Legislature(2019 - 2020)CAPITOL 106
03/07/2019 08:00 AM House TRIBAL AFFAIRS
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| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| Welcome: Auke Kwaan and Taku Kwaan | |
| Presentation(s): Alaska Native Governance | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
| + | TELECONFERENCED | ||
ALASKA STATE LEGISLATURE
HOUSE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON TRIBAL AFFAIRS
March 7, 2019
8:12 a.m.
MEMBERS PRESENT
Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, Chair
Representative Bryce Edgmon, Vice Chair
Representative John Lincoln
Representative Chuck Kopp
Representative Dave Talerico
Representative Sarah Vance
MEMBERS ABSENT
Representative Dan Ortiz
OTHER LEGISLATORS PRESENT
Representative Andi Story
COMMITTEE CALENDAR
WELCOME: AUKE KWAAN AND TAKU KWAAN
- HEARD
PRESENTATION(S): ALASKA NATIVE GOVERNANCE
- HEARD
PREVIOUS COMMITTEE ACTION
No previous action to record
WITNESS REGISTER
JOHN MORRIS, Tribal Member
Taku Kwaan
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Welcomed the committee on behalf of Taku
Kwaan.
MARIE OLSEN, Tribal Member
Auke Kwaan
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Welcomed the committee on behalf of Auke
Kwaan.
ANDREA SANDERS, Director
First Alaskans Institute
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented on Alaska Native Governance.
ROSITA WORL, President
Sealaska Heritage Institute
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented on Alaska Native Governance.
RICHARD PETERSON, President
Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
("Tlingit & Haida")
Juneau, Alaska
POSITION STATEMENT: Presented on Alaska Native Governance.
ACTION NARRATIVE
8:12:45 AM
CHAIR TIFFANY ZULKOSKY called the inaugural House Special
Committee on Tribal Affairs meeting to order at 8:12 a.m.
Representatives Talerico, Kopp, Lincoln, Vance, Edgmon, and
Zulkosky were present at the call to order. Also present was
Representative Story.
^WELCOME: Auke Kwaan and Taku Kwaan
WELCOME: Auke Kwaan and Taku Kwaan
8:13:45 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that the first order of business would
be a welcome of Auke Kwaan and Taku Kwaan.
CHAIR ZULKOSKY acknowledged the traditional territories of the
Tlingit people, Auke Kwaan and Taku Kwaan. She welcomed forward
John Morris from Taku Kwaan and Marie Olsen from Auke Kwaan.
She thanked them both for their presence at the meeting and
invited them to speak.
8:14:55 AM
JOHN MORRIS, Tribal Member, Taku Kwaan, introduced himself and
stated that he is a member of the Douglas Indian Association of
the Taku Kwaan Native people that have occupied the Juneau-
Douglas area for many years.
8:15:31 AM
MARIE OLSEN, Tribal Member, Auke Kwaan, opened her statement in
Tlingit. She shared her excitement for this most historical
occasion for all of the indigenous people in the United States
of America." She stated that she is from this area and is Auke
Kwaan, "the people from this area." She said, "I would love to
welcome all of you to my area, to my land. I welcome you. I
hope that all of you do the job that is beholden on you, because
you have been elected. You have been elected by your people in
the State of Alaska." Ms. Olsen made a statement in Tlingit and
said, I thank you very much - because I recognize the history
of what is occurring now. Gunalcheesh."
8:18:03 AM
MR. MORRIS echoed Ms. Olsen's statement and welcomed the
committee. He shared his excitement about the state's desire to
work with all 229 of Alaska's tribes. Mr. Morris stated that
there are 18 tribes in southeast and that they value their
water, hunting, and fishing rights. He expressed concern about
the tribe's fragile king salmon fishery and contaminated
beaches. Mr. Morris stated that his tribe has been sampling
sediment, testing water quality on the Taku river, and
collaborating with the Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary
Commission. Mr. Morris, on behalf of himself and his tribe,
expressed concern about the viability of their way of life and
inter-generational culture. Mr. Morris shared his excitement to
see the state's inclusion of tribes in the legislative process
and ended his statement with, "Gunalcheesh."
