02/27/2018 08:00 AM House COMMUNITY & REGIONAL AFFAIRS
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Presentation: Arts & Culture and Its Importance to Our Economy, by Dr. Rosita Worl | |
| HJR30 | |
| Adjourn |
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
| += | HJR 30 | TELECONFERENCED | |
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE COMMUNITY AND REGIONAL AFFAIRS STANDING COMMITTEE
February 27, 2018
8:03 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Justin Parish, Co-Chair
Representative Harriet Drummond
Representative John Lincoln
Representative David Talerico
Representative Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (alternate)
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative George Rauscher
Representative Dan Saddler
Representative DeLena Johnson (alternate)
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
PRESENTATION: ARTS & CULTURE AND ITS IMPORTANCE TO OUR ECONOMY
- HEARD
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 30
Urging the United States Congress to reaffirm the commitment of
the United States to promote the safety, health, and well-being
of refugees and displaced persons; urging the United States
government to uphold its international leadership role in
responding to displacement crises with humanitarian assistance
and to work with the international community and the United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to find solutions to
conflicts and protect refugees; and urging the President of the
United States to continue to mitigate the burden placed on
frontline refugee host countries.
- ADOPTED FISCAL NOTE
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
BILL: HJR 30
SHORT TITLE: URGE U.S. SUPPORT OF REFUGEES
SPONSOR(s): REPRESENTATIVE(s) JOSEPHSON
01/24/18 (H) READ THE FIRST TIME - REFERRALS
01/24/18 (H) CRA, STA
02/13/18 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/13/18 (H) Heard & Held
02/13/18 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/22/18 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
02/22/18 (H) Moved HJR 30 Out of Committee
02/22/18 (H) MINUTE(CRA)
02/27/18 (H) CRA AT 8:00 AM BARNES 124
WITNESS REGISTER
ROSITA KAAH?NI WORL, PhD, President
Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Gave a presentation entitled "Arts &
Culture and Its Importance to Our Economy."
LEE KARINGER, Chief Operating Officer
Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI)
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Answered questions during the presentation
entitled "Arts & Culture and Its Importance to Our Economy."
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:03:00 AM
CO-CHAIR JUSTIN PARISH called the House Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee meeting to order at 8:03 a.m.
Representatives Kreiss-Tomkins (alternate), Talerico, Lincoln,
and Parish were present at the call to order. Representative
Drummond arrived as the meeting was in progress.
^PRESENTATION: Arts & Culture and Its Importance to Our
Economy, by Dr. Rosita Worl
PRESENTATION: Arts & Culture and its Importance to our Economy
8:03:37 AM
CO-CHAIR PARISH announced that the first order of business would
be a presentation by Rosita Worl entitled "Arts & Culture and
Its Importance to Our Economy."
8:04:19 AM
ROSITA KAAH?NI WORL, PhD, President, Sealaska Heritage Institute
(SHI), gave a PowerPoint presentation entitled "Arts & Culture
and Its Importance to Our Economy." She prefaced her testimony
with comments about the hope for Alaska's future, the confidence
in efforts being made on behalf of the state, and the importance
of public service.
DR. WORL then began the presentation by introducing herself in
Tlingit and English as follows:
_
Yeidiklats?k ?a ?aahni yo xat duwasakw
_
Ch?aknaa ?y? x
_
Shungukeid? ?y? x
__
Kawdliyaayi H?tdxx
My name is Yeidiklats?k. It's an ancient name
that's been passed down for thousands and thousands of
years. My ceremonial name is Kaah?ni, and it means
"Woman Who Stands in the Place of a Man."
DR. WORL said she is Tlingit and Eagle; she is from the
Thunderbird Clan and the House Lowered from the Sun in Klukwan;
she is proud to be a child and grandchild of the Lukaax.?di or
the Sockeye Clan.
8:07:39 AM
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "Juneau: The Northwest
Coast Arts Capital," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
Through all of human history, art has been prized for
its spiritual, cultural, and aesthetic values.
Today we are also beginning to recognize art for its
economic potential.
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "Art works for the
Southeast Economy," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
? Southeast Alaska arts is a $58 million industry.
? Artists earned $30 million in 2013.
? 25% of Southeast artists self-identify as Native
artists.
In rural Southeast communities, 75%-100% identify as
Native artists.
? Statewide, Alaska arts is a $505 million industry.
? 17,044 Alaskans work in arts and creative
industries.
