KNBA Newscast for October 15, 2015
2015 Elders and Youth Comes to a Close
By Antonia Gonzales, National Native News
Not in Our Smokehouse, protecting Alaska Native ways of life. That’s what elders and youth from urban and rural areas from across Alaska focused on during a three day gathering that wrapped up Wednesday in Anchorage. The smokehouse is an important part of Native life used as a way of preserving food (salmon). At this year’s Elders and Youth Conference, hosted by the First Alaskans Institute, the smokehouse was used to represents the protection and love for bodies, minds and souls. The conference was filled with physical activities for the youth, opportunities to practice public speaking, training in Native languages, and discussions on difficult topics such as substance abuse and domestic violence.
Tribal leaders hear reports, share comments, and ask questions of government VIPs
By Joaqlin Estus, KNBA - Anchorage
High-level state, federal, Congressional and White House leaders spoke to tribal leaders from across Alaska during a one-day conference held Wednesday in Anchorage. The Alaska Federation of Natives and the National Congress of American Indians hosted the get-together. Dozens of tribal attendees heard from U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Gov. Bill Walker, Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott and several state commissioners, among other dignitaries. KNBA’s Joaqlin Estus has this report:
Based in Washington, D.C., the National Congress of American Indians is made up of and advocates for the nation’s 567 American Indian and Alaska Native tribes. NCAI director Jackie Peta says she’s attended many meetings of tribal leaders with U.S. Presidents, and praised the meeting of Alaska Native tribal leaders with President Obama during his visit to Alaska last month:
“Maybe I’m biased. I think this was the best meeting ever,” said Peta. “The representatives that represented you in that sit-down meeting with the president were very succinct, had very clear direction, were organized, and had different messages. He was definitely impressed and so was Secretary Jewell that was there with him. And I think it really helps us move the agenda particularly for Alaska,” said Peta.
The president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, Julie Kitka, said AFN’s planning with the White House began six months in advance of the visit. She says the ramifications of the visit, such as new money coming to tribes through dozens of programs, continue. Also, she says the views of high level officials were altered after seeing first-hand some of the issues Natives face. She urged tribal leaders to make the most of that during a White House tribal summit set for early November:
“The president and his team is highly sensitive to what’s going on in Alaska and highly sensitive to doing things to help Alaska Native and tribes,” said Kitka. “It’s good for the state and good for the country. So you actually have a very unique opportunity coming up very, very quickly.”
Kitka said AFN will need to work to ensure Alaska Natives and rural communities do not bear the brunt of state budget cuts. She also said tribal relations with the state of Alaska are vastly improved since the election of Gov. Bill Walker and Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott.
“We have a remarkable state government, remarkable leadership of the governor and lieutenant governor and his cabinet,” said Kitka. “They have a mindset and idea to try to solve problems, and to work together, which is incredibly good for the state and for Native people.”
Speakers gave reports and answered questions on a range of issues such as the state budget crisis, drug interdiction, co-management of fish and game, state and federal budgets, as well as lands into trust.
2015 AFN Convention Gets Underway
By Daysha Eaton, KBBI
The 2015 Annual AFN Convention gets underway in Anchorage Thursday at the Dena’ina Convention Center in. Dignitaries set to address the crowds include Governor Bill Walker, Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallott. U.S Senator Dan Sullivan and Congressman Don Young, as well as a White House representative.
Work sessions on wellness, business, justice and co-management of fish and game are planned. The theme for this year’s AFN Convention is “Heroes in our Homeland.”