Bella Hammond was the first person of Alaska Native descent to reside in the Alaska Governor's Mansion.
21 Facts About Bella Hammond
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Bella Hammond was a vocal opponent of the proposed Pebble Mine in the Bristol Bay region of Southwest Alaska.
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Bella Hammond was raised in Kanakanak, located about six miles from Dillingham, and attended the village's one room schoolhouse.
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When she was around 12-years old, a school teacher in Aleknagik, who suffered from a heart condition, asked her parents if Bella Hammond could spend the winter at her home to look after her children.
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Bella Hammond spent the time babysitting the teacher's children, which she credited with instilling an early sense of responsibility.
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Bella Hammond worked as both a doctor's assistant and a waitress at the nearby Clark's Point cannery during her teenage years.
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Bella Hammond was a 17-year old high school student when she first met Jay Hammond, a pilot for the US Fish and Wildlife Service, at a dance in Dillingham.
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Bella Hammond divided her time between Juneau and Naknek once her husband joined the Alaska House of Representatives in 1959.
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Bella Hammond returned to the Naknek River and Bristol Bay every summer to continue her fishing operations for years after Jay Hammond became involved in state politics.
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Bella Hammond became First Lady of Alaska, a role she would hold for the governor's two terms in office.
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Bella Hammond was the first Native Alaskan to reside in the state Governor's Mansion.
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Bella Hammond continued to return to fishing operations at Bristol Bay and the Naknek River each summer throughout her husband's tenure.
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Bella Hammond took an active interest in her role as first lady.
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In 1975, Bella Hammond established the First Lady's Volunteer Awards to recognize Alaskan volunteers and their charitable contributions to the state.
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Bella Hammond was diagnosed with breast cancer during the governor's second term.
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The governor contemplated resigning from office following his wife's diagnosis, but Bella Hammond said no and encouraged him to remain in office.
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Bella Hammond became a vocal advocate for breast cancer prevention, awareness, and issues related to healthcare.
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The Bella Hammond homestead was only accessible by floatplane or a 10-mile boat trip from Port Alsworth.
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In 2017, Bella Hammond was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters by the University of Alaska Anchorage.
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Bella Hammond died on February 29,2020, at the age of 87.
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Bella Hammond was survived by her daughters, Heidi and Dana, and stepdaughter, Wendy Hammond.