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "Native arts: Potential
for growth," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
? The economic potential of Northwest Coast and Alaska
Native art is under-utilized.
? Potential can be realized by promoting Southeast
Alaska and Juneau as the NWC/Alaska Native Arts
Capital and economic engine for the region and state.
? NWC art is internationally recognized and in high
demand.
? Alaska Native art is gaining increasing recognition.
DR. WORL added that during the latest Winter Olympic Games, some
athletes wore art made by a Tlingit artist. She said Miss
Alaska USA 2017, Alyssa London, wore a ceremonial robe with [an
Alaska Native] design on it and "had the highest viewing in the
state of Alaska." She said it is phenomenal that "people are
beginning to see our art."
8:10:17 AM
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "What is Northwest Coast
Art?" It read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
? With Northwest Coast art surrounding us, we in
Alaska have grown accustomed to seeing NWC art, but
have not recognized its significance.
? NWC art has been acclaimed throughout the world as a
uniquely distinctive form of design and aesthetics.
? NWC art evolved over several thousand years in the
rich and complex indigenous societies of the Pacific
Northwest of North America.
? NWC art is based on ancient formline design
principles and spatial relationships not seen
elsewhere in the world. It also has the capacity for
further innovation.
DR. WORL shared that a resolution is being advanced through U.S.
Congress, by "our delegation" and Senator Cantwell, to designate
Northwest Coast art (NWC art) as a national treasure.
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "Why is NWC art
important?" The slide read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
? NWC art plays a significant role in maintaining the
cultural diversity of the nation and the cultural
survival of the region's indigenous populations.
? NWC art represents a major attraction for visitors
and can provide untold sustainable social and economic
benefits to the region and state.
DR. WORL said she wears the Eagle moiety crest and wears jewelry
that identifies her as from the Thunderbird clan. The design of
the House Lowered from the Sun is seen on sacred art. She
added, "We do make a distinction between secular and sacred
art." She stated, "This is a topic that has become really
significant ..., particularly in Juneau in the last week, and we
are hoping that we are going to be able to address it in a very
positive way. But it has elevated the whole issue of
intellectual property [and] cultural appropriation - all
surrounding art."
8:12:59 AM
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "NWC arts as an economic
engine," which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
? NWC arts could become another economic engine
modeled after the Santa Fe Indian Market.
? The Santa Fe Indian Market began 95 years ago to
promote tourism.
? Santa Fe Indian Market brings in 120,000 visitors
spending more than $80 million on art and services
over a four-day period each August.
900+ Native artists from 200+ tribes report earnings
of 1/3 to 1/2 of their annual income.
? Imagine what we can do with more than one million
visitors to Juneau during the summer months and as the
community ranking sixth in the nation for our creative
vitality
DR. WORL marveled at Juneau's ranking and remarked that Juneau
ranks ahead of Washington, D.C.
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "Foundation for NWC Arts
Capital: Celebration," which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
Celebration
? 5,000 participants over four days
? A 2012 study by the McDowell Group showed each
Celebration generates an estimated total economic
impact of $2.2 million.
? Some artists have reported up to $30,000 in sales
over four days at the Native Artist Market during
Celebration.
? Celebration: A growing attraction, e.g., in 2018,
two art and folk art groups from Santa Fe and the
Board of Directors from the nationally acclaimed art
museum the Peabody Essex Museum will attend.
DR. WORL said Celebration occurs biennially and has stretched to
five days. She noted that the art shown during Celebration is
housed at the Sealaska Heritage building, and some of the art is
sold out the first day of Celebration, without any marketing
efforts. She said scholars from Oxford will be coming to study
dance, and others will be coming to "study identity."
8:16:27 AM
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "NWC Arts Capital
Initiatives," which read as follows [original punctuation
provided]:
? SHI has embarked on a campaign to establish Juneau
as the NWC Arts Capital to promote arts throughout the
region.
? SHI's initiative began with the construction of the
Walter Soboleff Building, itself a work of art.
? SHI believes this vision can be achieved with the
collective action and support of federal, state,
tribal and local governments, businesses and private
organizations.
