Bella Hammond facts for kids

Bella Hammond (born Bella Gardiner, December 21, 1932 – February 29, 2020) was an important Alaskan leader. She was an activist and a commercial fisherman. Bella Hammond served as the First Lady of Alaska from 1974 to 1982. Her husband, Jay Hammond, was the Governor during that time. She was the first person of Alaska Native background to live in the Alaska Governor's Mansion.

Bella Hammond also spoke out against the Pebble Mine project. This project was planned for the Bristol Bay area in Southwest Alaska.

About Bella Hammond

Early Life in Alaska

Bella Gardiner was born on December 21, 1932. Her birthplace was the village of Kanakanak in the Territory of Alaska. She was one of seven children in her family. Her mother, Lydia Snyder, was Yup'ik, an Alaska Native group. Her father, Thomas Gardiner, came to Alaska from Scotland.

Bella's Yup'ik grandparents died during the 1918 flu pandemic. This illness greatly affected Native Alaskan communities. Her mother grew up in an orphanage in Kanakanak.

Bella grew up in Kanakanak, near Dillingham. She went to a one-room schoolhouse there. Fishing was a big part of her family's life. When she was about 12, she helped a teacher in Aleknagik. She babysat the teacher's children during the winter. This experience taught her to be responsible. She even ran a dog sled team on winter weekends.

Her family later moved to Dillingham. Bella graduated from high school as the top student in her class. As a teenager, she worked as a doctor's assistant and a waitress.

Meeting Jay Hammond

Bella was 17 and still in high school when she met Jay Hammond. He was a pilot for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. They met at a dance in Dillingham. Two years later, in 1952, they got married in Palmer, Alaska. This was Bella's first marriage.

They had two daughters, Heidi and Dana. Jay also had a daughter, Wendy, from his first marriage. They raised their two daughters in Naknek.

In the mid-1950s, Bella Hammond started her own commercial fishing business. She used setnets on the Naknek River. When her husband joined the Alaska House of Representatives in 1959, she split her time between Juneau and Naknek. Even after Jay became involved in state politics, Bella returned to Bristol Bay and the Naknek River every summer to fish.

First Lady of Alaska

Jay Hammond was elected Governor of Alaska in 1974. Bella Hammond became the First Lady of Alaska. She held this role for both of her husband's terms. Bella was the first Native Alaskan person to live in the state's Governor's Mansion.

While living in the Governor's Mansion, Bella often worked in the house's gardens. Sometimes, people thought she was a groundskeeper because she was so hands-on. She continued to go back to Bristol Bay and the Naknek River each summer to fish.

Bella Hammond was very involved in her role as First Lady. In 1975, she started the First Lady's Volunteer Awards. These awards honored Alaskans who volunteered and helped their state. Since then, hundreds of Alaskans have received these awards. Every First Lady or First Gentleman after her has continued this tradition.

During her husband's second term, Bella Hammond faced a health challenge. She chose to share her story publicly. She continued her duties as First Lady while receiving treatments. Bella became a strong supporter for health awareness and related issues.

Life After the Governor's Mansion

After leaving the Governor's Mansion in 1982, Bella and Jay Hammond moved to their log cabin home. It was on the northern shore of Lake Clark. Their home could only be reached by floatplane or a long boat trip. Even though they lived in an isolated area, the Hammonds stayed active in public life and state politics.

In 2005, Bella Hammond and five other former Alaskan first ladies were featured in a KTOO-TV television documentary. In 2008, then-Governor Sarah Palin honored Bella Hammond. This was part of a celebration for the 50th anniversary of Alaskan statehood.

In 2012, Bella Hammond supported a group of lawmakers. These lawmakers were running for re-election to the Alaska Senate. Bella Hammond and former First Lady Ermalee Hickel also restarted "Backbone Alaska." This group worked to balance the influence of the oil industry in Alaskan politics. They supported efforts to protect Alaska's interests.

In 2017, Bella Hammond received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from the University of Alaska Anchorage.

On September 6, 2018, a large area of Lake Clark National Park and Preserve was named the Jay S. Hammond Wilderness Area. This area was near Bella's home. Bella and her family attended the ceremony.

Bella Hammond passed away on February 29, 2020, at age 87. She is remembered for her dedication to Alaska and its people.