Legislature(2017 - 2018)BUTROVICH 205
03/28/2017 03:30 PM Senate STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing: Alaska Police Standards Council | |
| SB8 | |
| HB78 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | SB 8 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 78 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 78-INDIGENOUS PEOPLES DAY
3:41:34 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY called the committee back to order and announced
the consideration of HB 78.
3:41:53 PM
REPRESENTATIVE DEAN WESTLAKE, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau,
Alaska, sponsor of HB 78, specified that the bill establishes
the second Monday of October each year as "Indigenous Peoples
Day," the day that also recognizes "Columbus Day." He noted that
the bill earlier addressed by the committee pointed out that
there are over 220 tribes in Alaska and HB 78 recognizes those
native cultures and their rich history of working with everyone.
He mentioned that Governor Walker has proclaimed Indigenous
Peoples Day the second Monday of October over the past two years
and the intent of the bill is to continue its observance.
3:42:56 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY opened public and invited testimony on HB 78.
3:43:23 PM
ELIZABETH MEDICINE CROW, President/CEO, First Alaskans
Institute, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in support of HB 78. She
thanked Representative Westlake and Elizabeth Rexford for
putting forward HB 78 in support of Indigenous Peoples Day. She
disclosed that for the past few years there has been a
grassroots effort around the state to recognize the amazing
contributions of Alaska's diverse indigenous people. She
disclosed that both the governor of Alaska and the mayor of
Anchorage have recognized Indigenous Peoples Day over the past
several years and noted that the proclamations occurred with
great fanfare at the First Alaskans Institute Elders and Youth
Conference. She set forth that HB 78 is incredibly important as
a way for people to feel a connection between Alaska and
Alaska's native people.
3:46:41 PM
CONSTANCE MUNRO, Advocate, Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of HB 78. She said HB 78
will recognize the thousands of years of native Alaskans'
culture, history and contributions that they gave to all the
people.
3:50:15 PM
KATHERINE HOPE, Advocate, Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 2,
Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of HB 78. She shared
stories of her Tlingit heritage and noted their emphasis in
treating people equally.
3:52:19 PM
ANNE FULLER, Advocate, Alaska Native Sisterhood - Glacier Valley
Camp 70, Juneau, Alaska, testified in support of HB 78. She said
through history the original people of Alaska have welcomed
newcomers and HB 78 offers the state and current residents an
opportunity to honor native Alaskan people.
3:53:01 PM
E.J. DAVID, representing self, Anchorage, Alaska, testified in
support of HB 78. He asserted that Indigenous Peoples Day should
have been done a long time ago out of respect to the indigenous
peoples of Alaska.
3:55:41 PM
SHAWN ARNOLD, Superintendent, Nome Public Schools, Nome, Alaska,
testified in support of HB 78. He set forth that Indigenous
Peoples Day recognizes and celebrates the heritage of indigenous
peoples throughout the Americas as well as the history and
contribution of Alaska natives. He asserted that recognition of
Indigenous Peoples Day is a matter of respect. He remarked that
recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day in October of 2015 made sense
to the Nome Public Schools because over 80 percent of its
students are of Alaska native heritage. He disclosed that the
Nome Public Schools was the second school district to recognize
Indigenous Peoples Day after Fairbanks. He opined that changing
the second Monday in October from Columbus Day to Indigenous
Peoples Day would better reflect the state's communities and a
true, accurate account of the history of indigenous people
beginning long before Christopher Columbus sailed, which is
necessary to set the historical record straight and to respect
the traditional cultures and languages of Alaska's indigenous
people.
3:57:32 PM
YATIBAEY EVANS, Alaska Native Education Director, Fairbanks
North Star Borough School District, Fairbanks, Alaska, testified
in support of HB 78. She disclosed that an Indigenous Peoples
Day resolution was first passed in 2015 by the Fairbanks North
Star Borough School District. She said the school district's
resolution began its process through a group of concerned
Alaskan-native parents that recognized a need for students and
the community to have a positive attribute to look up to and to
see all the contributions of the people that represent Alaska
over thousands of years. She set forth that Alaska's indigenous
people have contributed to the state's culture, structure,
economy, and society. She asserted that by acknowledging the
indigenous people, Alaska will create a positive precedence
which will further enhance multi-cultural connections and help
propel the state's communities forward.
3:59:18 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY announced that invited testimony is concluded for
the day. He asked Representative Westlake if HB 78 would replace
Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples Day.
REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE answered that Indigenous Peoples Day
would be inclusive of Columbus Day. He asserted that Alaska's
native people have never been exclusive, and their tradition
will proudly continue.
CHAIR DUNLEAVY thanked Representative Westlake and noted that
his previous comment essentially says there is room enough on
the specified day in October for indigenous people.
REPRESENTATIVE WESTLAKE asserted that there is room, "For all of
us."
4:00:14 PM
CHAIR DUNLEAVY held HB 78 in committee for future consideration.