8:19:37 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY thanked Ms. Olsen and Mr. Morris. She stated,
Quyana, gunalcheesh. ... Your words welcoming us to your
traditional territories are respected and have been heard by
this committee.
^PRESENTATION(S): Alaska Native Governance
PRESENTATION(S): Alaska Native Governance
8:19:55 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY announced that the final order of business would
be the presentation on Alaska Native Governance.
8:20:20 AM
ANDREA SANDERS opened her statement in the Yupik language and
shared that she comes from Mamterilleq, also known as Bethel,
while her ancestors and family come from Kwinhagak. She stated
that she serves as the Director of the Alaska Native Policy
Center, an initiative at First Alaskans Institute. She echoed
the words of the elders to speak before her and stated that it
is an honor to see the members serve on this committee. She
stated that there are many ancestors, native leaders, and native
advocates who have been waiting for this historic moment. She
said that Alaska is a new state but that tribes are not new to
the lands. She thanked Barbara 'Waahlaal Gidaak Blake and
Meghan Topkok for contributing to the presentation and expressed
gratitude to the people of the Auke Kwaan and Taku Kwaan for
allowing this group to convene on their ancestral lands.
8:22:30 AM
MS. SANDERS began her PowerPoint presentation and shared that
the vision of First Alaskans Institute is progress for the next
ten thousand years. She stated that the organization covers a
breadth of topics and that the organization has a commitment to
ensure that Alaska Native people maintain their well-being and a
connection to Alaska for another ten thousand years. Ms.
Sanders explained the reference to "thousands of years" is not
anecdotal; carbon testing from archeological digs in Kwinhagak
have provided scientific evidence that her ancestors have been
present in Alaska for thousands of years. This has spurred a
cultural renaissance; youth have found artifacts, heard stories,
and brought Yupik dancing back to the community. She shared
that youth were hungry for a means of cultural expression; she
attributed this interest to the "power of knowing who we are and
... no longer being invisible in the narrative of Alaska. Ms.
Sanders stated that similar work is happening in Kodiak where
people are beginning to learn more about their history.
MS. SANDERS stated that her presentation is meant to enhance
knowledge of history and contemporary issues. She sought to
help decisionmakers better understand their responsibilities and
the opportunities to strengthen relationships with the Alaska
Native community.
MS. SANDERS emphasized the importance that all Alaskans
understand that Alaska Native communities possess a knowledge
system and connection to place and land. Ms. Sanders referred
to this as "geographic intelligence" and noted that others may
refer to it as "traditional ecological knowledge." Ms. Sanders
stated that Alaska Native communities have intact knowledge of
the environment, relationships with other species, and the
changes underway and ideas for how to move forward.
MS. SANDERS described the variety of distinct cultural groups,
languages, and ways of life among Alaska Native people. She
stated that the groups were traditionally independent nations;
the Haida, Yupik, Athabascan, Inupiaq, Alutiiq are connected but
distinct with their own languages, creation stories, and methods
of harvesting food. Ms. Sanders imparted the importance of
understanding that Alaska Native groups are not a monolithic
people and that there is often a high burden placed upon the
Alaska Native community to have one voice or one position. She
stated that these groups are diverse and distinct and the
pressure to have one position can be an unfair burden; the
groups have independent economic, cultural, and educational
needs. Ms. Sanders pressed the committee to be responsive to
and understand the diversity of needs across Alaska Native
communities.
8:27:20 AM
MS. SANDERS shared the importance in acknowledging the operation
of three sovereign governments: the tribal, federal, and state
government. She stated that there has been a missed opportunity
in partnership between these sovereign governments and shared
her hope that, in collaboration, new solutions can come forward.
