Weekly Star Editorial for April 17, 1997

Sovereignty and Subsistence: Issues Tearing Us Apart

In my opinion, the most discouraging and devastating problems facing Alaska this decade are Subsistence and Native Sovereignty. Most of the Alaskan population is unaffected by the controversy at this time and are not alarmed at the crisis on the horizon.

Subsistence

Many Native Alaskans have taken a strong position of "no diminishing of Native preference for fish and game for subsistence." This position appears to be at odds with the state constitutional guarantee of equal access to renewable resources. The battle lines are firmly drawn at neither side seems interested in giving an inch. Then there are the Alaskans in the middle have no organized voice and are largely silent.

The first result of the lack of resolution on the subsistence issue will be the Federal takeover of Alaska's commercial fisheries this coming October. Alaska's commercial fishing has been well managed by the state, but the federal management in areas like Washington and Oregon has been disastrous. Senator Stevens says there is no possibility of delaying the federal takeover unless the Alaska Native and non-Native people have a strong consensus to resolve the subsistence issue. Governors Jay Hammond and Walter Hickel and Lt. Governor Fran Ulmer have all labored to find a common ground and NOTHING HAS WORKED.

Sovereignty

For some of Alaska's Native population, the possibility of greatly increased local and Native control under federal "Indian Law" seems very attractive. Past wrongs and perceived neglect by state government inclines many Native leaders to be attracted to the federal option. Native Alaskans who do not want to choose the federal option appear silent. It appears that political pressure keeps many Native people from questioning the sovereignty position.

However, those who do challenge the Native Alaskan position on sovereignty would do well to look into the history and status of "Indian Country" in America. It is a complicated area and operates

on a very different basis than the rest of American law. Those who are pushing for Indian Country status have done their homework and can present a cogent argument for their position.

Where I Stand

Challenging the Venetie Decision. I think the Legislature and the Governor where justified in appealing the Venetie Decision to the Supreme Court. If the decision stands, we will need to plan for a significantly different set of relationships in rural Alaska.

Federal v. Alaska Management of Fish and Game. I am strongly opposed to federal (or United Nations) management of anything in Alaska. Although some Native leaders will disagree, I think Alaskans can manage our affairs better than Outsiders.

A Melting Pot or a Boiling Pot. A genius part of the American success has been the ethnic melting pot. We have a culture in which each individual or group can keep as much of their cultural heritage as they want and we can enrich each other. We work toward a common language and some basic understanding of a shared value system. We evolve together and everyone who wants to be involved can participate.

If we do not follow the melting pot model, we will have more class, racial, and ethnic battles. Hatred, prejudice, and anger will continue to have us throwing rocks and solving nothing.

No Racial Preferences. I am fundamentally opposed to doing anything on a racial basis. This includes politics, fish and game, welfare, and anything else I can think of. If the Supreme Court decides that there is "Indian Country" in Alaska and an exclusive preference for fish and game, I will probably abide by the decisions, but I won't like it.

Politicians Never Do the Right Thing at the Right Time. If political leaders ever knew what was the "right thing" to do, they wouldn't be able to get the support to get it accomplished at the right time.

I predict that we will not get the subsistence or sovereignty issues solved in less than than four years. In the meantime, we will have much damage done to Alaskans at the hands of the federal government.

I can be reached by phone, (800) 342-2199 or (907) 465-2199; by mail, State Capitol Building, Room 428, Juneau, AK 99801; or via the Internet, Representative_Fred_Dyson@legis.state.ak.us. You can also send us information via the Public Opinion Messages (POMs) by calling the Legislative Information Office at 258-8111 (TTY 258-8173).