Alaska House establishes tribal affairs committee

JUNEAU, Alaska – The Alaska House of Representatives has established a committee to focus on tribal affairs across a variety of issues.

The new Alaska House Tribal Affairs Committee convened for the first time on March 7, KTOO and Alaska Public Media reported Monday.

Lawmakers received an overview of tribal governance and how compacts are reached with the state.

Legislators said the committee was formed so a single body can work to advance relationships and deal with the full range of tribal affairs. The relationship cuts across many state departments and tribal organizations could help provide more services funded by Alaska’s government, they said.

Democratic Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky said tribes provide services incorporating traditional thinking and improvements in areas such as health care.

“Our state is home to nearly half of all federally recognized tribes in the country,” Zulkosky said. “Seeking to further our relationship with Alaska tribes helped to bridge both historical and political divisions, while also capitalizing on limited fiscal resources.”

Andrea Akall’eq Sanders of the First Alaskans Institute said Alaska Native people have a perspective from which the entire state can benefit.

“We have intact knowledge of our environment — what’s happening around us, our relationship with other species, and the changes that are happening,” Sanders said.

Marie Olson, a Tlingit elder of the Aak’w ?waan people, welcomed committee members.

“I thank you very much because I recognize the history of what is occurring now,” Olson said, adding the Tlingit word for thank you: “gunalcheesh.”

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Information from: KTOO-FM, http://www.ktoo.org