MS. SANDERS stated that tribal governments play the role of
local governments for villages and tribes. She elaborated on
her personal experience as a tribal member of the Kwinhagok
tribe and shared that the tribe supports tribal members while
operating with a small budget and little land. Ms. Sanders
stated that there are instances where tribes have purchased or
acquired land, but that separation of tribes from their
ancestral land has been a concern. In reference to her
presentation, Ms. Sanders stated that every [political] district
in Alaska has a correlating tribe; "there is no pocket of our
state that goes untouched."
MS. SANDERS stated that tribes exercise self-governance and
self-determination, which she defined as the ability to make
decisions affecting the individual lives of tribal members. She
relayed that Congress extended the Indian Reorganization Act
(IRA) to Alaska in 1936; IRA governments were subsequently
organized in villages and, where not established, traditional
governments operated in the form of village councils. Ms.
Sanders encouraged the committee members to communicate with
village IRA governments or traditional governments to learn
about their priorities and any partnerships with the city,
municipality, borough, or the regional village corporation.
8:31:40 AM
MS. SANDERS acknowledged Roy S. Ewan and Paul John as past
leaders and stated that they have left a legacy that "allows us
to know who we are. We know who are; we are people with
traditional values and knowledge on how to govern in modern
contexts." In reference to slide eight, Ms. Sanders stated that
there are more than twenty unique cultural groups and languages.
Ms. Sanders noted that some of the terminology may be outdated,
but the graph accurately illustrates relationships between
Alaska's cultural groups. She stated that Alaska Natives
comprise 19.5 percent of the state's population, although that
percentage can sometimes be as low as 15 percent. Ms. Sanders
noted that Alaska Natives are one of the fastest growing
populations but often a difficult population to enumerate as
individuals may live in overcrowded homes, are multi-racial, or
may be difficult to reach. In reference to a map illustrating
the Native languages of Alaska recognized as official state
languages, she stated that traditional boundaries and
territories generally fall along linguistic lines. She referred
to recent efforts to keep the languages alive, stating that
they are a connection to who we are. Ms. Sanders implored all
Alaskans to learn a greeting in an Alaska Native language.
8:35:10 AM
MS. SANDERS sought to clarify that the term government-to-
government relationship, as heard in federal government
settings, refers to a relationship based on the political
status, rather than racial status, of American Indian and Alaska
Native people. Ms. Sanders stated that political and racial
status can be conflated; people may not understand the political
status that Alaska Native people hold and may get confused or
angered by the state's provision of free services, such as
healthcare. Ms. Sanders referenced that, upon the founding of
the country and in recognition of what tribes gave up, founders
made a commitment to serve as trustees, provide healthcare, and
sustain the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native
people. Ms. Sanders explained that this relationship is founded
on treaties and existing law and statute; it is a political
relationship. As a racial minority there are other civil rights
protections that Alaska Native people are classified under,
which is distinct from protections imbued from political status.
MS. SANDERS discussed the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
(ANCSA) of 1971, which established the ANCSA corporations -
entities that are innovators, leaders, and economic drivers in
the state. In reference to a map showing the 12 regional
geographic corporations superimposed on a map of the languages,
Ms. Sanders pointed out that the map is somewhat misleading;
actual ownership of ANCSA corporations can appear more as a
"checkerboard," with state and federal land mixed in with ANCSA
land.
MS. SANDERS gave a high-level overview of the types and number
of Alaska Native organizations. She described how the regional
Native non-profit associations/consortiums hold tribal delegated
authority; the tribes delegate authority to the tribal non-
profits in order to contract directly with the federal
government.
MS. SANDERS further explained the tribes' inherent sovereignty
that predates the U.S. Constitution, a government-to-government
relationship with the federal government. In 2016 or 2017 the
State of Alaska issued an attorney general's memo outlining the
state's formalized relationship with tribes. Corporations, such
as ANCSA, are a construct of state law and are intended to
provide dividends to shareholders.
