(SitNews) Anchorage, Alaska - The United States Congress is holding its first Alaska National Interest Lands Act (ANILCA) oversight hearing on the critically important subsistence food security priority for Alaska Natives in nearly twenty years.  The hearing in the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee on September 19th in Washington, DC is the first major hearing to examine wildlife management authority within the State of Alaska under the ANILCA and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).  

AFN Subsistence Committee Chairwoman Dr. Rosita Worl and Robert Anderson, a Professor at the University of Washington School of Law, will testify on behalf of Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN). Other witnesses include AFN Board members Jerry Issac and Ana Hoffman, as well as Anthony Christenson, mayor of Hydaburg. Dr. Worl explains, “Our ability to subsist on our traditional hunting and fishing grounds is critical to our cultural survival and also essential for our food security.” 

AFN witnesses plan to review the history and policy decisions that led to the adoption of Title VIII of ANILCA, and how Title VIII no longer fulfills Congress’ intent to protect Alaska Natives hunting and fishing way of life.  In addition, AFN will urge the Committee to include two demonstration projects in any legislation that moves during this Congress.  These demonstration projects will allow the Native community to show the value and efficiency of co-management in the context of the Yukon River fisheries and on Native-owned lands in the Ahtna region, paving the way for a statewide solution to the current system of dual management.

"Subsistence is not an abstract concept; it is our way of life," said AFN Co-Chair Ralph Andersen.

The hearing will take place at 9:30 am Eastern time and a webcast of the hearing will be available on the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee website http://www.energy.senate.gov/public/.

AFN encourages the public to watch the webcast, write, and send pictures to AFN, members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resource Committee and our Alaska Delegation about the importance of subsistence to your way of life.

The Alaska Federation of Natives was formed in October 1966, when more than 400 Alaska Natives representing 17 Native organizations gathered for a three-day conference to address Alaska Native aboriginal land rights. It is now the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska. Its membership includes 178 villages (both federally-recognized tribes and village corporations), 13 regional Native corporations and 12 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums that contract and run federal and state programs. AFN is governed by a 37-member Board, which is elected by its membership at the annual convention held each October.

Edited by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News: 

Alaska Federation of Natives
www.nativefederation.org

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