HB 193-SECOND VERSE OF ALASKA'S STATE SONG  9:20:10 AM CO-CHAIR HANNAN announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 193, "An Act adding a second verse to the official state song." 9:20:25 AM Representative Andi Story, Alaska State Legislature, as prime sponsor, presented HB 193. She paraphrased the written sponsor statement [included in the committee packet], which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: House Bill 193 makes official the second verse of the Alaska State Flag Song, offering long overdue honor and recognition to the First People of Alaska and Alaska's diverse cultures. The verse recognizes the history of Alaska's flag and its young thirteen-year old designer, Benny Benson, while continuing the first verse's theme celebrating the beauty of the land and hope for the future. It is fitting that the State of Alaska, which now officially recognizes twenty native languages as well as English as our State languages, to honor Alaska's history that precedes western settlers' arrival. Carol Beery Davis, an Alaskan pioneer and poet laureate is the author of the second verse. Inspired by her daughter and a friend, Connie Munro, who expressed dissatisfaction that the song did not acknowledge Alaska Natives, the original caretakers of the land, she wrote the verse to recognize that Alaska's history began long before sourdoughs arrived, and all are now a part of the State's history. Since it was written in 1987, there has been work towards adoption of the second verse, but official recognition has not yet been realized. With a new wave of support from this generation's children, it is time to do so. Please join me in supporting the Alaska Flag Song in celebrating Alaska's long and rich history. 9:22:40 AM CAITLYN ELLIS, Staff, Representative Andi Story, Alaska State Legislature, presented HB 193 on behalf of Representative Story, prime sponsor. She explained that the proposed legislation would add a second verse to the Flag Song but would not require both verses to be sung. She stated that the University of Alaska Foundation holds the copyrights to the music and both verses; the material was donated to the university by Eleanor Dussenbury, the composer. The lyrics of the first verse were written by Marie Drake, and the lyrics of the second verse were penned by Carol Beery Davis. Ms. Ellis said that the university holds these materials in the trust to the benefit of the university and the public and maintains a neutral position on HB 193. MS. ELLIS related that in the last week, a choir had been asked to sing the Flag Song at a local event. The choir director asked the event organizer whether the choir could sing the second verse. The event organizer was advised by state officials to answer no, because the second verse was not yet official. Passage of HB 193 would allow groups to sing the second verse at events, such as at the opening of Senate and House floor session, and would allow the second verse to be printed along with the first verse. Ms. Ellis said officially adopting the second verse would tell a more complete story, provide a full picture of Alaska, and honor all the cultures in the state. 9:24:45 AM CO-CHAIR HANNAN opened invited testimony on HB 193. 9:25:31 AM HUNTER CARTE, Fifth-Grade Student, Glacier Valley Elementary School, testified in support of HB 193. She said the proposed legislation means being respectful to elders and kind and inclusive to all Alaska Native cultures. Further, it would show that if children put their minds to something and work hard, "anything is possible." She encouraged the committee to "vote 'yes' for HB 193." 9:26:14 AM FAITH CONTRERAS, Elementary Student, testified in support of HB 193. She introduced herself first in a Native Alaska language, and then in English pointed out that the first verse of the Flag Song mentions "the gold of the early sourdough's dreams" and makes no mention of Alaska Natives, who have lived on the land for thousands of years. She expressed pride in being an Alaska Native but said she would be even prouder "to be included in the second verse." She thanked the committee. 9:27:02 AM SAHARA SHOEMAKE, Student, Glacier Valley Elementary School, testified in support of HB 193. She gave three reasons to make the second verse of the Flag Song official. First, she said it is important for "not just children" to know who Benny Benson is [the creator of the Alaska Flag design] and to learn that working on dreams can have results. Second, she drew attention to part of the second verse [on page 1, lines 11-12, of HB 193], which read: "to share our treasures hand in hand, to keep  Alaska our Great Land." She described those words as "a little welcome from Alaska for people who come" - a way to extend honor, support, and respect. The third reason, she stated, is that "the Alaska Natives are often forgotten." She pointed out that the first verse says nothing about them. Benny Benson was an Alaska Native. She said the second verse gives Alaska Natives "more of a voice." She concluded, "I persuade you to vote yes to HB 193." 9:29:11 AM JUDAH MARR, Fourth-Grade Student, Glacier Valley Elementary School, recognized the Auke Kwan people, "whose land we are standing on today," and introduced himself in a Native Alaska language and English. He said he strongly believes the second verse of the Flag Song should be made official because it recognizes the creator of the flag's design, Benny Benson, as well as the Alaska Native people, "who were the first people of this land." He encouraged the committee to support HB 193. He announced that the students would sing both the first and second verse of the Flag Song. 9:30:50 AM [The students sang both verses of the Flag Song.] 9:33:47 AM CO-CHAIR HANNAN thanked the students for their performance. 