Legislature(2021 - 2022)DAVIS 106
04/01/2021 08:00 AM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS
Note: the audio ![]()
and video ![]()
recordings are distinct records and are obtained from different sources. As such there may be key differences between the two. The audio recordings are captured by our records offices as the official record of the meeting and will have more accurate timestamps. Use the icons to switch between them.
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB123 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| += | HB 123 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 123-STATE RECOGNITION OF TRIBES
8:06:09 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that the only 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."
8:06:38 AM
RICHARD PETERSON, President and CEO, Central Council Tlingit and
Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit and Haida), testified in
support of HB 123. Shared he was a lifelong Alaskan who could
trace his lineage back thousands of years, and that he did not
feel this made him any better than any Alaskan who moved here;
just that he had a different history. He shared Tlingit and
Haida had more than 32 thousand members within the indigenous
territory of Southeast Alaska, the United States (US), and the
world. Tlingit and Haida were listed on the federal register
issued every year, were established by an act of Congress, and
administered about $32m in federal, state, and private funding
through grants, compacts, contracts, and direct appropriations
per year, he stated. Alaska was home to 229 federally
recognized tribes; there were 573 federally recognized tribes
throughout the US, he pointed out. Recognition was long
overdue, he stated, as it was time to move on from challenging
Native Alaskans' existence, and as a matter of policy it was
what made sense: HB 123 would recognize tribes' inherent
authority to serve their own citizens, he said. Tribes brought
in and saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars, he said,
and healthy tribes made healthy communities, he added, noting
the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by tribal healthcare as a
prime example of the way tribes have taken care of the
community. He shared tribes had a complex history that needed
to be recognized, as even conversations were still hollow
without due recognition.
8:14:17 AM
VIVIAN KORTHUIS, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Village
Council Presidents, testified in support of HB 123. She shared
Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) was the largest
tribal consortium in the US with 56 federally recognized tribes
as members - a quarter of tribes in Alaska and an eighth of the
tribes in US - reside in 48 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim
Delta. She shared AVCP provided its social services, culturally
relevant programming, and advocacy for tribes and tribal members
of the Y-K Delta through partnerships with tribes, with the
federal government, and with other organizations, she shared.
The State of Alaska was settled by tribes, and, as such, in
recognizing AVCP, the State of Alaska would not be giving a
benefit AVCP does not already have but would gain the benefit of
having tribes as a partner. She reiterated tribes already had
experience partnering with the federal government, and that a
partnership would be especially beneficial for Rural Alaska and
the children who resided there. Working with the tribes by way
of HB 123 has the potential to be a watershed moment, she put
forth.
8:21:21 AM
ELIZABETH MEDICINE CROW, President and CEO, First Alaskans
Institute, testified in support of HB 123. Shared tribes not
only had responsibilities to each other, but complex protocols,
ceremonies, structures, processes and systems by which alignment
was kept and from which Alaskans were able to steward behavior
toward abundance and celebrate diversity, one of Alaskans'
biggest strengths that ought to be harnessed, she put forth.
Tribal, state, and federal governments - all sovereigns - ought
to represent three chances Alaskans had to work together
respectfully, she emphasized. People in Alaska have conflated
distinctions, putting them all in the racial category, she
shared, but it is important for all Alaskans to understand the
political side as well. It is through the inherent sovereignty
harnessed by tribal government change can be made.
Transformation can happen, she urged; intervention could even
save money, she put forth, adding opportunities would remain
unsupported were HB 123 not to be passed. Tribal power and
state power needed to work together in this moment, she
reiterated.
8:30:48 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY opened public testimony on HB 123.
8:31:12 AM
CHARLES DEGNAN testified in support of HB 123. As a tribal
member, Alaskan, and US citizen, Mr. Degnan shared HB 123
offered an opportunity for everyone to work together.
Historically tribes have always been willing to work together,
he offered.
8:32:56 AM
BOB SAM testified in support of HB 123. A tribal member and
Alaskan, Mr. Sam worked to restore cemeteries. He offered the
restoration of oftentimes desecrated and always sacred sites
required working together with tribal governments.
8:35:11 AM
COURTENAY CARTY, Tribal Administrator, Dillingham Curyung Tribe,
testified in support of HB 123. Ms. Carty shared HB 123 would
strengthen relationships throughout the state.