8:41:21 AM
MS. SANDERS noted the complexity of navigating the layers of
tribal governments, municipal or borough governments, village
corporations, school districts, state government, and the
federal government. She stated that the resulting system
requires that people find ways to navigate problems and innovate
solutions. Ms. Sanders shared that the First Alaskans Institute
encourages tribes and corporations to spend time with one
another and address regional issues together. She noted that
high-functioning partnerships are an important part of
maintaining self-governance. Ms. Sanders stated that it is
important to understand the relationship between tribes and
governments; while they are distinct, some have memorandums of
agreement and cooperatives and collaborate well together. As an
example of a successful partnership, Ms. Sanders described
villages getting a new dock, an addition to a school, and the
rebuilding of roads as the product of strong collaboration and
partnerships.
8:44:26 AM
MS. SANDERS shared a quote by Jonathon Solomon of Fort Yukon
beginning, "I share what's on my table with you. Ms. Sanders
explained that subsistence is an economic term and that this
perspective, in effect, casts Alaska Natives as a "special
interest or user group. The way of life characterized by
Jonathan Solomon and by elders' stories reflects a sustainable
existence with the land as caretakers and in relationship with
other species. Ms. Sanders continued to describe a relationship
between Alaska Native communities and the land as a mutualism
that transcends an economic descriptor. She stated, ...[it] is
not simply putting food into your mouth it is a way of life.
It is our education system, it is our well-being, it is the way
that we live in relationship with our environment. It is our
spirituality; being on the land is like going to church for us.
... When we talk about subsistence, it is actually a very
limited, narrow understanding of the importance of our way of
life." She shared that First Alaskans Institute has shifted
toward the use of the phrase, "our ways of life," as an
alternative.
MS. SANDERS stated that Alaska Native communities have stewarded
the land for thousands of years through their way of life and a
rigorous stewardship system. She said that this may include
ceremony, protocols, societal laws, customs, practices, and -
most importantly - the culture's value system. She referred to
this as She shared that this value system continues to exist
and has been operationalized for a modern context. Ms. Sanders
shared her belief that all Alaskans can partake in and learn
from the value system of Alaska Natives; as individuals build
relationships and gain exposure they can acquire and incorporate
values from Alaska Native cultures.
MS. SANDERS stated that federal and state wildlife laws have a
resource shortage use priority. She said this has been a
contentious issue for a while, especially the differing
interpretation and regulation of rural resident priority under
the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) and
under state law.
MS. SANDERS discussed the opportunity for partnership between
the three sovereign entities. She said through self-
determination and self-governance, also referred to as
compacting and contracting, there's opportunity for
collaboration. As an example, Ms. Sanders pointed to Alaska's
tribal health system, which has assumed control for tribal
health from the Indian Health Service; data has shown dramatic
increases in quality of life measures, such as life expectancy
and immunization rates. Ms. Sanders shared that Alaska Native
Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) is often looked to as a model,
nationally and internationally, for the value that it places on
respecting Native Alaskan self-determination, self-governance,
and cultural understandings of being and wellness. She stated
that ANTHC could serve as a model for other systems.
8:50:32 AM
MS. SANDERS discussed the need for partnership between federal,
state, and tribal governments and the strength gained through
collaboration. She suggested that, rather than imagine these
entities as fractions of a whole, they should be considered as
functioning separately and collaboratively. She shared her
personal belief that securing a voice in the state legislature
will ensure a bright future for tribal communities.
8:51:41 AM
MS. SANDERS stated, in reference to the presentation, that youth
are hungry to know who they are. She shared that people are
waking up to what is possible in terms of the integration of
cultural values, an understanding of place, and geographic
intelligence into the formal educational system. Ms. Sanders
stated that this might mean not learning about western
expansion. ... That's not reflective of my history, that's not
reflective of my place." Ms. Sanders opined that the sooner the
education system reflects the history of Alaska Natives the
sooner outcomes will improve.
8:52:37 AM
MS. SANDERS placed emphasis on valuing relationships, building
trust, showing respect, and recognizing Alaska Native culture.
