Emmonak and Nunam Iqua
Dillingham University campus and Beaver Creek B&B
Aerial view and Bristol Inn, Dillingham
"Welcome to The Bristol Inn. We are located in downtown Dillingham, in the heart of Bristol Bay, Alaska, home of the world's largest salmon run. Our fine hotel is two blocks from the Samuel K. Fox Museum with easy access to banking, restaurants, grocery stores, gift shops and more. Our beautifully appointed rooms, friendly service and warm atmosphere will make your stay a pleasure you'll want to repeat many times."
"Dillingham, Alaska, is home to Beaver Creek Bed and Breakfast. Enjoy a restful nights sleep, charming Alaskan home-style ambience, and friendly hospitality that only Alaskans can offer. Beaver Creek B&B is open year round and is a favourite place to stay for Business Travellers visiting Dillingham."
That's the Dillingham where Todd was born and grew up, according to his wife, Sarah Palin - if we discount Glennallen and Wasilla, of course...
Compare the photos of Dillingham to the top two pictures, of Emmonak and Nunam Iqua, which were at the heart of the energy crisis this winter. Emmonak has a grocery store, Nunam Iqua doesn't. I very much doubt they have a Bristol Inn or easy access to banking, restaurants and more.
But hey, Todd grew up in REAL rural Alaska, he's a TRUE native who seized his opportunities!
.
I am appalled that no one of any significance has called her on this--that, and the fact that her blue-eyed hubby is only a tiny fraction Native. Why aren't the Native Alaskans themselves telling her to cut the BS of waving Todd around like a fig leaf every time she says something offensive?
ReplyDeleteThank you! I kept bringing this up in comments on different sites. It's great to see the side by side comparison.
ReplyDeleteIt is the "CITY of Dillingham" and anyone in Alaska knows this is NOT a rural village. We all have a "WTF?" reaction when she brings up Todd's SUMMER VACATIONS in Dillingham as an example of the rural lifestyle.
And, if you're Native (like me), you also recognize that Dillingham is very much a "white man's town".
As to why the Native community doesn't address this - go to the Real Alaska blog and look through her archives for the article about Todd's Nativeness. Writing Raven does a great job.
ReplyDeleteAnd, calling someone else out publicly about their personal cultural identity can be tricky and offensive. You can be full bloodied Alaska Native and not identify with the culture or you can be a 'tiny fraction' and be totally immersed in your culture.
Todd's lifestyle and observed behaviors do tell us quite a bit, but none of us really knows his heart. However, we can sure as heck dispute the obvious exaggerations, like Dillingham being a Native village.
Alaska Real is included in my blog roll and I read it regularly. It's very important to learn more about Alaskan Native issues from somebody who knows about it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not an expert on Alaska, but I do believe that all aboriginal peoples and their cultures should be treated with respect anywhere in the wolrd.
This is great...it offers the solution to the food/oil difficulties the rural villages face...they can just open Bed and Breakfast Inns like the "fishing villagers" at Dillingham!
ReplyDeleteGreat find--Bristol Inn (didn't Sarah work there as a waitress for awhile?) is near banking, restaurants, grocery stores, gift shops.....wow, what a difference between Dillingham and the true rural villages.
ReplyDelete