9:33:53 AM REPRESENTATIVE THOMPSON related a story of knowing Benny Benson and introducing him and Dave Adler at an Elk's convention in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1972. He related that Mr. Adler had been on the committee [in 1927] that chose the winning design. Representative Thompson said he got to introduce the two men, who had never previously met. 9:34:38 AM CO-CHAIR DRUMMOND expressed gratitude to the students for being present. She noted that it was students who helped name the Alaska State Dog, the malamute. She said Benson Boulevard in Anchorage is named after Benny Benson and a memorial to the flag itself is at the corner of Minnesota Drive and Benson Boulevard. She said, "We should be able to add this ... verse to the Flag Song, and it's totally appropriate that a bunch of school kids are going to help us do this." 9:36:13 AM CONNIE MUNROE remarked that she had never before heard school students testify before the legislature, and she considered the experience a gift. As a point of interest, she remarked that the sourdoughs addressed in the song were outsiders and her daughter, who works for Donlin Gold, LLC, in Anchorage, recently hired 100 Alaska Natives to open a gold mine. She offered her educational background and experience speaking with superintendents around the state, where she found "all of them used the second verse in their graduation and for special activities, too." She talked about those who have attempted to garner support for the second verse, including the late Senator Bettye Davis and the Alaska Native Sisterhood and Brotherhood. MS. MUNROE said she lost her job in the early '80s and was about to leave the state to take another job, and that is when Carol Beery Davis wrote "this song"; it was a farewell gift. Ms. Munroe ended up getting her job back and remaining in Alaska. She continued: The song just moved me. I refused to sing it until the indigenous people were recognized, and that's how this all came about. MS. MUNROE indicated there had been support from the House and Senate in the past; however, "there was one person that thought the second verse was not to his liking." She said she pleaded with this person to find someone "to write another one." She continued: Our legislators at that time said, "We will not hold a contest because it'll open up a can of worms. Instead we'll wait for someone to ... write it and present it to us." And so, that's how that happened. And that's why Carol wrote it. MS. MUNROE urged the committee to support HB 193. 9:41:14 AM REPRESENTATIVE CLAMAN asked Ms. Munroe what her relationship is to the woman who wrote the second verse of the Flag Song. MS. MUNROE answered, "Her daughter was my best friend." She talked about what an incredible person Ms. Beery Davis was. She mentioned a book, The Totem Song, which she said is the first book published with Alaska Native songs and is available at the Alaska State Library. Shared that she was nervous. She shared that she is 85 and just learned she is cancer free. 9:43:20 AM ANNE C. FULLER testified in support of HB 193. She said as a storyteller, she ponders over words, which matter. She said she thinks the printing and singing of the second verse "will touch our minds." She predicted that people would consider the words, "no bars among our cultures." She recalled the advice of Elizabeth Peratrovich that people speak their intent to help overcome discrimination. She urged the committee to "please move this bill along." 9:45:09 AM LAURIE HEGGIE, PhD, Music Teacher, Glacier Valley Elementary School, expressed appreciation to Representative Story for listening to the students and sponsoring HB 193. She indicated that not all the students who wanted to testify today were able to do so. She said the day before [students] had presented at "the Innovation Summit" to show the power of people working together to effect change, and following the presentation, one of the students remarked on the diversity of cultures present. Dr. Heggie tied that into how the second verse of the Flag Song illustrates inclusivity. She thanked the committee for listening to the children describe what the second verse means to them. 9:47:30 AM CO-CHAIR HANNAN explained the process of hearing a bill twice in committee to the children present, and said the committee would hear HB 193 a second time at its next meeting. 9:48:22 AM REPRESENTATIVE STORY said she remembered hearing the Alaska Native Sisterhood sing the second verse in the past, and she said she knew there was "a deep longing to have the second verse become part of our state song." She said she heard sincerity in the students' descriptions of what the words mean to them. Hearing them and knowing how many people in the past wanted [the second verse recognized] made it easy for her to sponsor HB 193. She expressed having a connection with Ms. Beery Davis, having been her home health aide at one time. She said the second verse moves her because it recognizes all cultures in Alaska. She urged the committee to pass HB 193 out of committee. [Due to technical issues, the following is available only on the MP3 audio from House Records on BASIS, not the Media Services audio/video.] 9:52:41 AM [Students performed a rap song they created in support of making the second verse of the Flag Song an official version of the song.] 9:54:01 AM CO-CHAIR HANNAN thanked the student and teacher presenters for their efforts in coming before the committee today. [HB 193 was held over.]