She implored the members not to visit communities for just half
a day, but to spend time with tribes. She shared that Ted
Steven's legacy includes his visits to villages that often
lasted four or five days. She said, [People] may not remember
all of his policy actions, but they remember him as a person.
She shared that listening to the voices of the youth and elders
is important to understanding the needs and concerns of a
community. She shared the significance of relationships between
youth and elders and invited the members to attend the First
Alaskans Institute's Elders and Youth Conference.
8:55:00 AM
MS. SANDERS encouraged the committee to be "transformational"
rather than "transactional" and emphasized creating long-term
strategies. She shared her hope for a shift in the mindset of
partnerships, which she believes would bring a whole new
perspective to, not only the fiscal situation, but the future of
Alaska. Ms. Sanders referred to slide 17 with "thank you"
written in every known Alaska Native language as a demonstration
of appreciation, comradery, and friendship that the First
Alaskans Institute seeks to foster with the committee and the
committee members.
8:57:19 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE stated that our cultures have a lot to
learn from each other." She asked Ms. Sanders to describe some
of the values that Ms. Sanders feels have not been historically
recognized.
8:57:50 AM
MS. SANDERS stated that respect is the first value that comes
to mind. She shared that, as a Native person, she often feels a
blatant disrespect and that the true history of Alaska Native
tribes is disregarded. Frequently used narratives of the state,
such as "north to the future" or "the last frontier," are
problematic to Alaska Native tribes. Ms. Sanders stated that
receiving these narratives and the exclusion of indigenous
people from Alaska's constitution, coupled with language about
pioneers, is hurtful. She stated that the establishment of the
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs opens the door to fostering
a respectful relationship. She stated, as another example, that
the robust system of reciprocity as a way of life may be hard to
quantify economically. She shared that the state government's
management of resources, such as maximum sustained yield, are in
opposition to these principles of reciprocity.
9:00:28 AM
REPRESENTATIVE VANCE said that she sees and recognizes that the
Alaska Native people have not felt respected and that this lack
of respect is portrayed in the Alaska constitution.
Representative Vance asked Ms. Sanders for forgiveness for not
honoring the people that were in Alaska before statehood and
before the U.S. Constitution and for the trespass that was
committed upon Alaska's lands. She asked for forgiveness, as a
representative of the Thirty-First Alaska State Legislature.
Representative Vance stated that the members will show respect
and honor to all of the Alaska Native people in moving forward
as a special committee and in other action taken by the
legislature.
MS. SANDERS thanked Representative Vance. She stated that many
families are multi-cultural and multi-racial, and even within
Alaska Native communities, people are figuring out how to
navigate a complicated history. Ms. Sanders stated that hearing
Representative Vance's acknowledgement of disrespect towards
Alaska Native people lifts a burden off the shoulders of the
collective.
9:02:22 AM
REPRESENTATIVE LINCOLN said that Ms. Sander's presentation was
very comprehensive and that it elicited quite a few memories.
In reference to Senator Stevens' visiting villages,
Representative Lincoln referenced visits to remote communities
made by Representative Vance's father. Representative Lincoln
thanked Representative Vance for her comments.
9:03:18 AM
REPRESENTATIVE KOPP thanked Ms. Sanders for her presentation and
her narrative of Alaska's history. He shared that he found Ms.
Sander's discussion of cultural knowledge systems formed through
relationship, community, and connection to place as transcending
quantifiable relationships to be a refreshing and resonating
perspective. Representative Kopp stated, "Alaska is awakening
from a long night," in reference to a history of groups that did
not understand one another, grow together, or form community.
In reference to state and tribal collaboration, Representative
Kopp stated that he looks forward to a new era of partnering,
working in community, and functioning as a collective.
9:04:57 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY thanked the committee members for their questions
and comments and welcomed the next speaker.
9:05:22 AM
ROSITA WORL, President, Sealaska Heritage Institute, stated that
her Tlingit names are Yeidiklats'okw and Kaahani, that she is an
Eagle from the Thunderbird Clan, of the House Lowered from the
Sun of Klukwan, and a Child of the Sockeye Clan. She thanked
Chair Zulkosky and the members of the committee for the creation
of the Special Committee on Tribal Affairs.
