Land Into Trust the Akiachak Case and What It Means for Alaska
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Dena’ Nena’ Henash • Our Land Speaks Vol. 39, No. 9 A REPORT TO THE MEMBER TRIBES OF TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 2015 Land Into Trust The Akiachak Case and What It Means for Alaska Photo by Doreen Deaton Last year, the tribes won a case signaling his opposition for tribal state lawmakers, municipalities in federal district court entitled trust lands in the state. Since and ANCSA corporations. TCC Akiachak. The court decision the filling, Governor Walker has believes Governor Walker will drop found the Secretary of Interior indicated a desire to work through the appeal if those uninformed has the power to accept petitions this issue with the tribes. people will learn more about the to take land into trust in Alaska. TCC understands there is a lot of facts of trust lands and encourage Last month, Governor Walker misinformation and confusion about the Governor to drop the appeal. filed an appellate brief in the case, trust lands not only with tribes, but More information on pages 4 & 5. Indigenous People’s Day: October 12th During TCC’s 2015 Annual Convention, the Full Board of Directors passed Resolution No.2015-02 submitted by the McGrath Tribal Council. The resolution states that the TCC region will “celebrate Indigenous People’s Day on October 12, the day America celebrates Columbus, as a way to oppose the celebration of Columbus’s ill treatment towards Native people and to also celebrate the courageous strength by Indigenous peoples to continue as modern day governments with self-determining powers”. Join us on October 12th as we celebrate Indigenous People’s Day In This Subregional Hunting SPICE: What you Tobacco-Free Meetings Safety Tips Need to Know Art Contest Issue: Page 7 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Dear Tribes and Tribal Members, MISSION STATEMENT Wow, it’s already September! The past few mornings Tanana Chiefs Conference provides a I awoke to a cool chill in the air and frost on the ground, unified voice in advancing sovereign tribal indicators of the season ahead of us. As I sit in my governments through the promotion of office drafting this letter, my thoughts continue to drift to physical and mental wellness, education, moose hunting; what do I need to get ready and when I can socioeconomic development, and culture of the Interior Alaska Native people. leave. I look forward to providing for my family, and wish the best of luck to you and your family this hunting season. This past month, we met with Yukon Flats in Fairbanks, Upper Kuskokwim VISION in McGrath, Upper Tanana in Eagle and Yukon Tanana in Tanana. We will be Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes meeting with the Lower Yukon in Shageluk and the Yukon Koyukuk in Huslia. Once again, I send my appreciation to the hosting communities and enjoyed the time we had with our tribal leadership and members. Discussions at our subregional meetings included an update on the progress of TCC’s 2015-2020 Strategic Plan. Part of our strategic plan is to improve the quality of life for those we serve. Our Behavioral Health Services proved their dedication to this last month when they received the Commission on TCC EXECUTIVE Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) accreditation. CARF BOARD MEMBERS accreditation is a state mandate that all behavioral health programs receiving Donald Honea Sr./Ruby state funding are required to achieve by the end of this year. Join me in 1st Traditional Chief applauding all the staff who contributed to the success of this project, it was not an easy task. Trimble Gilbert/Arctic Village 2nd Traditional Chief I would also like to inform you that TCC recently became the sole health services provider in the Upper Tanana Subregion after taking over operations Victor Joseph/ Tanana from the Tok Clinic, LLC in August. This means we now provide health services TCC President at both the Upper Tanana Health Center and the site of the former Tok Clinic. Julie Roberts-Hyslop/Tanana This past month I met with Governor Bill Walker to discuss the recent Vice President developments in the case of the Fairbanks Four, after the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner obtained and published the details of Jason Wallace’s sealed Pollock ‘PJ’ Simon, Jr. /Allakaket confession. As the details of this case continue to unfold, Tanana Chiefs Secretary/Treasurer Conference hopes that it leads to what we believe is overdue to Marvin Donald Adams/Tetlin Roberts, Eugene Vent, Kevin Pease and George Frese: Full Exoneration. We Upper Tanana also discussed the Governor’s recent decision to appeal the Akiachak case (the Lands into Trust case) and requested a seat on the LNG Municipality Nick Alexia Sr./Nikolai Upper Kuskokwim Advisory Group. The seat is very important because this group discusses and recommends mitigation opportunities for impacted areas and is a way to Nancy James/Fort Yukon ensure