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MONDAY, MAY 20, 2002

The Alaska Legislature began a special session on subsistence this past Friday but it may soon end.

The session was called by Gov. Tony Knowles (D) to address an amendment to the state's constitution. The proposal would recognize a rural and Alaska Native priority to subsistence.

The state's constitutions forbids preference to any citizen. This conflicts with federal law and court decisions which have upheld Native rights.

An alternative by Sen. Jerry Ward, a Republican, would grant priority only in times of shortage. This preference would not be absolute and would require a change in federal law -- a move the Alaska Federation of Natives opposes.

Lawmakers, too, remain divided on the issue and may delay resolution for months, according to one member.

Get the Story:
Subsistence effort may wait (AP 5/20)
Special subsistence session begins with guarded optimism (AP 5/18)

Relevant Links:
Subsistence Amendment, Alaska Governor Tony Knowles - http://www.gov.state.ak.us/subsistence_amendment
Native subsistence rights, Native American Rights Fund - http://www.narf.org/pubs/justice/1999SPRING/spring1999.htm
Alaska Federation of Natives - http://www.akfednatives.org
Katie John et al. v. State of Alaska - http://www.mountainstateslegal.org/legal_cases.cfm?legalcaseid=64

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More on Katie John:
Katie John case having effects (5/11)
Alaska Native subsistence case upheld (5/8)
Norton cutting old associations (1/25)
Norton's legal work criticized (1/12)
Alaska Native elder dies (12/4)