MINTO, STATE LAND OFFICIALS CONFER
By Thomas A. Snapp
Times Staff Writer
On George Washington’s birthday,
February 22. state land officials
mot with the people of the Indian
Village of Minto concerning the con
troversial Minto Flats.
Roscoe E. Bell, head of the state
Division of Lands, urged the Minto
people to work with his department
in working out an over-all land use
plan for the Minto Lakes area, an
area known to be valuable as a duck
hunting and recreation area and
possibly for oil deposits.
The village claims the Minto
Lakes area as their traditional hunt
ing grounds; the state has also
claimed the land as part of 104
million acres it is to select in 25
years.
The state selection has been
blocked by a protest from the Minto
people to the U. S. Department of
Interior. In the protest, the Minto
people reassert a claim to the land
originally filed in 1938 with the
Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Slim Chanees
Bell advised the people repeatedly
that they should not withdraw their
protest but he said the chances
that the federal government would
give the people ownership of the
land were extremely slim. He also
pointed out that a great deal of time
would be required to settle the
claim.
On the other hand, he said the
State might be able to move quickly
end be able to put the land to the
best possible use.
Bell spoke before a meeting of
the village council and about 40
IWi.nfo residents. He was accompan
ied by Joe Lawlor, of the Fairbanks
regional office of the State Division i
of Lands. I
Richard Frank, 36-year-old chief
of Minto. conducted the meeting.
Walter Titus, councilman, Bergman
Silas, councilman, and Henry
Burchard. secretary, attended.
Land Use Plan
Bell emphasized that the over-all
land use plan could be used by the
Minto people if they were awarded
the land by the federal government
or could be used by the state in case
the Minto people lost their protest
and the state was awarded the land.
Bell stressed the importances of
the Minto Lakes area, particularly
lor duck hunting, and said the state
was interested in it for a forest land
program.
He said the state hoped to get
the land to stop selections by in
dividuals but pointed out that the
state selection had been blocked by
the Minto protest, that the land
was still under federal control.
Consult People
Bell stressed that local people
have to be consulted by the state as
to how the land should be classified
so the land can best serve the peo
ple.
“We will first consult local peo
ple and then others.” he said.
Chief Frank and two or three
other members of the audience cm
ohasized that the Minto people had
claimed the Minto Lakes area for
i many years.
Frank said the boundaries of their
land was worked out with the
chiefs of Minto. Rampart. Ncnana.
and S..lcha.
‘Won’t Give Up’
“As long as I'm chief, we won’t
give up our land.” Frank said.
“We have the same idea the state
has. The state wants to develop this
land and that’s our aim too.”
Frank insisted that the Minto
people make the rules and regula
tions for development.
“My own personal observation is
that it is difficult to get anything
done through the federal govern
ment." Bell said.
Assume Obligation
“The state is more flexible to
right wrongs,” he added. He said
the state would be able to assume
any prior obligation by the govern
ment and work out a solution.
Bell then gave some suggestions
as to possible solutions.
He said the state, for example,
could withdraw the whole area and
make it into a recreation area.
Everyone would have free use of
it but the state could give the Minto
people assurance there would be ,
no road put in or no private claims
by sportsmen from Fairbanks as has
been the case under public domain.
“I don’t think you people want a
reservation.” he said.
Hits BIA
“That way it would be under BIA
control, wouldn’t it? You wouldn’t
be able to decide anything.”
Bell then suggested that the state
could select the land and turn it
back over to the village of Minto
outright.
A third suggestion Bell made was
that the land could be selected by
the state and the Minto people could
buy parcels of it from the state.
Buy Back Land
This proposal met opposition by
members of the audience who stated
they would not like to be put in the
position of buying back their own
land.
Chief Frank emphasized he was
not thinking in terms of next week
but in terms of the future and long
range planning that was necessary.
“Three things we have to think
of in development—the people of
Minto. then the state of Alaska,
and last of all, the United States of
America,” he said.
Bell said he doubted if Minto
ever got any satisfaction from the
federal government but said the
state was interested in sitting down
and working out an acceptable plan.
“Wo are interested in hearing what
Minto proposes to solve the prob
lem.”
Area Too Small
Bell told the group he felt the
area the people had selected was
too small, that it should have also
included some of the hill country
in case the village needed agricul
tural land or perhaps wanted to
move the village site to higher
grounds.
Chief Frank agreed with Bell
that the state was certainly more
cooperative with his people than the
federal government. He thanked
the officials for coming to talk
about the problem.
Different Attitudes
Frank said the state was “easy to
talk to” but that the attitude of the
federal land office is “not too good.”
He said the attitude of Daniel Jones,
manager of the Fairbanks land of
fice in regard to native land allot
ments was that natives wore “darn
luekv to get five acres, let alone
1B0.”
Frank said it was hard to under
stand Jones' attitude since he was
an Alaskan, born at Nome.
Requests Interpreter
The Rev. Dale Sarles, Episcopal
missionary, said he thought that
the meeting was on such a level
that the average Minto person could
not understand what was going on,
and he requested an interpreter.
A person from the audience
agreed, saying. “I don’t understand
it myself."
Chief Frank stated the old people
would be filled in and the matter
would be talked over after every
body went home.
Bell told the Minto people to take
plenty of time to think and talk the
matter over ana if they wanted
further meetings, to contact Joe
Lawlor at the Fairbanks S*ate Land
office.
VILLAGE OF MINTO—This village on the edge of the Minto Lakes is located about 50 miles from
Fairbanks. According to Richard Frank, chief, the village has a population of “200 even, babies and all”
and 407 dogs, puppies and all.” —Tundra Times Photo by A1 Ketzler
MINTO COMMUNITY HALL — Richard Frank, chief of Minto,
stands in the doorway of the Minto Community Hall to welcome
.Roscoe E. Bell, director of the State Division of Lands, to a general
village meeting. Director Bell was accompanied by Joe Lawlor, of
the Fairbanks regional state land office.
—Tundra Times Photo by A1 Ketzler
OVER-ALL LAND USE PLAN—Roscoe E. Bell, director of the State
Division of Lands, asks the Minto people to cooperate in working
out an over all use plan of the Minto Flats area. Bell said the village
of Minto could use the plan if the village was awarded the area by
the federal government or the state could use the plan if the federal
government awarded the state the area. At left is Joe Lawlor, of
Fairbanks land office, and behind Bell are members of the Village
Council. —Tundra Times Photo by A1 Ketzler
PLAYING IN THE SNOW—Two little girls of the Indian village of
Mlnto play in the snow while their parents attend a meeting con
cerning the future of the Minto Lakes area.
—Tundra Times Photo by A1 Ketzler