Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/06/2021 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB10 | |
| SB131 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | SB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 10-FUNTER BAY MARINE PARK: UNANGAN CEMETERY
3:32:06 PM
CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 10
"An Act relating to the Funter Bay marine park unit of the state
park system; relating to protection of the social and historical
significance of the Unangax cemetery located in Funter Bay;
providing for the amendment of the management plan for the
Funter Bay marine park unit; and providing for an effective
date."
She identified the individuals available to answer questions.
3:32:42 PM
REPRESENTATIVE SARA HANNAN, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 10, thanked the committee for hearing the
bill a second time. She summarized that HB 10 would add acreage
to the existing Funter Bay State Marine Park, including a parcel
that has a cemetery for individuals who passed away while
interned in a nearby relocation camp.
She referenced the earlier question about whether the cemetery
should have a name and relayed that the Unangan descendants
would like to entertain that question, but recognize that it
will be a lengthy process to come to consensus. She noted that
naming a feature is allowed under existing state park
regulations.
3:33:11 PM
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON joined the committee meeting.
CHAIR HUGHES offered her perspective that naming the cemetery
was a way to honor the Unangan people and their history in the
state and nation.
CHAIR HUGHES referenced a question that came up after the last
hearing about private property in the area and the misperception
that this might benefit one or more adjacent property owners.
She asked the sponsor's staff to share a map to make it clear
that this proposal is truly to honor the history of the Unangan
people who were interned at Funter Bay and their descendants.
3:35:32 PM
TIMOTHY CLARK, Staff, Representative Sara Hannan, Alaska State
Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, displayed a topography map of
Funter Bay. He related that the cannery was sold and subdivided
into about seven parcels in the mid-1980s and there are also
dozens of cabins scattered along the shoreline of the bay. The
cabins are primarily recreational and are used seasonally.
3:38:41 PM
CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony on HB 10.
3:39:23 PM
MARTIN STEPETIN, Advocate, Friends of Admiralty Island, Juneau,
Alaska, stated that he originally came from Saint Paul. He
relayed that his four grandparents were interned at Funter Bay
starting in 1942 and he had been working to protect the cemetery
there since 2014. His dad was born during that time and was
lucky enough to survive. He noted that a number of the
headstones in the cemetery were for babies who were not so
fortunate.
MR. STEPETIN related his journey working independently and then
with Friends of Admiralty Island to determine that the cemetery
was located on state land. Several options were discussed about
how to protect the cemetery, one of which was through the
National Historic Register. This effort was not successful. A
second option was to protect the parcel though an internal
departmental agreement, but that is subject to change with each
administration. He said there was consensus that adding the
cemetery parcel to the existing Funter Bay State Marine Park was
the most lasting way to protect this valuable state, Alaska
Native, and U.S. history.
MR. STEPETIN concluded his testimony stating that the State of
Alaska did not make the decision to relocate the Aleuts from the
Pribilof Islands to Funter Bay, but because the Unangan Cemetery
is located on state land, it is 100 percent the responsibility
of the legislature and the state to protect this historic piece
of property.
3:43:30 PM
CHAIR HUGHES asked if the legislature could do anything to help
qualify the cemetery for the National Historic Register.
MR. STEPETIN answered he did not know but he believes the parcel
would eventually qualify.
3:44:49 PM
RICHARD ZACHAROF, Advocate, Tribal Council, Saint Paul Island,
Alaska, stated that he visited Funter Bay in 2000 after he
received a $50,000 parks and recreation grant to renovate the
crosses and clean up the cemetery. A number of community members
also made the trip to hold a memorial service for family and
loved ones who were buried in the Funter Bay cemetery.
MR. ZACHAROF emphasized the importance of HB 10 to protect and
preserve the cemetery and the memory of the people who were
relocated and died while interned at Funter Bay. It is important
to the Aleut people, the State of Alaska, and the United States.
He reported that about 10 percent of the 330 people who were
evacuated from Saint Paul Island in 1942 did not survive. He
shared the plan to go to Funter Bay in August for a memorial
service if the bill were to pass. The plans also include a work
party to construct a fence around the cemetery to protect the
gravesites in the traditional Aleut fashion.
3:48:01 PM
JACOB MERCULIEF, representing self, Saint Paul Island, Alaska,
stated that his four grandparents were relocated and interned at
Funter Bay. He said he was speaking on behalf of family members
to voice support for HB 10 to protect and preserve the cemetery
at Funter Bay and the history of his people.
3:49:56 PM
CHAIR HUGHES closed public testimony on HB 10.
REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN thanked the committee for its time and
consideration.
CHAIR HUGHES solicited the will of the committee.
3:50:22 PM
SENATOR MYERS moved to report HB 10, work order 32-LS0096\A,
from committee with individual recommendations and attached
fiscal note(s).
3:50:31 PM
CHAIR HUGHES found no objection and HB 10 was reported from the
Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.