8:36:10 AM
GLORIA SIMEON testified in support of HB 123. Offered she was
surprised to see HB 123 as tribes had been recognized in the
1990s; she said she thought this had already been accepted and
barriers torn down. She stated HB 123 was long overdue, as
denying tribes their rights served no one, and there was so much
work to do.
8:39:07 AM
FRANK KATCHATAG, President, Native Village of Unalakleet,
testified in support of HB 123.
8:40:05 AM
GABE CANFIELD testified in support of HB 123. As a
multigenerational Alaskan attending Dartmouth College, Ms.
Canfield named her ancestors' courage and strength, teaching of
Native values, and reciprocity of care and community, as the
secret to her success. Alaskans needed to lift each other up,
she stated.
8:42:13 AM
JOEL JACKSON, President, Organized Village of Kake, testified in
support of HB 123. Shared state recognition of tribes would be
a beneficial partnership for both entities and could improve the
lives of all Alaskans. Tribal members ought not to be asked to
relinquish sovereignty, especially with tribal health assisting
the state in COVID-19 vaccine rollout, he put forth.
8:45:21 AM
BRUCE ERVIN testified in support of HB 123. Tribal member and
Alaskan shared it was important for future generations to show
support to all Alaskans by recognizing tribal sovereignty.
Alaskan tribes have been disenfranchised for too long, he
shared.
8:47:04 AM
JONES HOTCH testified in support of HB 123. Expressed it was
ironic tribes were recognized by the federal government but not
by the state. He stated it was an historic moment.
8:48:46 AM
BROOKE WOODS testified in support of HB 123. Shared support of
HB 123 meant the establishment of good governance in Alaska,
which was lagging in terms of good governance, she shared.
Tribal members were working diligently to improve the state for
all people, she said.
8:52:43 AM
KENDRA ZAMZOW testified in support of HB 123. A 30-year
Alaskan, she shared even those "new" to Alaska were invested in
lifting those who have stewarded the land since time immemorial.
8:53:31 AM
WANDA CULP testified in limited support of HB 123. Ms. Culp
shared Alaska Natives have never been land-restricted but had
special relationships with the land and water and should not be
limited from resources as the State tried to do. She urged
utilization, not limiting; it was not up to the State to pick
and choose what it would recognize under federal law, she said.
8:56:14 AM
CARRIE STEVENS testified in support of HB 123. Tribal
Governance faculty at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Ms.
Stevens shared Alaska existed because of tribal governance.
There was no disputing knowledge and wisdom of tribes, she
added, expressing deep gratitude for tribes' role in COVID-19
vaccine rollout. Alaska could be a role model but was instead a
laughingstock, she pointed out, urging passage of HB 123.
9:00:30 AM
DIANA ZIRUL testified in support of HB 123, giving as an example
of success tribal health's role in the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.
Water and sanitation deficiencies could use a strong partnership
to tackle them, she pointed out as an example of how much work
there was to be done.
9:04:13 AM
FRANCIS DEGNAN testified in support of HB 123, giving as
examples deep cultural tradition and heritage to strengthen her
reason for support.
9:07:08 AM
LORI WOLF testified in support of HB 123 on behalf of the
Foraker Group, a non-profit serving Alaska. Foraker specified
urban, rural, Native, and non-Native peoples alike fully
supported Alaska's First People, she said. "Stronger and better
to serve together" was the thrust of her refrain in support for
HB 123.
9:08:59 AM
WAYNE MORGAN, Chief, Aniak Tribe, testified in support of HB
123. Representing 600 tribal members, Mr. Morgan said he was
interested in improving issues such as law enforcement. Belief
of sovereignty would still reign even if HB 123 were not to
pass, but its passage would strengthen Alaska, he said.
9:12:31 AM
RHONDA PITKA, Chief, Village of Beaver, testified in support of
HB 123. She pointed out local governance had been pressed into
action to "combat" the lack of federal governance. State
support would only make everything better and stronger in terms
of policy and programs, she said.
9:14:30 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY closed public testimony on HB 123.
9:15:24 AM
REPRESENTATIVE FIELDS moved to report HB 123 out of committee
with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal
notes. There being no objection, HB 123 was reported out of the
House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB123 letters of support 3-31.pdf |
HTRB 4/1/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 123 |
| HB123 letters of support 4-1.pdf |
HTRB 4/1/2021 8:00:00 AM |
HB 123 |