HB 10-FUNTER BAY MARINE PARK: UNANGAN CEMETERY  3:45:57 PM CHAIR REVAK 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." CHAIR REVAK noted that most of the committee heard the bill last year. 3:46:18 PM REPRESENTATIVE SARA HANNAN, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, sponsor of HB 10, stated that the bill had not changed since the committee heard this bill during the previous legislature. She said she would go through a PowerPoint quickly to refresh members' recall of the bill that seeks to protect the Unangan Cemetery in Funter Bay for future generations. She explained that two hundred fifty one acres of state land would be transferred, at no cost, from the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Mining, Land and Water to the Division of Parks and Recreation's existing Funter Bay State Marine Park. The cemetery, which is on a portion of this land, holds the remains of people who did not survive after they were relocated and interred in two relocation camps in Funter Bay during World War II. One of the camps was in an old mine and the other across the bay in an old canary. The cemetery is adjacent to the old canary. Funter Bay is located about 15 air miles from Juneau or 30 miles by water, which made for very isolated camps during WW II. The Funter Bay relocation camps were two of six such camps throughout Southeast Alaska and they were the deadliest. 3:49:09 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN directed attention to slide 4 and explained it is a map from DNR's management plan for the land in Funter Bay. The land shaded green reflects Tongass National Forest land, the 162 acres of existing Funter Bay State Marine Park is identified as A01, and the area identified as A02 is the acreage that would be added by HB 10. The map scale does not show the private land along much of the Funter Bay shoreline and the bill does not affect this private land. She highlighted that the Division of Mining, Land and Water advised it would be easiest to add all the A02 lands into the existing marine park to be managed by the Division of Parks and Recreation, otherwise it would leave DMLW with a fragment of land to manage that is surrounded by state marine park, private property, or national forest. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN displayed images of the remnants of an old bunkhouse on canary property that was used for housing, and the headstone of an 18 month old child who died at one of the Funter Bay camps. She noted the cemetery has received little maintenance since it was in active use starting 79 years ago. Replacement crosses were first erected in 2017 when descendants made a commemorative trip to Funter Bay. The exact number of graves in the cemetery is not clear, but a Park Service survey that looked at the historical significance of the site to determine whether it should receive federal protection identified 32 graves. She noted that some graves are unmarked and some were moved to other cemeteries by the families. 3:51:48 PM SENATOR STEVENS asked where the people who were relocated to Funter Bay came from. 3:52:04 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN answered they came from the Pribilof Islands of St. Paul and St. George. They were the first of the removals that began in June 1942. SENATOR MICCICHE mentioned the unsuccessful effort to get the bill through the process last year [before early adjournment due to COVID-19]. He said the committee investigated the mineralization potential of the land proposed for transfer and the Alaska Miners Association since then sent a letter stating: There is no documented mineral occurrences on the land in question and access to existing mineral occurrences, patented claims and federal lands open to mineral entry are not unduly impacted. He said the committee last year also evaluated the private landownership and he was aware this year that some urban legends had cropped up on this particular site. He asked, as a member of the public, if he would be able to enjoy access to the land designated A02 the same way as he can now without HB 10. 3:53:57 PM REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN answered yes. The Funter Bay State Marine Park is rural and has no state-supported infrastructure. All hunting, harvesting, [and public access] activities are allowed. 3:54:29 PM TIMOTHY CLARK, Staff, Representative Sara Hannan, Alaska State Legislature, Juneau, Alaska, added that the parcel that is proposed to be transferred has been managed for recreation for a number of years. "All the hunting, hiking, and fishing that has existed for decades in the bay, all the access will remain absolutely the same." SENATOR MICCICHE asked for confirmation that the bill does not in any way change the use of this land. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN answered that is correct. The bill does not change the use of this land but it does provide park protection so it cannot be sold for development. 3:55:56 PM SENATOR MICCICHE thanked her for clarifying that for the record. CHAIR REVAK agreed the clarification was important. 