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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2001

The Alaska Federation of Natives' annual convention began on Thursday in Anchorage, with Athabaskan elder Katie John celebrated as the "Citizen of the Millennium."

John's case reached a critical point this year after a federal appeals court upheld her subsistence rights case. Alaska Gov. Tony Knowles (D) then mulled taking the case to the Supreme Court but declined.

Knowles received a hearty welcome yesterday. Previously, Natives at the convention had criticized him for keeping the case alive, even after John kept winning.

Speaking of subsistence, the November 1 hearing scheduled by the Senate Indian Affairs Committee on the issue has been postponend, AFN President Julie Kitka noted. Some Senate bulidings are still closed due to the threat of anthrax.

The convention, which is being broadcast by KNBA radio, runs until Saturday. It was preceded by and elders and youth gathering.

Get the Story:
Subsistence hearing to be rescheduled (The Anchorage Daily News 10/26)

Relevant Links:
KNBA - http://www.knba.org
Alaska Federation of Natives - http://www.nativefederation.org/flash.html

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