MS. WORL described her background as an anthropologist and her
conduction of research throughout Alaska during the last 40
years, 10 years of which were spent in the Alaska Arctic. She
mentioned that she enjoys anthropological research in Alaska due
to the abundance of interesting cultures that have yet to be
researched. She noted that she studied the North Slope and
political development, and she wrote the first environmental
impact statement on offshore development, which addressed the
social/cultural impacts of oil development on indigenous
communities. She said that she practices applied research and
is involved with policy research. Ms. Worl noted that she
served on the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Board of
Directors for 17 years and served as co-chair of the Subsistence
Committee and has recently been asked to serve on the AFN
Subsistence Committee again.
MS. WORL described the breadth of AFN and stated that it is the
largest statewide Native organization in Alaska and represents
more than 140,000 Native peoples, or one out of every five
Alaskans. AFN's membership includes 191 federally recognized
tribes, 171 for-profit village corporations, 12 regional for-
profit corporations, 12 regional not-for-profit organizations,
and several tribal consortia that contract and compact to run
federal and state programs. She stated that AFN is the oldest
statewide Native corporation in the state. Ms. Worl stated that
the federal government settled Alaska Native Aboriginal land
claims differently than it settled land claims of American
Indians. Early leaders understood the opportunity before the 12
regional non-profit associations and unified their efforts
through AFN to achieve a fair settlement. She noted that this
was a unique settlement compared to those of other native tribes
in that AFN sought reparations rather than the establishment of
reservations. Ms. Worl stated that, in seeking control over
their land and resources, early leaders were making initial
efforts towards economic self-determination. Those leaders were
instrumental in enacting ANCSA and, following this, AFN evolved
into the principle forum for Alaska Natives to address public
policy issues in government.
9:11:01 AM
MS. WORL stated that AFN's mission is to advance and enhance the
voice of Alaska Native communities on national and state policy
matters such as civil rights, economic rights, development
opportunities, voting rights, food security, traditional
subsistence rights, and the right of tribal self-determination.
She said AFN internal organization reflects a unique political
history: it is governed by a 38-member Board of Directors, with
elected and appointed officials serving from each of the 12
ANCSA geographic regions; the other two members are elected by
the voting delegates to serve two-year terms as co-chairs. The
AFN Convention serves as the annual board meeting, which
establishes priorities through the resolution process.
MS. WORL stated that, for thousands of years, Alaska Native
peoples have survived and thrived in what visitors refer to as
"the harshest environmental conditions on the planet," while to
Alaska Native peoples it is their ancient homeland. Ms. Worl
shared that as fueled by cultural values, ancient practices,
traditional knowledge, and deep attachment to the land, Alaska
Native peoples have an intimate knowledge of the environment.
Regional and village for-profit Native corporations and not-for-
profit Native corporations are economic and social drivers
within their respective regions and generate multi-millions of
dollars in state funds and investments. There is a keen
awareness that Alaska is at a financial crossroads; the state is
facing a budget deficit and Governor Mike Dunleavey's proposed
cuts would have a dramatic impact upon all Alaskans, but
particularly those in rural areas. It would be mutually
beneficial for the state to consult and collaborate with Native
and tribal groups to diminish what could be "devastating
impacts" to current and future populations.
9:14:57 AM
MS. WORL shared that Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) is a
small entity compared with other statewide tribal organizations
and that, despite this, SHI has generated and expanded upon
limited resources through partnerships with school districts and
the University of Alaska. She stated that SHI has 85 employees
who earned $4 million dollars in income, spent $7.1 million in
Juneau, generated more than $170,000 in sales and bed taxes,
utilized over 200 Juneau vendors for purchases, and paid more
than $800,000 to 60 contractors for services related to SHI
programs. Ms. Worl noted that the integration of language and
culture into academic institutions improves academic standing of
Native students. Ms. Worl provided metrics of SHI's impact upon
the Juneau and Alaska economy and expressed admiration for this
small, though formidable, private nonprofit that was founded to
enhance Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian cultures in Southeast
Alaska.