3:56:07 PM SENATOR KIEHL stated support for the bill, but asked for assurance that the bill does not cut off access to any private property in the vicinity of the cemetery. REPRESENTATIVE HANNAN answered it does not, but the caveat is that this land is in the Unorganized Borough, and it is difficult to find plats. She offered her understanding that most of the private property is beachfront. MR. CLARK suggested the committee might benefit from hearing from the director of state parks and/or the superintendent of state parks for Southeast. CHAIR REVAK announced invited testimony. 3:57:59 PM RICKY GEASE, Director, Parks and Outdoor Recreation, Department of Natural Resources, Anchorage, Alaska, stated that HB 10 does not cut off access to any private property in in the vicinity of the cemetery. SENATOR MICCICHE asked him to reaffirm the answer to his question about whether the bill in any way restricts public access to the cemetery or other state marine park land or if it affects private landowners in the area either positively or negatively. MR GEASE answered no, but the division would have enforcement powers if there was any vandalism on the state park land. 3:59:36 PM CHAIR REVAK opened public testimony on HB 10. 3:59:57 PM JOEL BENNET, Board Member, Friends of Admiralty Island, Juneau, Alaska, stated he resides in Juneau and owns property in Funter Bay that abuts the cemetery. He said he has no objection to HB 10, and he knows of no other landowners in the immediate vicinity that object to it either. He said deer hunting is a major recreational and subsistence activity on Admiralty Island and he is sure none of the landowners adjacent to the cemetery would support the bill if they thought it would restrict their deer hunting activities. He said he was familiar with the land that would be transferred to the marine park and most of it is low-lying vegetation with scrub spruce and hemlock that has no commercial timber value or potential for mineral development. He concluded that this legislation has been a priority for Friends of Admiralty Island for several years. As a group they have promoted understanding of the injustices of the internment of the Pribilof Islanders in the relocation camps at Funter Bay. 4:03:09 PM MARTIN STEPETIN, Advocate, Friends of Admiralty Island, Juneau, Alaska, stated he resides in Juneau but is from St. Paul Island. His maternal and paternal grandparents were relocated and interned in Funter Bay 79 years ago. His dad was born during that time. The relocation was said to be for protection of the Pribilof Islanders but reckless disregard and lack of planning by the military resulted in the deaths of 10 percent of the people who were relocated to Funter Bay. The headstones show the relocation was deadliest for the elderly and very young. He opined that failing to recognize this history increases the risk that similar atrocities could occur in the future. Protecting the cemetery at Funter Bay is a step in the right direction. It is squarely in the state's hands. 4:05:55 PM ED KING, representing self, Juneau, Alaska, stated that he was working in the DNR commissioner's office when Mr. Stepetin brought the issue forward, so he is aware of the work that has gone into the bill. It recognizes an issue of historical significance that he wholeheartedly supports. He urged the committee to support HB 10 as well. 4:06:31 PM CHAIR REVAK discerned no one else wished to comment and closed public testimony on HB 10. 4:6:46 PM SENATOR STEVENS stated that the events that have been described occurred during World War II. The notion was to remove people from a war zone in the Pribilofs even though the war never went there. He agreed the federal government and military handled the evacuation and relocation recklessly. He also agreed with Mr. Stepetin that it is crucial to remember this history so it is not repeated. 4:07:37 PM SENATOR MICCICHE commented on the importance of protecting sacred places, one of which is the Unangan Cemetery at Funter Bay. He said he is pleased that the cemetery enjoys volunteer caretakers but he looks forward to it being protected officially. 4:08:24 PM CHAIR REVAK recalled supporting the legislation three years ago as a member of the other body, as a member of this committee last year, and again this year. He shared that he was honored to visit Unalaska during the 75th anniversary of the bombing of Dutch Harbor. Attending the ceremony were evacuees who were young at the time, World War II veterans, and a Japanese film crew. It was the most amazing healing event he had ever encountered. What he learned in Dutch Harbor makes him realize how important it is to recognize and protect the cemetery at Funter Bay as a way and perhaps a place of healing. He asked the will of the committee. 4:09:30 PM SENATOR MICCICHE moved to report HB 10, work order 32-LS0096\A, from committee with individual recommendations and attached fiscal note(s). 4:09:43 PM CHAIR REVAK found no objection and HB 10 was reported from the Senate Resources Standing Committee.