Legislature(2019 - 2020)CAPITOL 106
04/25/2019 08:00 AM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| SB78 | |
| HJR19 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| *+ | SB 78 | TELECONFERENCED | |
| *+ | HJR 19 | TELECONFERENCED | |
SB 78-ESTABLISH MAY 31 AS KATIE JOHN DAY
8:08:47 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that the first order of business would
be SENATE BILL NO. 78, "An Act establishing May 31 of each year
as Katie John Day."
8:09:07 AM
SENATOR CLICK BISHOP, Alaska State Legislature, as prime
sponsor, presented SB 78. He acknowledged Representative Foster
for sponsoring a companion bill in the House. He paraphrased
the sponsor statement, which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Athabascan elder Katie John was well known for her
determination and persistence in defense of Alaska
Native customary and traditional hunting, fishing, and
gathering rights. She was a mentor to many Alaskans
through her teachings, humor, gentle spirit and loving
ways. Katie John is an Alaska icon who devoted her
life to protect the traditions of her ancestral
homeland. Katie John died May 31, 2013. She was 97
years old.
Katie John lived in Mentasta Lake and was raised to
live off the land under the tutelage of her mother,
grandmother and other elders of her community. She was
a consummate teacher and was always willing to share
her ancestral traditions, culture and history. She was
well known and respected throughout Alaska and around
the world for her advocacy of Native rights.
Katie John was a member of the Ahtna Regional Native
Corporation. According to Ahtna President Michelle
Anderson, "Every great culture in the world is known
by their traditional foods and the survival of a
culture depends on the people's ability to gather
those foods. Katie fought for our right to access our
traditional homelands because she knew that we need to
be able to feed our families. It was a matter of
cultural and human survival."
Always passionate about preserving the Athabascan
culture and language, Katie John was involved in
teaching her Native language since 1974 and helped
create the alphabet for the Ahtna dialect. She
received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the
University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2011. Katie John and
her husband, Chief Fred John, who died in 2000, raised
14 children and 6 foster children. She leaves behind
approximately 250 grandchildren, great-grandchildren
and great-great-grandchildren.
Due to her impressive role in protecting ancestral
traditions in Alaska, SB 78 will establish the date of
May 31 as Katie John Day in honor of her memory. This
bill is a simple yet fitting tribute to a powerful
woman who cherished the Alaskan way of life.
SENATOR BISHOP shared the reason for the selection of May 31 as
the date to honor Ms. John is not because she died that day, but
because that is the first day in spring that she could put fish
wheels in the Copper River.
8:12:00 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY opened public testimony on SB 78.
8:12:21 AM
KATHRYN MARTIN, Ahtna, Inc., stated that she is a grandchild of
Katie John and expressed appreciation to Senator Bishop and
Representative Foster for the efforts to honor her grandmother
for all her accomplishments.
8:13:26 AM
MICHELLE ANDERSON, President, Ahtna, Inc., described her
pleasure in fulfilling the simple request for picked berries Ms.
John made when she was in the hospital, especially considering
all Ms. John had done for Alaska Natives. She expressed
appreciation for the work done by Senator Bishop and
Representative Foster and their staff, who have advocated for
this legislation. Ms. Anderson stated her belief that Ms. John
is a hero to all in Alaska who practice and believe in
subsistence. She said she thinks it is right and fitting to
recognize Ms. John's name on the calendar for all she has done.
She said this would be a legacy to pass down for generations.
She said Ms. John welcomed anyone who wanted to learn about "our
culture and our way of life." She said it is difficult not to
become emotional when this issue is brought up "every single
year." She said there are few people in the state who have done
what Ms. John has done.
8:16:07 AM
BRUCE CAIN stated that although he serves as president of Copper
Valley Chamber of Commerce, he was testifying on behalf of
himself. He reflected that he used to drive 100 miles to attend
prayer meetings held by Ms. John. He shared that he was wearing
the last pair of moccasins made by Ms. John in her mid-90s. He
described Ms. John as a wonderful, loving human being. He
stated that she was well-loved by the community.
8:18:51 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY, after ascertaining that there was no one else
who wished to testify, closed public testimony on SB 78.
8:19:15 AM
SENATOR BISHOP indicated that he sought to have the proposed
legislation amended to provide for an immediate effective date
so that it can be presented to Ms. John's family and the Ahtna
people in order for them to have a celebration on [May] 31.
8:19:51 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN moved to adopt Conceptual Amendment 1, to
establish an immediate effective date for SB 78. There being no
objection, Conceptual Amendment 1 was adopted.
8:20:10 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN moved to report SB 78, as amended, out of
committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying
zero fiscal note. There being no objection, HCSSB 78(TRB) was
reported out of the House Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Census 2020 Sponsor Statement .pdf |
HTRB 4/25/2019 8:00:00 AM |
|
| SB 78 Sponsor Statement.pdf |
HTRB 4/25/2019 8:00:00 AM |
SB 78 |
| SB0078A.PDF |
HTRB 4/25/2019 8:00:00 AM |
SB 78 |
| HJR019A.PDF |
HTRB 4/25/2019 8:00:00 AM |
HJR 19 |