"Trials start Monday for subsistence fishermen cited for fishing on the Kuskowim River during closures this past summer. Twenty-four fishermen pled not guilty to charges that they fished with salmon nets when the river was closed to salmon fishing.

The upcoming trials gained state attention during the Alaska Federation of Natives convention last week. There, U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski called the situation “an embarrassment”, saying the fishermen should have never been fined.

Today, the trials gained national attention at the annual meeting of the National Congress of American Indians in California.

A resolution supporting the fishermen passed the council with unanimous support. It was brought to the meeting by tribal delegates with the Akiak Native Community."

Get the Story:
NCAI supports fishermen heading to trial (KYUK 10/26)

Also Today:
Trials set to begin for western Alaska subsistence fishermen (AP 10/29)