02/28/2017 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS

                 HB  78-INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
3:30:42 PM                                                                                                                    
CHAIR  BISHOP announced  consideration  of HB  78.  He said  that                                                               
Representative  Westlake provided  an  overview  during the  last                                                               
hearing. He opened public testimony on HB 78.                                                                                   
                                                                                                                                
He recognized  Representative David  Westlake, sponsor of  HB 78,                                                               
in the audience.                                                                                                                
                                                                                                                                
3:32:04 PM                                                                                                                    
ALBERT NINGEULOOK,  representing himself and  respectful memories                                                               
of  his  late parents,  grandparent,  ancestors  and people  from                                                               
Alaska,  Shishmaref,  Alaska,  supported  HB  78.  He  said  that                                                               
Webster's Dictionary  defines "indigenous" as  "having originated                                                               
in and  being produced, growing,  living, or  occurring naturally                                                               
in a particular region or environment."                                                                                         
                                                                                                                                
He said that HB 78  simply recognizes and respectfully honors the                                                               
original inhabitants  of Alaska. His Mount  Edgecombe High School                                                               
year book's  title was "Taheta," signifying  the tribes: Tlingit,                                                               
Athabascan,  Heida,  Eskimo,  Tsimshian,  and  Aleut.    Alaska's                                                               
legislators make  powerful decisions  on their behalf  unlike the                                                               
federal government who is still "stomping grapes."                                                                              
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR  BISHOP,   finding  no  further  comments,   closed  public                                                               
testimony on HB 78.                                                                                                             
                                                                                                                                
SENATOR  MACKINNON moved  to report  HB 78,  version 30-LS0368\A,                                                               
from committee with individual  recommendations and attached zero                                                               
fiscal note(s).                                                                                                                 
                                                                                                                                
CHAIR BISHOP stated that without  objection, HB 78 moved from the                                                               
Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.