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "NWC Arts Capital
Initiatives," which read as follows:
SHI arts programs and initiatives include:
? Training new NWC artists o Lemon Creek Correctional
Center formline and business classes o Gajaa H?t art
classes o Sustainable arts projects o Workshops
? Educating the public
? Expanding the NWC art market ? Integrating NWC art
in public places
? Designating NWC art as a national treasure
DR. WORL said a graduate from the program at Lemon Creek
Correctional Center is now an artist-in-residence at the Walter
Soboleff Building. She said Sealaska Heritage Institute holds
workshops throughout Alaska and spends a lot of time educating
the public. She referred once more to an incident that happened
that had to do with cultural appropriation, and she said the
Juneau Arts & Humanities Council and Sealaska Heritage Institute
will work together to address the issue in a positive manner.
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "NWC Arts Capital
Initiatives: Education partnership," which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
SHI's arts programs include collaborations:
? A three-way partnership with University of Alaska
Southeast and Institute of American Indian Arts in
Santa Fe, N.M., to provide enhanced and expanded NWC
art opportunities for Alaska students.
? Integration of visual and performing arts in
elementary and secondary schools throughout the
region.
DR. WORL explained that students can begin in grade school to
learn Northwest Coast art, and they can continue that learning
through college, and then, because of the partnership with the
American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, they can go on to
study other arts. She said she has seen students in this
program quickly moving to master status level.
8:21:44 AM
DR. WORL turned to two slides entitled "NWC Arts Capital
Initiatives: Sustainable Arts Project," which read as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
SHI is seeking federal and private funding to
reimplement its Sustainable Arts Project focusing on
the harvesting of sea otter, tanning sea otter skins,
training of artisans and craftspeople, and marketing.
The State of Alaska appropriated $250,000 between 2012
and 2014 to SHI for the Sustainable Arts Project. In
addition to training new artists and creating a
sustainable cottage industry, this project had a
significant impact on sea otter harvests.
The following chart demonstrates that with the
implementation of the Sustainable Arts project, the
harvest of sea otter increased significantly and
declined after program funding ended in late 2014.
SHI envisions that in the longer term the Sustainable
Arts Project can be expanded to include both sea and
terrestrial wildlife throughout Alaska.
It has the potential to provide significant economic
impact for rural communities of Alaska and create
village compatible/sustainable jobs. Preliminary
studies have demonstrated that a single trained
craftsperson can earn $35,000 a year sewing and
selling sea otter products.
SHI has the capacity to implement this project
immediately upon receipt of funding. The increased
utilization of sea otters would provide significant
income to Alaska Natives while simultaneously
lessening the negative economic impacts of sea otter
predation on subsistence and commercial fisheries.
DR. WORL talked about using natural resources that "our people"
once used to make Native arts. She said there was a
demonstration in Hoonah on using spruce root for basketry, an
art that was becoming extinct. Dolores Churchill, a Haida
woman, was the teacher. There are now over 20 artists making
baskets that sell from $500 to $1,500 for a spruce root woven
hat. They sell at the Icy Straits facility [in Hoonah], and
Sealaska Heritage Institute hopes to expand the program to other
communities, working with National Geographic to teach in Juneau
and Yakutat, Alaska. Regarding the sustainable arts project,
which focused on sea otters, she pointed out that she was
wearing a sea otter vest. She said sea otter is a highly
coveted fur that at one point drove the economy with the export
of sea otter to China. The program lost its funding, but during
its two years, over 500 sea otter, which she said are plentiful,
were harvested. There is anecdotal evidence that shows that in
Sitka, Alaska, the abalone began to return [because of the
reduction in sea otter population].
DR. WORL said early on there were problems in Interior Alaska
with the fur industry, so SHI worked on marketing. She
mentioned the Safari Club, in Las Vegas, Nevada. If the project
had continued, the next step would have been to find ways to
improve product. She said the institute continues to look for
funding for its sustainable arts program.
8:26:51 AM
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "Native Artist Park:
Gateway to Alaska Native Art," which read as follows [original
punctuation provided]:
SHI art programs are expanding statewide.
SHI has submitted a capital request for $500,000 to
support the construction of the Native Artist Park.
The park is designed to include monumental art from
the major Native cultural groups.
