Legislature(2011 - 2012)CAPITOL 106
02/16/2012 08:00 AM House STATE AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB89 | |
| HB254 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | SB 89 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HB 254 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| + | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 254-ALASKA NATIVE LANGUAGE COUNCIL
[Contains brief mention of SB 130.]
9:19:58 AM
CHAIR LYNN announced that the final order of business was HOUSE
BILL NO. 254, "An Act establishing the Alaska Native Language
Preservation and Advisory Council and relating to the
preservation, restoration, and revitalization of Alaska Native
languages."
9:20:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 254
as joint prime sponsor. He said his wife is the youngest fluent
speaker of the Dena'ina dialect of the Athabascan Language, and
she is 66. He said three years prior to coming to Juneau, he
administered an endangered language grant for the Alaska
Heritage Center. He related that he and his wife have done
video documentation and have attempted to come up with
strategies to help preserve the numerous languages of Native
Alaskans. He talked about the complexity of the Athabascan
Language, and indicated that he knows some of the Yupik
language. He talked about the frequent use of onomatopoeia -
where the words sounds like the things they reference.
9:25:49 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK stated that in the past, Native people were
beaten for speaking their language. He said that does not
happen any longer; however, he related that when the legislature
announced that English was the official language of Alaska, a
Native friend of his said that hurt. He said the assumption is
still being made that "everybody either is like us or wants to
be like us," when there are unique people across the state. He
said the bill is calling for a respectful dialogue. He said he
thinks [the University of Alaska] is doing a fantastic job in
preserving the languages, but not in revitalizing [the use of
those languages].
9:28:41 AM
CHAIR LYNN noted that many languages have become extinct over
the years, and he asked, "How does that relate to what you're
trying to do here?"
9:29:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK talked about the Jewish people not speaking
their language for a long time and bringing it back, and the
Irish people realizing that Gaelic was a part of who they were
and making a concerted effort to bring it back. He related that
a Frenchman single-handedly revived the Eyak Language - thought
to be extinct - and is developing lessons for those in Alaska
for whom that language is there heritage. Representative Dick
said the proposed bill does not have a huge fiscal note, because
it does not mandate curriculum in schools; however, passage of
HB 254 would send the message that "we" accept partial
responsibility for the disappearance of many of Alaska's
languages. He stated his belief that even those who do not
speak the languages would benefit from the dialogue that HB 254
would bring about.
9:32:15 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN directed attention to language on page
2, beginning on line 17 through line 21, which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
In appointing the nonvoting members of the
council, the president of the senate and the speaker
of the house of representatives shall appoint a member
of the bush caucus, if a bush caucus exists. In this
subsection, "bush caucus" means a group of legislators
that represents rural areas of the state.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he thinks the language should be
deleted, because there are members of the legislature who
started out in rural areas and moved to urban areas and vice
versa, and the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House should have the ability to select anyone of the
legislative members based on who is best for the position.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN pointed to the first sentence of
subsection (c), on page 2, lines 13-15, which read as follows:
(c) The governor shall appoint to the
council established in this section five voting
members who are professional language experts and who
represent diverse regions of the state.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN said he does not know whether or not
there are enough language experts throughout the state to meet
that requirement.
9:34:29 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK named five cultural areas in Alaska: the
Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian of Southeast; Yupik; Alutiiq;
Inupiat; and Athabascan. He stated his understanding that that
is why the number five was chosen for voting members to be
appointed by the governor.
9:35:08 AM
ANNETTE KREITZER, Staff, Representative Alan Dick, Alaska State
Legislature, indicated that there is an amendment in the
committee packet that may address Representative Johansen's
concerns by clarifying what a language expert is. She suggested
that the committee could wait to speak more directly to the
question until the amendment has been moved.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN indicated that the language of the
aforementioned amendment does not answer his question.
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN next asked what efforts have been made
by the regional and village corporations regarding [Native
languages].
9:37:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DICK said all the Native groups in Alaska have
had this dialogue, and HB 254 is a way to unify those voices.
He said even though the Native people talk to each other, "it's
always the outside world that is ... passing legislation that's
communicating something very different."
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN talked about the segregation of
Caucasians and Native Alaskans in the past, and echoed
Representative Dick's statement about the time in history when
an entire generation of Alaska Natives was forced to speak only
English. He said the government endorsed that through inaction,
and he questioned implementing HB 254 through legislation,
rather than promoting it through Native corporations, which "has
more buy-in from ... the people."
REPRESENTATIVE DICK deferred to those waiting to testify.
9:40:20 AM
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON directed attention to page 2, lines 30-
31, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
(b) The governor shall make the appointments
required by AS 44.33.530(c), added by sec. 2 of this
Act, on or before December 1, 2012.
REPRESENTATIVE P. WILSON asked for confirmation that "this is
going to be ... with permanent members that don't change, except
for the legislators."
MS. KREITZER answered yes.
