KAREN: So, when did you start doing health aide kind of work?

TRUDY: In 1965. I had just had my youngest son, who is 41 now. But they sent me a telegram and the Health Council a telegram in Sitka at Mt. Edgecumbe and told them I was the preference for their health aide. But when they approached me, the doctor approached me, I told him “No, I just am not. I just have a newborn baby and I don't feel like I'm gonna go out and be servicing people when he's so small.” And they: “Nope, the Health Council wants you. You're the one they want.” So, here I am. I just stayed in there then.

KAREN: Do you know why they selected you?

TRUDY: Well, the lady at the -- the lady that was president for the Health Council, said that: “You are very, very easy going with people.” I got along with people. She felt like, if anybody, I'd be the one. But I didn't feel that way.

KAREN: Were you working before?

TRUDY: No, I was just a homebody. I never went anywhere, just always stayed home. My husband worked at the power plant. He worked at the store in the beginning, then toward the end he worked at the power plant and he was there for years.

KAREN: So, the Health Council that you're talking about was that a local council, regional council, what was that?

TRUDY: No, it was a community council. The president was Caroline Peterson.

KAREN: Now, how is that different from a village council?

TRUDY: It's the same.

KAREN: It's the same, okay.

TRUDY: That's what -- we don't call our town a village. We never did.

KAREN: Okay.

TRUDY: Although people laugh at us, they say: “You're just from a village.” Well, village or not, it's a good place. It was a good place, but I haven't been home for a long time.