MDC News

In December the Military leaders from Fort Wainwright and Eielson Air Force base visited Minto in a first-ever outreach to the village to learn about rural Alaskan life and to build relationships with the local community, The tour included lunch, talking with tribal elders and Minto’s military veterans. Minto has an extensive informal history with the military as many of the Tribal enrollees and ANCSA Corporation shareholders are veterans.

Multiple reasons prompted the invitation to the military to visit the federally recognized Native Village of Minto, including being recognized by the AK ANG on a KC-135; the desire to show military leadership what life is like in a Native Village on the road system, extend hospitality, and expose our young people to the military opportunity; the desire to discuss hunting and fishing issues; and a desire to develop on ongoing, productive dialogue with our military neighbors.

A part of New Minto’s history took place during and after ANCSA (Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act) Village Corporation that by Congressional Act was incorporated by the State of Alaska and which was deeded a portion of the once-traditional lands. Adjusting to this has taken decades. Unlike in the urbanized areas where property boundaries are likely well-defined, and often fenced, the non-Native civilian or military member needs to understand that ALL lands in Alaska are owned by someone: either the federal government, the State of Alaska, or by private parties, largely, the ANCSA Regional Corporations (in interior Alaska that’s Doyon Ltd), the ANCSA Village Corporations, and by many individual private allotments.

Respecting private property is considered both in urban and rural Alaska. Respecting, too, the food source of the rural Native Alaskans, is considerate. Traditionally, Native Alaskans use EVERY part of what they hunt or catch, and elders are given the choice of parts of each hunt. For those who come to the Minto Flats to hunt and fish, please understand that if all you want is the antlers of a moose or a choice steak, please donate the rest of the moose or bear to the Tribe. Also, if you are launching from the beach in Minto, understand there is now a nominal fee to park on Minto property (the State owns the launching area and the water). If you desire to cross, hunt, or gather berries, please register with Seth-De-Ya-Ah Corporation at https://seth-de-ya-ah.com/, the Minto Northfork Store, or call 907-457-1431.

Many Minto people have private allotments along the rivers of the Tanana, Tolovana, and associated waterways. Unfortunately, these private properties have been trespassed, broken into, and abused. Please don’t party, hunt, or gather on someone else’s property. If there’s an emergency need, please leave the property as good or better than you found it.

When in Rural Alaska, carry a GPS and satellite phone, know where you are, and respect private property. Be a good neighbor or visitor.

Berkland noted the continued value of outreach between military installations and the region’s rural and Alaskan Native Villages. “This visit gave us a better understanding of how Alaskans live in the interior and how we as military members can be good neighbors and stewards of our bases.” Col Berkland, Eielson’s 354th Fighter Wing Commander Minto has many war veterans from our
community that we honor, said Cameron Winfrey, a local resident of Minto. We are a welcoming community, and we want to share what we have, respectively. Toward the end of the visit, the students at Minto School performed traditional songs and dances to share a piece of their culture with the group.