that the tribal voice is heard. Yukon Flats I also attended the conference on Global Leadership in the Arctic: Cooperation, Eugene Paul/Holy Cross Innovation, Engagement and Resilience (GLACIER), where I participated in Lower Yukon a round table discussion with President Barack Obama, Governor Walker, Lieutenant Gov. Byron Mallott and Senator Lisa Murkowski. President Obama Frank Thompson/ Evansville made it very clear that the discussion was a Government-to-Government Yukon Tanana meeting with the Tribal Nations of Alaska. It was an honor to represent our Leo Lolnitz/Koyukuk region as we discussed climate change and other important issues that impact Yukon Koyukuk our tribes. As always, TCC will continue working with our tribal leadership to advocate Peter Demoski/Nulato Elder Advisor effectively on their behalf. Ana Bassee, Gerald Patsy/Nulato Victor Joseph Youth Advisor President/Chairman Tanana Chiefs Conference 2 TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE • THE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER Join the Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council Membership applications or nom- COUNCIL RESPONSIBILITIES: Want to Apply or Nominate inations for seats on the 10 Feder- • Review and make recommen- Someone? al Subsistence Regional Advisory dations to the Federal Sub- Contact [email protected] Councils are being accepted now sistence Board on proposals or download the PDF at through January 29, 2016. for regulations, policies, man- www.tananachiefs.org/rac/ agement plans, and other The Regional Advisory Councils subsistence-related issues; Applications can be sent to: provide advice and recommenda- • Develop proposals that pro- Carl Johnson, Supervisor, Council tions to the Federal Subsistence vide for the subsistence har- Coordinator. Board about subsistence hunting, vest of fish and wildlife; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service trapping, and fishing issues on • Encourage and promote lo- Office of Subsistence Management Federal public lands. Membership cal participation in the deci- 1011 E. Tudor Road, MS 121 on the Councils is one way for the sion-making process affect- Anchorage, AK 99503-6199 public to become involved in the ing subsistence harvests on Federal subsistence regulatory Federal public lands; E-MAIL: [email protected] process. • Make recommendations on customary and traditional use FAX: 907-786-3898 Each Council has either 10 or determinations of subsistence 13 members, and membership in- resources; and, Questions? cludes representatives of subsis- • Appoint members to National (800) 478-1456 or (907)786-3676 tence use and commercial/sport Park Subsistence Resource use. Commissions. EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING team. Thank you Don Shircel, the many success stories, when in the DIRECTOR, BRENDA KRUPA, best boss in the world, who I will beginning all people needed was SAYS FAREWELL always be indebted to for hiring me a helping hand. Thank you TCC Thank you and God Bless: and being an extraordinary mentor. Chiefs and Tribes, for allowing me I just want to take this opportunity to assist with being a helping hand. to say it’s has been an honor and Thank you Victor Joseph, TCC a privilege to work for the Tribes President, for you unending dedi- “Anaa Basee, Mahsi’ Cho, Do- in the TCC Region these past 11 cation to the mission and vision of gidinh, and Tsen’ii” for allowing me years. I have resigned my position TCC. For providing good leader- to work for you. at TCC and my last day was Fri- ship to us all and having good peo- day, August 14, 2015. I will now ple in Administration. God Bless all of you. have 3 new bosses; Jovie age 1, Brenda Krupa, TCC Employment Summit - 2, and 5 year old Blaize, Thank you Executive Board & Training Director who will begin kindergarten. members and all the Chiefs of the TCC Region. You have taught me Employment & Training Staff: Thank you for the wonderful, more than you know about the Katina Charles, ext. 3353 amazing memories from all the Athabascan Values I hold dear. [email protected] trips I’ve made to the Villages. I You are such strong leaders and wish I could have been to each always addressing hard and diffi- Evelyn Ekada, ext.3199 and every one. It is so humbling cult topics, and working together at [email protected] to come in contact with so many conquering them. E&T Coordinator strong, vibrant, busy people work- ing for their communities across And last, but not least, I espe- Michelle James, ext.3416 TCC’s vast region. cially thank all the Tribal members [email protected] that came to this program for help. Program Assistant and Intake I want to also thank my co-work- You have shown me that there are ers, Katina Charles, Evelyn Ekada, many people that may be down Don Shircel, ext.3229 and Michelle James for making on their luck, but with persever- [email protected] coming to work each day enjoy- ance and drive, one can accom- Director of Client Development able and feeling part of a good plish great things.