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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2002

"Have you read the governor's newly proposed subsistence amendment for our Alaska Constitution (House Joint Resolution 41)?

If not, did you know that most Alaskans are subsistence "have-nots"? We "have-not" any subsistence tradition. Only "indigenous people of Alaska" have a subsistence tradition in this proposal, which if passed, would become part of our state constitution.

Did you know that only rural residents "have" a clear priority to take fish, game, timber, berries, water, etc. for undefined "customary and traditional subsistence uses"? Over "all other consumptive uses?"

That's not what Elizabeth Peratrovich had in mind when she spoke up for equal rights 45 years ago in the Territorial Legislature. She won. Discrimination among Alaskans was made illegal."

Get the Story:
Dick Bishop: A new subsistence class system (The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner 2/28)

Relevant Links:
Subsistence Amendment, Alaska Governor Tony Knowles - http://www.gov.state.ak.us/subsistence_amendment
Native subsistence rights, Native American Rights Fund - http://www.narf.org/pubs/justice/1999SPRING/spring1999.htm
Alaska Federation of Natives - http://www.akfednatives.org
Katie John et al. v. State of Alaska - http://www.mountainstateslegal.org/legal_cases.cfm?legalcaseid=64

Related Stories:
Subsistence proposal pushed (2/15)
AFN supporting subsistence plan (2/13)
Alaska GOP challenging subsistence (2/11)
Norton policy called setback (2/1)
GOP request has Alaska Natives fuming (1/28)
Subsistence an issue for Legislature (1/17)
Alaska subsistence amendment finalized (12/18)
Subsistence rulings causing strife (12/17)
Tribe wants subsistence declaration (12/13)
Subsistence approved on Alaska river (12/12)
Separate appeal of Katie John denied (11/27)
Knowles sets Native priorities (11/14)
Native subsistence proposal advanced (11/7)
Alaska losing subsistence game (11/5)
Subsistence amendment seeing delay (10/30)
Questions raised on subsistence (10/29)
AFN honors Elder of the Year (10/29)
AFN kicks off, Katie John revered (10/26)
Health issues talk of AFN (10/26)
Alaska Natives testify on racism (10/26)
Native dance event at AFN (10/24)
Alaska Native conference kicks off (10/23)
Alaska Native convention to meet (10/22)
Subsistence hearing scheduled (10/19)
Alaska lawmakers miss Katie John appea (10/15)
Subsistence amendment drafted (10/12)
Lawmakers want to appeal Katie John (10/5)
Alaska subsistence panel meets (9/25)
Poll: Alaskans want subsistence vote (9/17)
Group wants Katie John appealed (9/14)
Alaska subsistence panel to meet (9/11)
Knowles criticized for Katie John decision (8/29)
Alaska won't appeal Native rights case (8/28)
Subsistence summit changes little (8/27)
March held for Native subsistence (8/22)
Subsistence summit calls for changes (8/17)
Subsistence summit begins in Alaska (8/16)

More on Katie John:
Katie John case having effects (5/11)
Alaska Native subsistence case upheld (5/8)
Norton cutting old associations (1/25)
Norton's legal work criticized (1/12)
Alaska Native elder dies (12/4)