Fifty Miles from Tomorrow: A Memoir of Alaska and the Real People

Fifty Miles from Tomorrow by Iggiagruk Willy Hensley was a pleasure to read. The title was a clever way to start his story. It reminded me of how Yup'ik stories begin, Ak'a tamani, A long time ago at that place expressed the importance of our land and a sense of time. His description of his early years brought back my own memories of growing up on the land at a time when we felt that the land was ours at least in the rural parts of our homeland. Willy recalled how most of our culturally strong elders emulated the best of our people and in an unsaid way those values were embedded subliminally within his inner being. It was this connection to his past that would influence him later in his life in the way that he viewed his place in the present history of our people and Alaska. Inupiaq was his heritage language and English was his second so he is bilingual. He took language lessons in the Russian Language.Many changes occurred during his life time and his world view was influenced by the strong life ways of his Inupiaq relatives. He saw the joy on being on the land with his family. He also began to see the negative distraction that occurs with the clashing of opposing cultures. He openly described how his own mother had become dysfunctional due the scourge of alcoholism and unfortunately as did many others. Willy could have fallen by the way side and maybe have become a part of the negative statistic of the deficit model of Alaska Natives. Destiny had other directions for him, namely getting a western education in Tennessee. He became a man who learned to live in two worlds knowing also that he was of mixed blood. His Inupiaq culture taught him to be non-confrontational but when needed to be assertive diplomatically to express his point of view as well as that of the people he was speaking for. He had learned his lessons well in the two worlds he lived in.He ventured into unknown territory that of running for public office. He became one of a handful of Alaska Native trail breakers by being elected to office in Juneau. Fast forwarding to his later years, while studying Constitutional Law his keen eye for detail saw how the United States government acquired the Lower 48 American Indian lands by declaration of war what others refer to as divine right of conquest. Other Nations also used the argument of the right of discovery to claim the land as theirs. Being aware of what happened in Alaska, he saw that Alaska was not discovered by the U.S. and that official war was not declared by Congress. As I recall before he wrote this book and telling me when he saw the difference said, "This sucker is ours." He wrote his paper stating this case for his Constitutional Law class and the rest is history. I wished he had used this phrase in his book but being the statesman that he is made his statement more diplomatic so that tender eyes and ears would not be offended. There have been many historians, academicians, research scholars and those with Juris Doctorates who did not see this difference.Representative, Senator, lobbyist, arbitrator, mediator, high school football star, undergraduate, graduate student, Honorary Doctorate in Law, Banker, Business Man, Writer, Poet, Lecturer, Hunter, Fisherman, Arctic Winter Games athlete, International Traveler, Inupiaq Dancer, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Native Leader and now Alaska Native Elder Iggiagruk Willy Hensley deserves to be given the credit for his research discovery that is the roots of the Alaska Native Land Claims. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in a biography that speaks from the heart with dignity and humility.

I had the opportunity to read Fifty Miles from Tomorrow by William L. Hensley for one of my classes as an engineering major and I learned a lot about the native Alaskan or Iñupiaq culture and life style. The story is about how his upbringing gave him a unique perspective on the issue and how he became an integral part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), signed in 1971. I especially enjoyed Hensley’s humbleness and ability to focus on what matters most. He could have gotten swept up in the political world, but he stayed grounded and fought for what he valued most. In a time where politics so rarely seen in a positive light, it is a refreshing story about good being done through the political system.In the end this is an excellent story about humble beginnings and the path to success through hard work and a little luck. Hensley does a wonderful job painting the story of his life and I loved reading about his tale. William Hensley is an inspiring person and shows that even in the most desperate of times it is important to keep your head up and solider on. I would suggest this book to anybody who is interested in Alaska, Native American struggles, or just a good story about perseverance and success.

If you've ever wanted to know what it is like to be a native Alaskan and to live the subsistence lifestyle in Alaska, this book is for you. 'Fifty Miles from Tomorrow' is an outstanding account of this, as written by William Hensely. The book covers the author's life, but isn't a typical autobiography, because it goes into so much detail about the inner workings of the Alaskan people. It covers (particularly well) the battle by the natives to recapture some of their land upon discovery that Alaska was rich in oil. It also describes in vivid detail intimate details about the subsistence lifestyle, including how the natives track and capture animals, and how they use every part of the animal for food or other use.This is a relatively short book but it is packed with interesting action. It is a great start to those who want to learn about native Alaskan life and I would highly recommend it. It's a great read which draws you in and doesn't let go. Excellent book!

I have always been fascinated by stories of Arctic exploration and the native peoples who endure such hostile environments. I was drawn to the book because of this interest, but soon found it was more than anthropology.Willie Hensley, abandoned by his mother at the age of two, was raised by relatives in the most primitive conditions, but was nurtured with love and caring by his extended and inclusive family. This early experience had a profound effect on him as he struggled to gain an education and to become a person who could be useful to his people and his country. The book deals with his efforts to obtain citizens' rights for an oppressed native population, and his final realization that a people who had lived for thousands of years without need for government or police would have to accept the changes that are being thrust upon them. He continues his work as liaison between Alaska and the U. S. government in Washington, D. C. The book is well written and easy to read. It gives an overview of the problems in our culture, and should be read as a reminder to all of us that we need to get beyond tolerance and work toward human dignity and basic rights.