's story is told in two parts. The first describes his childhood growing up on Kotzebue Sound with his extended family - hunting for caribou, gathering berries, keeping warm, playing games, and learning and living by the traditions of his ancestors.
The second part is deeply informed by the first. In it, the author describes his political career and successful efforts in helping reclaim Native land from the American government in the years following Alaska statehood, a long and involved process that continues to this day. Coming after Hensley's personal descriptions of his bond with the land where he was raised and where his family lived for thousands of years, the political parts of the book take on much more weight and humanity. The author explains, in accessible language, the thoughts behind his political activities - breaking down what could be complex concepts for those unfamiliar with Native land claims issues, and making historical events very vivid.
One strong passage at the beginning of chapter 12 - which acts as the hinge of the two parts - describes how Hensley returned to Kotzebue in 1966 after graduating from George Washington University in D.C. to find that his family home, occupied for generations, had been bulldozed, the land sold for a bottle of whiskey. His adoptive mother, Naungagiaq, had taken up residence in the corner of a church, and the rest of the family had scattered.
Hensley's anger and frustration at this traumatic event is soon given voice. Later that year, while attending graduate school at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, he took a course in constitutional law with former chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court (and former Juneau resident) Jay Rabinowitz. With Rabinowitz's encouragement, Hensley composed a research paper on Native land ownership.
After writing that paper - articulating his focus after years of research - Hensley was spurred to action. He became a Democratic state representative later that year and went on to become a driving force for Native land rights.
Hensley's efforts and those of many others were rewarded when former President Nixon signed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, or ANCSA, on Dec. 18, 1971. It was the largest land claims settlement in U.S. history.
In addition to fighting for Native land issues, Hensley was deeply concerned about the lack of a unified voice representing Native interests. He was involved in the creation of the Alaska Federation of Natives in 1966, and has served as its executive director, president and co-chairman. He also helped found the Northwest Alaska Native Association (NANA), and served as that group's director for 20 years.
His professional roles also have included ten years in the Alaska Legislature, chairman of the Land Claims Task Force under former Gov. Wally Hickel, commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development under former Gov. Tony Knowles, and manager of Federal Government Relations for Alyeska Pipeline Services Co.
Hensley, now an Inupiat elder, lives in Anchorage. "Fifty Miles from Tomorrow" is his first book. To read the New York Times review, visit www.nytimes.com/2009/0½8/books/28garn.html.
The beginning of the piece is about a fictional book, Village of the Ghost Bears, by Stan Jones, which is set in Kotzebue. Scroll down, and you’ll see this section about Fifty Miles from Tomorrow.
From the Juneau Empire:
The real-life Kotzebue lies at the heart of "Fifty Miles from Tomorrow," an autobiographical story by William Iggiagruk Hensley, a prominent advocate for Native land rights.
Hensley's story is told in two parts. The first describes his childhood growing up on Kotzebue Sound with his extended family - hunting for caribou, gathering berries, keeping warm, playing games, and learning and living by the traditions of his ancestors.
The second part is deeply informed by the first. In it, the author describes his political career and successful efforts in helping reclaim Native land from the American government in the years following Alaska statehood, a long and involved process that continues to this day. Coming after Hensley's personal descriptions of his bond with the land where he was raised and where his family lived for thousands of years, the political parts of the book take on much more weight and humanity. The author explains, in accessible language, the thoughts behind his political activities - breaking down what could be complex concepts for those unfamiliar with Native land claims issues, and making historical events very vivid.
One strong passage at the beginning of chapter 12 - which acts as the hinge of the two parts - describes how Hensley returned to Kotzebue in 1966 after graduating from George Washington University in D.C. to find that his family home, occupied for generations, had been bulldozed, the land sold for a bottle of whiskey. His adoptive mother, Naungagiaq, had taken up residence in the corner of a church, and the rest of the family had scattered.
Hensley's anger and frustration at this traumatic event is soon given voice. Later that year, while attending graduate school at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, he took a course in constitutional law with former chief justice of the Alaska Supreme Court (and former Juneau resident) Jay Rabinowitz. With Rabinowitz's encouragement, Hensley composed a research paper on Native land ownership.
After writing that paper - articulating his focus after years of research - Hensley was spurred to action. He became a Democratic state representative later that year and went on to become a driving force for Native land rights.
Hensley's efforts and those of many others were rewarded when former President Nixon signed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, or ANCSA, on Dec. 18, 1971. It was the largest land claims settlement in U.S. history.
In addition to fighting for Native land issues, Hensley was deeply concerned about the lack of a unified voice representing Native interests. He was involved in the creation of the Alaska Federation of Natives in 1966, and has served as its executive director, president and co-chairman. He also helped found the Northwest Alaska Native Association (NANA), and served as that group's director for 20 years.
His professional roles also have included ten years in the Alaska Legislature, chairman of the Land Claims Task Force under former Gov. Wally Hickel, commissioner of Commerce and Economic Development under former Gov. Tony Knowles, and manager of Federal Government Relations for Alyeska Pipeline Services Co.
Hensley, now an Inupiat elder, lives in Anchorage. "Fifty Miles from Tomorrow" is his first book. To read the New York Times review, visit www.nytimes.com/2009/0½8/books/28garn.html.