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MONDAY, OCTOBER 29, 2001

Subsistence hunting and fishing was a top issue at the 36th annual Alaska Federation of Natives convention, which ended on Saturday.

Attendees passed at least two resolutions affirming a Native priority to subsistence, with one seeking a repeal of a provision in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act that extinguished aboriginal rights. Many were pleased Gov. Tony Knowles (D) did not appeal the landmark Katie John subsistence rights case to the Supreme Court.

But some leaders questioned the pace of work on Knowles' solution to an appeal. He convened a panel of state leaders, including Native Alaskans, to draft a state constitutional amendment that recognizes some form of priority for Native hunters and fishers.

Leaders said Natives should not rush to approve an amendment because it could set up future battles. Talks on the panel are currently split on the Native issue.

An election of new lawmakers could help the Native cause, some said. Republicans who control the State Legislature have opposed an amendment and wanted the case appealed, so along those lines, Natives were urged to vote "like your life depends on it" -- an oft-repeated phrase throughout the convention and one appropriate as the Native population in urban areas like Anchorage grows.

John, the Athabaskan grandmother who started her fight against the state more than a decade ago, was honored as AFN's Citizen of the Millennium.

Get the Story:
Natives target fishing, hunting (The Anchorage Daily News 10/28)
Taking it slow (The Anchorage Daily News 10/27)
Destiny of Natives linked to voter turnout (The Anchorage Daily News 10/27)
Native population booms in state's biggest village' (The Anchorage Daily News 10/27)

Relevant Links:
Alaska Federation of Natives - http://www.nativefederation.org/flash.html

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