MS. WORL shared that, while she was the Native & Rural
Specialist in Governor Steve Cowper's Office, she studied the
impact of federal funds allocated to Alaska Natives because of
their political status, which amounted to $400 million annually.
The group also passed a policy that recognized the special
status of Native tribes. The policy was formalized into action
by Governor Tony Knowles, but subsequently rescinded by the
proceeding Governor. She stated that the amount of federal
funds flowing into the state has significantly increased in the
last 33 years. Relationships between tribes and the state have
also significantly improved, a partial product of the state's
recognition of the legitimacy of tribes.
MS. WORL restated that partnerships between school districts and
the university system increase efficiency, funding, and the
quality of services for tribal communities. She recommended
that the State of Alaska consider the adoption of policies,
similar to that of the federal government, that require
consultation between the state government and Alaska Native
tribes and corporations. Ms. Worl further recommended that the
State of Alaska formalize collaboration with tribes and ANCs, as
modeled after the New Mexico State-Tribal Collaboration Act.
She relayed that such a policy would promote: communication and
collaboration between state agency, Indian tribes, and ANCs;
positive government-to-government relationships between the
state and Indian entities; and cultural competency in providing
services to Native Alaskans.
9:23:03 AM
MS. WORL relayed an AFN initiative to support the growth of a
military presence in Alaska, which she believes holds promise
for Alaska Natives as well as the state. She stated that AFN
recently met with military officials in Washington, D.C., and
discussed possible collaborations with the military. She said
AFN supports a military presence in Alaska, but rather than
repeat mistakes made during the first excursion of the military
entering Alaska, which ignored the presence of Native people,
AFN would like to promote collaboration.
9:25:35 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY thanked Ms. Worl for her remarks and her history
of work on behalf of Alaskans. Chair Zulkosky invited the next
speaker to begin his presentation.
9:26:23 AM
RICHARD PETERSON, President, Central Council of Tlingit & Haida
Indian Tribes of Alaska ("Tlingit & Haida"), introduced himself
and shared that he is Kaagwaantaan from the Eagle's Nest house.
He expressed his gratitude to Chair Zulkosky, Vice-Chair Edgmon,
and the committee for this long-overdue convening.
MR. PETERSON shared that Tlingit & Haida is the oldest tribe in
Alaska; the tribal assembly will hold their eighty-fourth
convening this April. Tlingit & Haida is the only regional
tribe in Alaska, representing nearly 32,000 tribal citizens
worldwide, with almost 7,000 residing in Juneau; there are also
large constituencies in Anchorage and the railbelt. He stated
that the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and the Alaska Native
Sisterhood (ANS) were born out of a lawsuit; the two entities
had been opposing land claims before the ANCSA settlement.
9:28:19 AM
MR. PETERSON paused his statement and offered an apology for not
recognizing earlier the lands that the committee is meeting
upon, the Auke Kwaan and Taku Kwaan, and the elders that are
present. He noted their fortune to have esteemed elders, like
Marie Olsen and John Morris, in the audience.
9:28:51 AM
MR. PETERSON stated that Tlingit & Haida has conducted
government-to-government relations for nearly 84 years with
quite a few programs in operation, such as Head Start. He
stated that the tribe has a $25,000,000 recurring budget, which
fluctuates depending on grants. He discussed the economic
sovereignty of the tribe and the establishment of for-profit
businesses. He shared that there are quite a few businesses in
Juneau that employ predominately, but not exclusively, tribal
citizens.
MR. PETERSON stated that economic sovereignty is important of
maintaining sustainability for the tribe's programs. The
tribe's focus is on the social, economic, physical well-being of
tribal citizens; this influences the programs that the tribe
operates, focusing on seniors, youth, and hard-to-serve clients,
such as those that are homeless or about to be homeless. Mr.
