Alaska
‘Alaskan Bush People’ get the cold shoulder when looking for land in Southeast – Alaska Public Media
Actuality TV stars from the long-running Discovery collection, “Alaskan Bush Folks,” made a short cease within the Southeast group of Petersburg earlier this month.
The well-known Brown household tried to purchase land after dwelling in Washington the final three years. However locals, together with Mark Hofstad, didn’t welcome them as neighbors.
Pay attention:
Hofstad mentioned he first seen a ship belonging to the “Alaskan Bush Folks” at Petersburg’s South Harbor in early July. The harbor is residence to many giant industrial fishing boats, together with Hofstad’s boat known as the Norseman.
Hofstad mentioned when he noticed workers from the “Alaskan Bush Folks” strolling round, he began bugging the harbor grasp to maneuver them someplace else.
“Simply trigger I don’t need to have a look at ‘em,” Hofstad mentioned.
On considered one of Hofstad’s visits to the harbor workplace, a Brown member of the family additionally confirmed up.
“That one child, I believe they name him Gabe, launched himself and caught out his hand,” Hofstad mentioned. “I checked out him, ‘I aint’ shaking your hand.’ He simply checked out me and walked away.”
Hofstad is clearly not a fan of the collection. The present follows the Brown household via 13 seasons as they try and stay off the land in Alaska.
However they haven’t all the time been residents. In 2014, six members of the family had been charged with 60 counts of PFD fraud for receiving practically $21,000 in funds after they didn’t qualify. Patriarch Billy Brown, who died final 12 months, and considered one of his sons pleaded responsible and had been sentenced to 30 days in jail, fined and ordered to do group service. They had been additionally banned from making use of for PFDs sooner or later. The deal dropped the instances towards the opposite members of the family however they nonetheless needed to pay again the dividends.
Hofstad known as them liars.
“I imply, look what the present is,” he mentioned. “It’s non-residents portraying themselves as Alaskans that principally make us all appear to be a bunch of frickin’ morons.”
Emily Fehrenbacher is aware of not all Alaskans just like the collection. She herself had been an avid follower. For 5 years, she wrote a column for the Anchorage Day by day Information about actuality TV within the state. She mentioned “Alaskan Bush Folks” attracts a following down south. It had 5 million viewers in 2015, in line with Discovery.
“Actually it’s like loads of Alaska actuality TV exhibits the place they’re enjoying up the remoteness and type of constructing drama across the typical Alaskan life-style,” Fehrenbacher mentioned.
However the Browns push it slightly bit additional. Farther from… actuality. And Fehrenbacher understands why it rubs some Alaskans the unsuitable approach.
“It simply appeared like loads of it was fairly staged for tv,” she mentioned.
The present’s manufacturing firm, Park Slope Productions, nor the Discovery Channel responded to requests for remark for this story.
Disgust for the Browns and their present is a well-liked sentiment amongst Petersburg residents. Native realtor George Doyle was contacted by the manufacturing firm however says he didn’t interact.
“We had been approached however I didn’t reply to them as a result of once more we weren’t eager about having that kind of exercise,” mentioned Doyle.
Doyle mentioned “once more” as a result of this wasn’t the primary time. A couple of decade in the past, the present was in search of a plot throughout Frederick Sound on the mainland in a spot known as Level Agassiz.
“The oldsters at Agassiz weren’t essentially excited in seeing the digicam crew and everyone transfer in there,” Doyle mentioned.
The Brown household has lived in numerous communities in Alaska over time and has burned some bridges alongside the way in which. A couple of decade in the past they had been at Mosquito Lake 30 miles north of Haines on the freeway.
Jim Stanford was a neighbor and mentioned “they appeared like conmen.”
“They actually weren’t dwelling off the land, constructing their very own cabin and stuff like that,” Stanford mentioned. “You would inform they had been extra customers than givers, not likely the type of individuals that you’d need as a direct neighbor.”
He mentioned he doesn’t want the Brown household in poor health will however they didn’t slot in along with his group the place of us helped one another.
“Relying on the neighbors for help and everyone pitching in, the Browns weren’t minimize of that fabric,” he mentioned.
Hofstad, Doyle and others in Petersburg say they’re not towards all Alaska actuality TV. For instance, the Nationwide Geographic present “Port Safety,” which is predicated out of Prince of Wales Island is a neighborhood favourite. Hofstad mentioned it’s not pretend.
“You realize, I do know a number of the individuals within the present and it depicts… life,” he mentioned.
The “Alaskan Bush Folks” present was unsuccessful in shopping for land close to Petersburg. One other native realtor did present them a chunk of property close to city however they didn’t need it.
So, when their boat left Petersburg’s harbor July 15, Hofstad was relieved.
“Maintain going, man. Simply preserve going,” Hofstad mentioned.
The place they’re headed and whether or not or not there might be a 14th season in Alaska is unknown.