9:41:40 AM
REPRESENTATIVE PETERSEN commented that having lived in another
culture and attempted to learn the language, he understands the
important connection between a language and its culture. He
expressed his hope that the proposed legislation gets the
intended results, because he said he thinks the joint prime
sponsor's intention is "well founded and ... from the heart."
CHAIR LYNN questioned how a person can think without language,
and remarked upon the varied effects of different words, even
within one language.
9:43:46 AM
MS. KREITZER, in response to Representative P. Wilson, said the
intent of the proposed [Alaska Native Language Preservation and
Advisory Council] is to view what is going on around the state
and recommend cost-effective ways of supporting preservation,
restoration, and revitalization of languages. She said it is a
concept that the council would more broadly define, but the
framework for it is clear in HB 254. In response to a follow-up
question, she offered her understanding that the council would
advise the governor and the legislature.
9:48:05 AM
REPRESENTATIVE JOHANSEN pointed out that the answer to
Representative P. Wilson's question is in [subsection (b)], on
page 2 of the proposed legislation.
REPRESENTATIVE DICK, in response to Representative Johansen,
said the impetus for the bill came from 45 years of observation
and many people who have expressed concern about the issue. He
indicated that the names of those people are on a list.
9:49:37 AM
DENISE MORRIS, President/CEO, First Alaskans Institute (FAI),
testified in support of HB 254. She mentioned companion bill SB
130. She said FAI works to empower the indigenous people of the
land and assists in making decisions that impact their lives.
She stated that FAI believes the revitalization of Alaska Native
languages is integral to "the restoration of healthy (indisc.)
all Alaskans." She asked that the legislature support the
creation of the Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory
Council. She talked about languages having a home, and
contributing to the unique nature of the state.
MS. MORRIS reported that currently there are only about 120
fluent speakers of the (indisc.) language, and most of those
people are over the age of 65. She talked about the connection
between language and the land, and she said, "If we, as
Alaskans, are to steward Alaska and our resources into the
future for the common good and for the benefit of all Alaskans,
then the language[s] of Alaska Native people are crucial to this
endeavor." She said the proposed council will be able to look
at what has been, is being, and should done, reorganize
programs, and make recommendations to the governor, the
legislature, and to other organizations that are also looking to
revitalize Alaska Native languages. She stated that having
people on the council who speak, teach, and continually learn
their Native language and work for the preservation and
revitalization of the language is crucial to the success of the
council.
9:53:51 AM
MS. MORRIS, regarding a previous question as to the involvement
of Native corporations, said the Alaska Native Heritage Center,
and regional, village, and tribal corporations have all been
involved in some critical way in keeping Alaska Native languages
alive. She said there are ongoing programs, and she mentioned
an annual conference held by FAI, where elders and youth meet
for language workshops. In closing, Ms. Morris asked the
legislature to appropriate money for the establishment and
ongoing activities of the council and to support HB 254.
9:55:42 AM
ANNETTE EVANS SMITH, President/CEO, Alaska Native Heritage
Center (ANHC), testified in support of HB 254. She first
introduced herself speaking both Yupik and Koyukon Athabascan.
She said her mother is from South Naknek and her father is from
Rampart, on the Yukon River. She stated that many people
believe that the "DNA" of one's culture exists within the
language of that culture, and with the loss of that language
comes the loss of a vast amount of traditional knowledge. She
said [Alaska Native] languages tell the story of Alaska, and it
is critical to take proactive measures immediately to strengthen
[Alaska Native] languages, while those who speak the languages
are still alive and the interest in revitalizing the languages
is strong.
MS. EVANS SMITH relayed that compelling evidence exists showing
a link between indigenous children with strong, traditional
cultures and linguistic backgrounds and academic success. She
said children taking language and culture classes benefit by
gaining stronger identities and an appreciation of their
heritage. Conversely, American Indian and Alaska Native
teenagers who are conflicted about their culture are at greater
risk for engaging in alcohol and drug use and dropping out of
school. She reported that the ANHC's nationally award-winning
after school program and internship program have reached their
highest graduation rates in history. She said the graduation
rate for Alaska Native students in the Anchorage School District
is approximately 43 percent, while the children in the ANHC's
program graduate at a rate of 83 percent. Ms. Evans Smith
stated, "At our core, we recognize that indigenous language
learning promotes increased self-esteem and confidence for our
youth, and a strong cultural identity and knowledge translates
into a stronger person overall." She said ANHC is currently
working to develop onsite programs that provide indigenous
language and learning opportunities in a full immersion
environment.
MS. EVANS SMITH, in response to a request from the chair to wrap
up her testimony, stated that there are examples of successful
attempts to restore indigenous languages in New Zealand,
Hawai'i, and Wyoming. She said the proposed bill will help
unify the programs aimed at restoring Alaska Native languages
and will provide a much needed political infrastructure, both
inside and outside state government, to "promote sustainable
Alaska Native language efforts." She thanked the joint prime
sponsors and the members of the House State Affairs Standing
Committee.