Peterson stated that the governor's proposed budget, which would
slash programs such as Head Start, causes concern. Mr. Peterson
revisited the earlier discussion of values and shared that the
tribes values center around their youth and elders, two
populations that appear to be the hardest hit by the proposed
budget. He shared that the sudden increase in living expenses
imposed upon high-need elders at the Pioneer Home is not
sustainable. He re-emphasized his concern about the proposed
budget and the possible consequences of its passage.
9:32:34 AM
MR. PETERSON stated that the State of Alaska has yet to truly
recognize the tribe's sovereignty but, in asking the tribes to
waive their sovereignty, the state implicitly recognizes their
existence and sovereignty. He reiterated his gratitude for the
formation of the committee and urged its members to address some
of the issues he's discussed. Returning to an earlier
discussion of values, Mr. Peterson added trust, and he stated
that it is "hard to trust a group that says we don't exist." He
stated that the formation of this committee is the first step in
the formation of trust. He expressed his hope to see a similar
type of committee form permanently in the Senate and in the
Office of the Governor.
9:34:39 AM
MR. PETERSON shared that he considers the proposed budget "an
attack on values" and noted it seems particularly targeted to
affect rural and tribal citizens of Alaska. He shared his hope
that the Special Committee on Tribal Affairs develop solutions
in collaboration with tribes, and he implored the committee to
consider how it can bring tribes into the discussion. He
relayed that SHI and Tlingit & Haida hosted the Native Issues
Forum the day prior, where Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer used
the analogy of ornaments on a Christmas tree to describe the
elimination of funding for services deemed inessential. Mr.
Peterson expressed his disagreement and noted the misalignment
of this analogy with the role of Alaska Native tribes in the
provision and stewardship of resources. Mr. Richards shared his
belief that Alaska's Native population is rich in innovative and
savvy people and asked the committee members to consider this
when working with the governor's administration and proposed
budget.
MR. PETERSON thanked the committee for the opportunity to speak
and noted the breadth of issues on which he and other entities
are interested in collaborating.
9:37:32 AM
CHAIR ZULKOSKY said "quyana" and thanked Mr. Peterson for
speaking on behalf of the tribal government. She expressed
appreciation for Mr. Peterson's comments about tribes being part
of the solution and, echoing earlier statements, finding
"transformational" relationships and partnerships. She
recognized that Tlingit & Haida has a long history of brokering
state and tribal relations that have benefited the community of
Juneau and the state.
9:38:42 AM
REPRESENTATIVE EDGMON reflected on the historic nature of
today's meeting. He stated, as follows:
It is not lost on me that there's a lot of
misunderstanding. There are a lot of uninformed
opinions of what tribes do, and what they represent,
and what they're capable of, and whether or not
they're in the Alaska Constitution, or whether or not
they're viable entities. There has, unfortunately,
been the pejorative ring of tying tribes to
sovereignty or to subsistence or to, as Andrea
[Sanders] pointed out, the fact that...they're
referred to as stakeholders or special interest groups
or just another ... entity out there. ... I'll close,
Madame Chair and committee members, by saying that I
think it will be a real privilege to serve with all of
you on this committee and being a part of the
inaugural hearing and certainly playing a small role
in getting the committee formed. I view the committee
as a committee of opportunity and certainly one of
healing and of respect and of going forward and also
putting the best foot of the Alaska Native community
as a whole forward. We have many miles to go and, I
think, in some respects, we have been on this journey
for a long time. I'm really excited about this
committee being formed. I would hope, as my final
remark, that this committee goes into perpetuity as
being ... a regular feature of the Alaska State
Legislature in the years ahead.
9:40:54 AM
ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the committee, the House
Special Committee on Tribal Affairs meeting was adjourned at
9:41 a.m.
| Document Name | Date/Time | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska Native Governance FAI.pdf |
HTRB 3/7/2019 8:00:00 AM |
First Alaskans Institute |