Legislature(2021 - 2022)BELTZ 105 (TSBldg)
05/06/2021 03:30 PM Senate COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
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Audio | Topic |
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Start | |
HB10 | |
SB131 | |
Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+= | HB 10 | TELECONFERENCED | |
*+ | SB 131 | TELECONFERENCED | |
+ | TELECONFERENCED |
HB 10-FUNTER BAY MARINE PARK: UNANGAN CEMETERY 3:32:06 PM CHAIR HUGHES announced the consideration of HOUSE BILL NO. 10 "An Act relating to the Funter Bay marine park unit of the state park system; relating to protection of the social and historical significance of the Unangax cemetery located in Funter Bay; providing for the amendment of the management plan for the Funter Bay marine park unit; and providing for an effective date." She identified the individuals available to answer questions. 3:32:42 PM REPRESENTATIVE SARA HANNAN, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 10, thanked the committee for hearing the bill a second time. She summarized that HB 10 would add acreage to the existing Funter Bay State Marine Park, including a parcel that has a cemetery for individuals who passed away while interned in a nearby relocation camp. She referenced the earlier question about whether the cemetery should have a name and relayed that the Unangan descendants would like to entertain that question, but recognize that it will be a lengthy process to come to consensus. She noted that naming a feature is allowed under existing state park regulations. 3:33:11 PM SENATOR GRAY-JACKSON joined the committee meeting. CHAIR HUGHES offered her perspective that naming the cemetery was a way to honor the Unangan people and their history in the state and nation. CHAIR HUGHES referenced a question that came up after the last hearing about private property in the area and the misperception that this might benefit one or more adjacent property owners. She asked the sponsor's staff to share a map to make it clear that this proposal is truly to honor the history of the Unangan people who were interned at Funter Bay and their descendants. 3:35:32 PM TIMOTHY CLARK, Staff, Representative Sara Hannan, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, displayed a topography map of Funter Bay. He related that the cannery was sold and subdivided into about seven parcels in the mid-1980s and there are also dozens of cabins scattered along the shoreline of the bay. The cabins are primarily recreational and are used seasonally. 3:38:41 PM CHAIR HUGHES opened public testimony on HB 10. 3:39:23 PM MARTIN STEPETIN, Advocate, Friends of Admiralty Island, Juneau, Alaska, stated that he originally came from Saint Paul. He relayed that his four grandparents were interned at Funter Bay starting in 1942 and he had been working to protect the cemetery there since 2014. His dad was born during that time and was lucky enough to survive. He noted that a number of the headstones in the cemetery were for babies who were not so fortunate. MR. STEPETIN related his journey working independently and then with Friends of Admiralty Island to determine that the cemetery was located on state land. Several options were discussed about how to protect the cemetery, one of which was through the National Historic Register. This effort was not successful. A second option was to protect the parcel though an internal departmental agreement, but that is subject to change with each administration. He said there was consensus that adding the cemetery parcel to the existing Funter Bay State Marine Park was the most lasting way to protect this valuable state, Alaska Native, and U.S. history. MR. STEPETIN concluded his testimony stating that the State of Alaska did not make the decision to relocate the Aleuts from the Pribilof Islands to Funter Bay, but because the Unangan Cemetery is located on state land, it is 100 percent the responsibility of the legislature and the state to protect this historic piece of property. 3:43:30 PM CHAIR HUGHES asked if the legislature could do anything to help qualify the cemetery for the National Historic Register. MR. STEPETIN answered he did not know but he believes the parcel would eventually qualify. 3:44:49 PM RICHARD ZACHAROF, Advocate, Tribal Council, Saint Paul Island, Alaska, stated that he visited Funter Bay in 2000 after he received a $50,000 parks and recreation grant to renovate the crosses and clean up the cemetery. A number of community members also made the trip to hold a memorial service for family and loved ones who were buried in the Funter Bay cemetery. MR. ZACHAROF emphasized the importance of HB 10 to protect and preserve the cemetery and the memory of the people who were relocated and died while interned at Funter Bay. It is important to the Aleut people, the State of Alaska, and the United States. He reported that about 10 percent of the 330 people who were evacuated from Saint Paul Island in 1942 did not survive. He shared the plan to go to Funter Bay in August for a memorial service if the bill were to pass. The plans also include a work party to construct a fence around the cemetery to protect the gravesites in the traditional Aleut fashion. 3:48:01 PM JACOB MERCULIEF, representing self, Saint Paul Island, Alaska, stated that his four grandparents were relocated and interned at Funter Bay. He said he was speaking on behalf of family members to voice support for HB 10 to protect and preserve the cemetery at Funter Bay and the history of his people. 3:49:56 PM CHAIR HUGHES closed public testimony on HB 10. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN thanked the committee for its time and consideration. CHAIR HUGHES solicited the will of the committee. 3:50:22 PM SENATOR MYERS moved to report HB 10, work order 32-LS0096\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 3:50:31 PM CHAIR HUGHES found no objection and HB 10 was reported from the Senate Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee.