The following is a letter to President Clinton from Senator Rick Halford, Chairman of the Alaska Senate Resources Committee, asking for clarification of the President's recent comments to AFN regarding the subsistence debate.

September 23, 1999

President William J. Clinton
1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Washington, DC 20500

Sent via fax (202) 456-2461

Dear President Clinton:

As Chairman of the Alaska State Legislature Senate Resources Committee, I am requesting clarification of your statement via video to Julie Kitka, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives during their summit in Washington DC earlier this month.

Julie Kitka, in her presentation to the Senate Resources Committee yesterday, played your video statement. In that statement you ensured Ms. Kitka that you would ensure all Alaskan natives have subsistence rights. However, in sharp contrast is the legislation currently being considered by the Alaska Senate Resource Committee, SJR 201, which would amend our Constitution to provide a rural preference for subsistence. The U.S. Department of Interior supports this legislation, which would discriminate against Alaska Natives who live in urban areas - about half of Alaska's Native population.

I would like to know how you will ensure that these Native Alaskans have subsistence rights when the bill endorsed by your Administration denies them the same rights given to non-native populations in rural areas.

As you know, October 1, 1999 is the deadline placed by your Administration for passing legislation that will call for a constitutional amendment and keep state management of our subsistence resources. I look forward to hearing your response as soon as possible.

Sincerely,

[Senator Halford's signature]

Rick Halford
Chairman, Senate Resources Committee
Alaska State Legislature

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