Legislature(2019 - 2020)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/09/2019 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB126 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | HB 126 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 126-ALASKA NATIVE HERITAGE MONTH
3:29:51 PM
CHAIR BISHOP announced the consideration of House Bill 126 (HB
126). He noted that the House Tribal Affairs Committee sponsored
the bill.
3:31:07 PM
REPRESENTATIVE TIFFANY ZULKOSKY, Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, Alaska, sponsor and chair of the House Tribal Affairs
Committee, thanked Senator Gray-Jackson for introducing Senate
Bill 86 (SB 86), a bill that also looks to permanently establish
Alaska Native Heritage Month.
She explained that HB 126 is the first bill sponsored by
Alaska's first ever House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
HB 126 passed unanimously out of committee and nearly
unanimously on the House Floor. The bill seeks to permanently
establish November as Alaska Native Heritage Month.
She explained that Alaska is home to 229 federally recognized
tribes that comprises nearly half of all tribes in the country.
Alaska Native people consist of at least 20-destinct-cultural
groups and native languages, 13-regional-native corporations,
almost 200 village corporations, and 12-regional-tribal-
nonprofit consortiums.
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY said permanently establishing Alaska
Native Heritage Month provides an opportunity to celebrate,
honor, and recognize the rich, vibrant cultures of Alaska's
natives across the state. HB 126 is legislative recognition that
Alaska Natives have made on the federal level for decades.
She said since the 1970s, Congress has passed numerous joint
resolutions and proclamations recognizing the contributions of
American Indians and Alaska Natives to the country. In 2013,
President Obama proclaimed November as National Native American
Heritage Month. In 2017, President Trump also proclaimed
November as National Native American Heritage Month stating,
"American Indians and Alaska Natives are inextricably linked
with the history of the Unites States. Native Americans'
contributions are woven deeply into our nation's rich tapestry."
She posed that President Trump's statement could also be said
about Alaska's native people and the state.
She said Alaska Native people have occupied its land for
thousands of years and have a unique history that all Alaskans
know and love. The recognition from HB 126 helps Alaskans move
on from the complex historic divisions in the state. Alaska
Native's unique heritage and shared cultural appreciation
strengthens relationships that bring all Alaskans together.
Alaska native people, cultures, languages, and traditions
significantly contribute to the state's history, economy, and
diverse identity.
She summarized that HB 126 serves to formally acknowledge the
many contributions, sacrifices, and resiliency of Alaska Native
people that every community, culture, and resident in the state
can celebrate.
3:33:45 PM
CHAIR BISHOP opened public testimony.
3:34:01 PM
At ease.
3:34:31 PM
CHAIR BISHOP called the committee back to order.
3:34:49 PM
ELIZABETH MEDICINE CROW, President, First Alaskans Institute,
Kake, Alaska, testified in support of HB 126. She explained that
the First Alaskans Institute is a statewide Alaska native
nonprofit organization that works towards progress for the next
ten-thousand years. The First Alaskans Institute focuses on
amplifying the voice of Alaska Native people, ensuring that
their ways of life are advancing via decision makers that
address issues that impact Alaska Native people.
She set forth that the Alaska Native community have been
stewarding Alaska as their homeland for over ten-thousand years
and the native community looks forward to the next ten-thousand
years. HB 126 is an important bill, not just for Alaska natives
but for all Alaskans because the legislation helps to make
permanent a month to celebrate the diverse cultures of Alaska
Native people across the state, the contributions made by Alaska
Native people for thousands of years, and the ability for all
Alaskans to enjoy the beauty, strength, and connection of what
it means to be an Alaskan, noting that Alaska Native's ancestors
took great care in stewarding Alaska's lands and waters.
She specified that HB 126 provides an opportunity to make Alaska
Heritage Month permanent during the month of November. The
bill's permanent designation in November allows the legislature
to recognize the critical and important contributions of Alaska
Native people. November is an important time in Alaska Native's
calendar year because the month is a time of celebration for the
many native cultures after the spring, summer, and fall harvest
seasons. Schools will also be able to plan events that
celebrates the positive stories of Alaska Native people, a
critical inclusion for the wellbeing of Alaska Native children.
She summarized that the First Alaskans Institute stands as a
statewide nonprofit organization in support of HB 126. She added
that she also stands as a native woman, as a citizen of her
tribe, the organized Village of Kake, and as a citizen of Alaska
for making sure that Alaskans take moments to celebrate the good
things that are happening, and HB 126 will allow that to happen.
3:39:16 PM
CHAIR BISHOP closed public testimony.
SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON thanked Representative Zulkosky for
bringing HB 126 forward, a bill that is important. She explained
that HB 126 is important to her because while she was serving on
the Anchorage Assembly for nine years, she brought forward
resolutions that recognized Alaska's many diverse cultures. She
said that now that she is in the Alaska Senate, one of her goals
was bring forward bills recognizing the state's many diverse
cultures that can be in state statutes forever. She detailed
that her first goal was to bring forward bills recognizing Black
History Month as well as Alaska Native Heritage Month. She said
she is thrilled that the bill for Black History Month is ready
for the governor's signature and is grateful that legislation
for Alaska Native Heritage Month is advancing.
SENATOR COSTELLO thanked the sponsors of SB 86 and HB 126 for
introducing important legislation. She said as a former
classroom teacher, she sees a lot of opportunities with Alaska
Native recognition for classroom students to learn more about
Alaska's heritage.
3:41:30 PM
CHAIR BISHOP stated that he is honored as chair of the committee
to be able to pass the legislation along to the next committee.
He noted that he had a question that pertains to, "the next ten-
thousand years" and asked if a working group will be formed to
address month-long celebrations during the month of November,
including possible potlatches.
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY replied that nothing has been planned,
but the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs will be happy
to work towards addressing celebrations during the month of
November.
CHAIR BISHOP said after listening to Ms. Medicine Crow as well
as being a father of two Native children, he said he believes
that something could be done in the schools during the month of
November for students to bring out who they are, where they are
from, and their history regarding something that is important.
REPRESENTATIVE ZULKOSKY summarized that the House Special
Committee on Tribal Affairs has been doing a lot of work to
provide information to operate from a consistent foundation and
knowledge level for Alaskans to step forward together in
recognizing their unique shared history.
3:43:52 PM
SENATOR BIRCH moved to report HB 126, work order 31-LS0782\M
from committee with individual recommendations and attached zero
fiscal note.
3:44:07 PM
CHAIR BISHOP announced that there be no objection, the motion
carried.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HB 126 ver. M.PDF |
SCRA 5/9/2019 3:30:00 PM |
HB 126 |
| HB 126 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
SCRA 5/9/2019 3:30:00 PM |
HB 126 |
| HB 126 Fiscal Note DOA.PDF |
SCRA 5/9/2019 3:30:00 PM |
HB 126 |
| HB 126 Support_ First Alaskans Institute.pdf |
SCRA 5/9/2019 3:30:00 PM |
HB 126 |