DR. WORL said SHI recently held a meeting with Alaska Native
artists to begin planning this expansion. She said the parking
lot would be put underground. She talked about the importance
of educating the public. She said SHI acquired the Alaska
Native Arts Foundation's inventory, which included Inupiat,
Yupik, and Athabascan art pieces, and the institute immediately
mounted an Alaska Native arts mask exhibit. Regarding the
request for appropriation, she said SHI was grateful for the
money appropriated for the Walter Soboleff Building - a $20
million facility - which is supporting nearly 40 people in
employment and over 100 artists, both Native and non-Native,
whose work is sold in the retail shop, and in which educational
summits are hosted. She said that U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski
has indicated that the [Native Artist Park] project is close to
the top on "the list." The institute is meeting with the deputy
commissioner of the Department of Commerce to consider
alternative funding mechanisms in the state. She said the
institute met with John Binkley of the Alaska cruise industry,
and she said that "they're very supportive of us in promoting
the arts." One of the largest ships to be launched in spring
will be filled with Northwest Coast art. She said she had told
Mr. Binkley that the institute could produce 600 paddles,
although her staff informed her the capacity to do that is not
quite there yet. She said, "But we are going to gear up to
provide that kind of supply ... to the tourist industry."
8:31:02 AM
DR. WORL paused the PowerPoint slide presentation to show photos
in which a model is wearing a sea otter coat, which retails for
about $2,000, a sea otter hat, which retails for about $500, and
a scarf that retains for $250-$300. She said seal is used as
well as sea otter. She said SHI has asked to accompany Governor
Bill Walker on his trade mission to China. She said she knows
the Chinese love sea otter and the institute is looking for ways
to meet their needs, perhaps by having some artists from China
come over and teach Alaska artists what the Chinese would like
[made from] sea otter. She said the institute has asked the
congressional delegation for support in this effort. There is
an appropriation request in Congress currently to help support
the Alaska Native Park, as well as to support funding for
programs developed with the University of Alaska Southeast. The
institute asked for an increase this year to be able to
reimplement its sustainable arts project. She said a
legislative director asked the institute to get support from
other entities. She added, "So, that's something that we may be
able to ask you."
8:33:43 AM
DR. WORL returned to the PowerPoint slides, to the slide
entitled "Tlingit and Haida Cultural Immersion Park," which read
as follows [original punctuation provided]:
Development of a Cultural Immersion Park, an immersion
experience and destination venue that:
? Expands Native art and cultural awareness for
tourists, visitors, convention attendees, government
and local residents
? Provides venue for cultural events, artist/visitor
interface, and Native foods
? Further stimulates arts and cultural expansion in
Juneau and region
DR. WORL turned to the slide entitled "Initiatives to pursue,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
? Recognize art as an industry and amend appropriate
legislation to authorize arts training to be eligible
for State of Alaska and federal employment training
programs and grant opportunities
? Letters of support to Congressional Delegation
supporting SHI as an Alaska Native Organization and
the Native Artist Park as a "shovel-ready" project
? Support enforcement of Indian Arts and Crafts Act
consumer protection that prohibits misrepresentation
of non-Native produced art
? Expansion of art programming and artist training
programs, including mentorship, internship, and
fellowship programs for emerging artists to improve
quality of art
? Amend 1% For Art Program to require Alaskan artist
commission of these art projects
? Support University of Alaska art programs
? Display authentic Native art on public facilities
? Increase publications and exhibits to educate the
public about Alaska Native art
? Oppose ivory ban and initiate a public campaign
about walrus ivory
DR. WORL, regarding the first bullet point, said, "Right now we
are precluded because arts does not lead to a job, but it does
lead to an opportunity to increase revenues for individual
artists." Regarding the second bullet point, she said the
governor already designated the Sealaska Heritage Institute as a
Native arts organization, as is required under the American
Indian and Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Arts and Culture
Act. Regarding the fifth bullet point, she said she knows that
Alaska-made products are supported under statute, and she thinks
that "Alaska art should also be considered in that same
category." Regarding the last bullet point, she said Sealaska
Heritage Institute has been working with the Department of
Commerce on the issue. She said, "We've already seen the impact
on the production of ivory." She clarified that as evidenced
when walking through markets, "ivory art is diminishing."
8:36:51 AM
DR. WORL brought attention to the slide entitled "Conclusion,"
which read as follows [original punctuation provided]:
NWC and Alaska Native art and culture are already a
Southeast Alaska economic engine. Establishing
Southeast Alaska and Juneau as the NWC Arts Capital
will stimulate the arts economy throughout the entire
region and state.
