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Monday, October 13, 2003

Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) "is not a racist" but he should apologize for divisive remarks he made about Alaska Natives, The Anchorage Daily News says in an editorial.

Stevens said that Alaska Natives are on the "road to destruction of statehood" because they are exerting their sovereignty. "If some wing nut on talk radio said this we'd condemn it, then dismiss it with a recommendation to consider the source," the paper says. "But when Sen. Ted Stevens, arguably the most powerful Alaskan in the history of the state, says these words, they hit home."

The paper says Stevens' comments casts the debate over sovereignty as one of "us vs. them." "Sen. Stevens should acknowledge these were the wrong words to use and apologize," the paper says. "That will clear the air to argue the issues of Native sovereignty and authority of Alaska tribes on their merits. And to argue them as Alaskans."

Get the Story:
Wrong words (The Anchorage Daily News 10/12)

Relevant Links:
Sen. Ted Stevens - http://stevens.senate.gov
Native American Rights Fund - http://www.narf.org
Alaska Federation of Natives - http://www.nativefederation.org/flash.html

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Stevens: Too many Alaska Native tribes (10/24)
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