Throughout the country federal employees are not sure if they’ll have a job much longer, including people who work for the Tongass National Forest.
This follows executive orders from the Trump Administration leading to thousands of lay offs across the country.
Wrangell’s tribal government, the Wrangell Cooperative Association – or WCA – and the U.S. Forest Service work closely together on projects in the Tongass National Forest’s Wrangell District. There have been confirmed layoffs. WCA’s Tribal Administrator Esther Aaltséen Reese said their Tribal Relations Specialist with the Forest Service was let go.
In response, Wrangell’s tribal government is organizing a walk from the Stikine Inn to Raymes Bar to create awareness that the borough and Forest Service are losing valuable and critical Forest Service employees. The walk is this evening at 5 p.m. starting at the Stikine Inn.
The intention is to peacefully spread the word to the Wrangell community on what’s going on with the Forest Service in the Wrangell region.
Tongass National Forest employees maintain popular recreational spots, like the Stikine River hot tubs, cabins, trails and docks. They also maintain the Anan Wildlife Observatory where they ensure bear safety to the site’s many visitors.
