Legislature(2021 - 2022)GRUENBERG 120
04/22/2021 03:00 PM House STATE AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Confirmation Hearing(s):|| Department of Public Safety, Commissioner | |
| HB63 | |
| HB123 | |
| HB148 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HB 63 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 123 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| += | HB 148 | TELECONFERENCED | |
HB 123-STATE RECOGNITION OF TRIBES
4:12:10 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS announced that the next order of business
would be HOUSE BILL NO. 123, "An Act providing for state
recognition of federally recognized tribes; and providing for an
effective date."
4:12:48 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS opened public testimony on HB 123.
4:13:12 PM
JOEL JACKSON, President, Organized Village of Kake, stated his
support for HB 123. He asserted that tribes had not been
recognized by the State of Alaska. He opined that the state
recognized tribes only when it wanted to work with them;
further, he said the state had asked tribes to relinquish part
of their sovereignty. He believed that was unacceptable. He
reported that there were 229 tribes in Alaska that provided
services to all their tribal citizens using millions of dollars
from the federal government. Those services would otherwise be
paid for by the state, he pointed out. He believed it was time
for the state to recognize and work with tribes without asking
them to relinquish any sovereignty.
4:15:17 PM
DELORES LARSON, United Tribes of Bristol Bay (UTBB), expressed
support for HB 123, as it would take an overdue step toward the
state's formal recognition of Alaska's tribal nation. She
believed that the tribes' inherent sovereignty should be
recognized by the state because it would allow both governments
to work together to better serve its shared citizens. She
opined that the many challenges in public safety, healthcare,
education, and housing, would be better addressed through
cooperative work between governments. She maintained that a
continued and intentional effort not to formally recognize the
229 federally recognized tribal governments would be a
tremendous disservice to all citizens of Alaska. She urged the
committee to support HB 123.
4:17:50 PM
COURTENAY CARTY, Tribal Administrator, Curyung Tribal Council,
relayed that Curyung Tribal Council was the federally recognized
tribe of Dillingham and the largest tribe in Bristol Bay. The
majority of its tribal government services were provided through
the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) compact with the Bristol Bay
Native Association. Additionally, she reported that the Curyung
Tribal Council regularly worked with the state and the City of
Dillingham on the justice system, education, transportation,
infrastructure, and natural resource management. Further, the
council operated an active tribal court to protect its children.
She explained that Curyung Tribal Council partnered with the
local school district to incorporate cultural components into
the classrooms. This year alone, $311,000 was provided to the
district for educational needs related to COVID-19. She
conveyed that the council upheld its traditional role in the
management of land, water, fish, and wildlife by working with
ADF&G and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to actively
participate in research and the regulatory processes that
governed natural resources. She concluded that all tribes
deserved to be heard and recognized as equal governments by the
state. She expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to
provide input and said she was grateful that HB 123 was being
heard in committee.
4:22:03 PM
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS, after ascertaining there was no one else
that wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 123.
4:22:23 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TARR thanked the testifiers for sharing in the
significance of this legislation. She recalled her experience
on the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs and believed
that although recognition existed federally, there was pain
associated with this ongoing issue that the state had not
addressed. She said she was honored to have the opportunity to
right that wrong.
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said her experience on the House Special
Committee on Tribal Affairs was educational, as there were less
than 3 percent of Alaska Natives living in her district. She
explained that she gained a broader understanding of the need
for recognition and the tension that existed between the state
and tribal governments. She believed that the proposed
legislation would be a brave step; however, she admitted that it
was still uncomfortable for her. She recounted how a tribal
member helped her understand that tribes were inherently
sovereign; further, she said [formal recognition] would only
improve the existing relationship between the state and Tribal
governments. She expressed her hope that the proposed
legislation would provide an opportunity to move forward and
"lay aside" the pain from the past. In closing, she expressed
her support for the passage of HB 123.
REPRESENTATIVE STORY thanked the bill sponsor for bringing
forward a bill that would formally recognize tribal sovereignty.
She said she had the privilege of raising her family on Áak'w
Kwáan land and believed that sovereign recognition would be a
step in the long journey of healing and restoration. She
expressed her hoped that the bill would be supported.
CHAIR KREISS-TOMKINS stated his appreciation for the work by the
bill sponsor and the previous legislature on this issue, as it
was long overdue. He believed it was in incredibly important
statement of respect and partnership by the State of Alaska to
the tribes. He shared a personal anecdote about the government-
to-government relationship in the community of Sitka.
4:27:55 PM
REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN moved to report HB 123 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 123 was reported out of the
House State Affairs Standing Committee.