10:00:28 AM
ROSITA WORL, Ph.D., President, Sealaska Heritage Institute
(SHI), testified on behalf of HB 254. She stated that the
mission of SHI is to perpetuate the Tlingit, Haida, and
Tsimshian cultures, and its goal is to support cultural
diversity and promote cross-cultural understanding. She said
SHI has been engaged in language restoration for the last 12
years. Dr. Worl imparted that she also serves on the board of
directors of the Indigenous Language Institute, is a member of
the National Council of Native American Languages, and earned
her Ph.D. in Anthropology at Harvard University, with a minor in
Sociolinguistics. She said she would give the committee a
written statement on Alaska Native languages, which outlines the
need for [HB 254], and a report on Alaska Native language
programs administered by Alaska Native organizations, which
demonstrates that Native organizations are successful in
implementing Native language revitalization programs. She said
much more is needed to be done in this area. In response to
Representative Johansen, she stated her belief that professional
language expertise exists within Alaska, and she said that view
is supported in the aforementioned report.
10:02:18 AM
DR. WORL shared her heritage in both Tlingit and English. She
said she is from the Thunderbird clan and the Eagle moiety, from
the House Lowered From The Sun in Klukwan, a child of the
Sockeye clan. She said her Tlingit names embody both her social
identity and her cultural values; they establish a bond between
her and her ancestors and create for her a responsibility to
future generations. She said her social identity reflects "our
world view and our relationship to the land and environment."
Dr. Worl revealed that it has taken many years for her to
resolve the conflicts between her Native self and herself in the
non-Native world. She explained that she is of the generation
of Alaska Natives who were forcibly kidnapped from their homes
and put in a mission school to be "educated" and "civilized."
She said conflicts still exist for many young Native Alaskans
living in both a Native and non-Native world. She stated her
belief that [HB 254] can do much to bring about understanding of
cultural differences, and she expressed her hope that it would
protect linguistic and cultural diversity.
10:04:09 AM
DR. WORL outlined the status of Alaska Native languages. She
warned that unless remedial action is initiated, most Alaska
Native languages will become extinct. She related the status of
the following languages, according to a United Nations
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
report: Inupiat, in the North Slope and Kotzebue, and Gwitchen
Athabascan languages are listed as severely endangered, which
means that those languages are spoken by grandparents and older
generations, and, while parent generations may understand those
languages, they do not generally speak them to their children or
among themselves; Aleut and the Southeast Alaska Native
languages are listed as critically endangered, which means that
the youngest speakers are grandparents and older who speak the
language partially and infrequently; and Yupik is listed as
vulnerable, which means that most children speak the language,
but it may be restricted to certain domains, such as in the
home. Dr. Worl noted with regret that Eyak is extinct.
DR. WORL said some people have suggested that the proposed
Alaska Native Language Preservation and Advisory Council may
duplicate the work of the Alaska Native Center, but she assured
the committee that this is not the case. She emphasized the
importance of understanding the difference between documentation
and revitalization. She explained that the Alaska Native
Center, established about 40 years ago, focuses primarily on the
documentation of Alaska Native languages. She said
documentation itself does not lead to the restoration of a
language, because it does not include the development of
curriculum or the training of Native language instructors - the
two critical components of language revitalization. She stated
her belief that the legislature fully understands the social and
economic cost to a society and to the state when a significant
percent of its population has a poor education. She echoed the
comments of Ms. Evans Smith that children who grow up thinking
their language and culture are inferior often have low self-
esteem, which is a major factor in failure at school.
10:07:04 AM
DR. WORL opined that Native language restoration benefits not
only the language itself, but also society as a whole. She
talked about the millions of dollars that are spent trying to
mend an educational system that has failed Alaska Native people.
She echoed the previous testimony of Ms. Evans Smith that
studies of existing programs have shown that integrating
language and culture into curriculum improves academic
achievement. Dr. Worl concluded by stating that although she
supports HB 254 as a means by which to identify the barriers to
language restoration, much more needs to be done immediately.
She invited the committee to read her written testimony,
[included in the committee packet].
[HB 254 was held over.]
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| 01 HB0254A.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 254 |
| 02 HB 254 Sponsor Statement.PDF |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 254 |
| 03HB 254 Sectional Analysis.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 254 |
| 04 HB 254 Amendment 27-LS1145- A 2.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 254 |
| 05 HB254-DCCED-DCRA-02-10-12.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 254 |
| 06 HB 254 SB 130 Letters of Support.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
HB 254 SB 130 |
| 01 SB89 Version R from (S)JUD.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 89 |
| 02 SB89 Sponsor Statement Version R (2).pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 89 |
| 03 SB89 Sectional for Version R.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 89 |
| 04 SB 89 Backup Ethics Committee Advisory Opinions.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 89 |
| 05 SB 89 Backup Ethics Committee Minutes Relevant.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 89 |
| 06 SB 89 Backup NCSL Links to States' Legislative Ethics Codes.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 89 |
| 07 SB0089-2-2-013012-LEG-N.pdf |
HSTA 2/16/2012 8:00:00 AM |
SB 89 |