FROM THE ARCHIVE
Opinion: Stubborn Alaska Natives
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TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 2002

In an opinion published in The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, a former Alaska state wildlife official accuses Alaska Native leaders of stalling on subsistence.

Dave Kelleyhouse, a former conservation chief, said subsistence won't be resolved until the Alaska Federation of Natives comes to the table without trying to tie the debate to racism and other issues. "This has been evidenced, at least in part, by their failure to show up and discuss real solutions with the Senate leadership--the same folks they've complained at length wouldn't listen to their concerns," he writes.

The Alaska Legislature was called to a special session to consider an amendment to the state's constitution to allow a Native and rural preference to resources. Lawmakers didn't get to the issue so the Republican leadership called private meetings.

AFN subsequently declined to participate in the talks. Kelleyhouse said the organization made unfair demands on the leadership.

Get the Story:
Dave Kelleyhouse: Hitting subsistence gridlock (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 6/11)

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:
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Alaska Native elder dies (12/4)