Next steps:
? Ensure NWC art strategies in local, state, and
federal government economic development plans and
initiatives
? Engage political, business, and academic leaders to
recognize the economic power of the arts and promote
NWC and Alaska Native Arts in all press and social
media outlets
DR. WORL said Native art has the potential to grow further; it
is a sustainable industry that can already be implemented in
rural communities. She said she sat on the Sealaska Board for
many years, and one of the things that the board looked at was
ways to support economic development in rural communities. She
said most of those opportunities require infrastructure,
construction, access, and freight. She said arts can be
promoted; individuals can be supported to earn an income while
living in their rural communities. She said, "So, we feel that
it's important for us at all levels to be working collectively
on this initiative."
DR. WORL closed the presentation by showing the final slide
entitled "SHI and Sealaska," which explains the difference
between Sealaska and Sealaska Heritage Institute, as follows
[original punctuation provided]:
? Sealaska delegated cultural and educational
responsibilities to the nonprofit Sealaska Heritage
Institute, which operates programs to perpetuate and
enhance Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures
? Sealaska and Sealaska Heritage have worked
collaboratively for the past 40 years
DR. WORL further elucidated that point by sharing that SHI was
created in response to a request from elders who said that
"their hands were growing weary of holding on to our culture."
Elders were aware that children were learning about the culture
in different ways in schools, not in the clan house. She said
that was the impetus for a lot of the work of SHI in the
educational arena. The institute is obligated to raise the
funds necessary to support its programs.
8:39:24 AM
CO-CHAIR PARISH asked what SHI's budget is and what the funding
sources for that budget are.
DR. WORL deferred to the institute's chief operating officer.
8:40:12 AM
LEE KARINGER, Chief Operating Officer, Sealaska Heritage
Institute (SHI), responded that the institute's annual budget is
$7.2 million. The institute has grown significantly since the
creation of the Walter Soboleff Building, from 12 employees to
approximately 42, including 8-10 part-time employees. He said
of that $7.2 million, approximately $1.5 million comes from the
Sealaska Corporation, in the form of cash and in-kind services,
such as information technology-related assistance.
Approximately $4.3 million comes from the U.S. Department of
Education for a wide array of educational programs, including
math programs focused on middle school; a national award-winning
program called "Baby Raven Reads"; and an award-winning picture
book. Other funds come from the Administration for Native
Americans (ANA), a federally sponsored program; the Margaret A.
Cargill Foundation; the Rasmussen Foundation; the Paul G. Allen
Family Foundation; the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust; a
significant private donor base; a corporate donor base; and
funding for education programs through the State of Alaska
education tax credit, which he said is up for renewal now.
CO-CHAIR PARISH asked if there were peer organizations that were
as developed as the Sealaska Heritage Institute.
8:43:04 AM
DR. WORL answered that there are several cultural organizations
in Juneau, for example, the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation. Some
regions have cultural organizations. She mentioned the Alaska
Native Heritage Center. She boasted that Sealaska Heritage
Institute is probably the only entity that focuses on art and
has expanded into other areas into which others have not
ventured, such as social scientific research. She said Sealaska
Heritage Institute is aware of its responsibility to help others
develop capacity, because it has seen the benefit of its own
programs. She stated, "We know that as a result of our
programs, our children are doing better when we integrate
language and culture into the educational system." She said,
"We have changed federal laws to make sure that we are getting
the money." She explained that in the past there have been
entities outside Alaska that have received Native education
money. She said, "We are thinking of actually forming ... an
association of cultural organizations so that we could work ...
collectively." She said when the federal government was trying
to cut the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National
Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and the Institute for Museum
and Library Sciences (IMLS), she reached out to all the other
Native nonprofit organizations to try to get them to write
letters. She concluded, "So, they are there, but probably not
quite as visible as SHI."
CO-CHAIR PARISH said the Walter Soboleff building is monumental
and will be even more striking if the plaza project goes
forward. He asked what the expected overall cost of that
project is.
8:45:39 AM
MR. KARINGER answered that the total project cost would be $8.4
million.
8:45:57 AM
DR. WORL, in response to a question from Co-Chair Parish
regarding art that would be shown in the plaza, said SHI has
already contacted various cultural groups and has had a
statewide meeting of Native artists with the opening of the mask
exhibit. She said Sealaska Heritage Institute plans to open a
statewide Native artist committee. She stated, "We focus
primarily ... [on] Southeast art and using Northwest Coast art
kind of as ... the focal point, but ... I think the Native
Artists Park is going to allow us to focus on other Native art."
8:46:53 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN asked, "Are these products available in
Juneau if I wanted to get something for home?"
DR. WORL welcomed Representative Lincoln to come down to the
Sealaska Heritage store.
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN, regarding the products [previously shown
in Dr. Worl's photos], asked if the Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA) still limits the hunting of sea mammals, such as
sea otters, to "people with a quarter blood quantum."
DR. WORL answered that's true. She offered further details
related to blood quantum and said she understands there are
"ongoing discussions about how to approach that."
8:47:59 AM
REPRESENTATIVE DRUMMOND said in her six years as a legislator
she has watched the changes take place in the area where the
Sealaska Corporation Building and Walter Soboleff Building are,
and she said she thinks it is a brilliant idea to change the
adjacent parking area into underground parking to utilize the
space above and make it more welcoming to pedestrians.
8:49:03 AM
CO-CHAIR PARISH asked what the overall economic benefit to the
state would be through supporting other forms of Native art
throughout Alaska beside the formline art of Southeast Alaska.
DR. WORL said she does not have hard data but believes the
benefit could be quadrupled. She said handmade objects have
become popular, and the art of Native people is a sustainable
product. She stated her belief that objects, such as a baleen
basket, furs from the Interior, and clothing styles can have
clear economic impact. She imparted that she was trained as an
anthropologist and has studied the mixed economies of rural
Alaska, and she said she could see how traditional economies
could be modernized through subsistence resources. She said the
Sealaska Heritage Institute spends a lot of time looking at
federal laws that are barriers to production. The institute is
involved in trying to get the Migratory Bird Act amended; it
forbids the use of feathers, and Alaska Natives have used
feathers for thousands of years. She said, "We can't understand
why those feathers can be used in pillows and other kinds of
commercial products but can't be used for arts." She said,
"We're very involved in the fur Act [and] other Acts that are
precluding us from using Native arts, and we think there has to
be a change at the federal level in looking at how these
communities - these products - can sustain Alaskans." She said
it is not only the artisans that can benefit from production.
For example, she said two tanneries were supported when SHI was
working on the sea otter project. Each tannery has several
employees. Infrastructure is needed to market arts. Dr. Worl
commended Canada for promoting Inupiat art; the Cape Dorset
prints are well-known. She said, "I think our art is great. I
think that we have something ... to really offer. ... I love
Southwest art, but, you know, you can only use so much
turquoise." She stated, "I think if we were able to sit around
the table and begin thinking, 'How can we market our Native
art?', I think we would have ... a room full of excitement, ...
and maybe from that work we can ... monetize what that potential
might be." Returning to Co-Chair Parish's query, she stated,
"Right now it's a $500 million industry. I think that we don't
have to take 90 years, like they did in Santa Fe, to make ... a
Native artists market worldwide."
8:54:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE TALERICO expressed appreciation for Dr. Worl's
"refreshing" opening remarks, which he surmised "brightened
everyone's day."
8:54:46 AM
CO-CHAIR PARISH showed some artwork he owns, a bolo tie made by
a student. It is hammered copper formed into an object called a
"Tinaa," and there are beads at the end.
8:55:49 AM
DR. WORL imparted that a Tinaa is a symbol of wealth, commerce,
and trade.
CO-CHAIR PARISH thanked Dr. Worl for her presentation.
HJR 30-URGE U.S. SUPPORT OF REFUGEES
8:56:36 AM
CO-CHAIR PARISH announced that the final order of business would
be HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 30, Urging the United States
Congress to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to
promote the safety, health, and well-being of refugees and
displaced persons; urging the United States government to uphold
its international leadership role in responding to displacement
crises with humanitarian assistance and to work with the
international community and the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees to find solutions to conflicts and protect
refugees; and urging the President of the United States to
continue to mitigate the burden placed on frontline refugee host
countries.
CO-CHAIR PARISH explained that the joint resolution had already
been heard and reported out of the House Community and Regional
Affairs Standing Committee, [as CSHJR 30(CRA), on 2/13/18];
however, the committee had failed to report an accompanying
fiscal note. He stated that now there was a zero fiscal note.
8:57:11 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN moved to adopt the zero fiscal note for
[CSHJR 30(CRA)]. There being no objection, the fiscal note was
adopted to accompany CSHJR 30(CRA).
8:58:00 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Community and Regional Affairs Standing Committee meeting was
adjourned at 8:58 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| HJR30 Fiscal Note 2.27.18.pdf |
HCRA 2/27/2018 8:00:00 AM |
HJR 30 |
| Presentation 2.27.18.pdf |
HCRA 2/27/2018 8:00:00 AM |