Governor stuns Alaska Federation of Natives with end to campaign
Saturday, October 20, 2018
Historic week begins and ends at Native events
By Kevin Abourezk
ANCHORAGE, Alaska – A week of political intrigue that began with the abrupt resignation of Alaska’s lieutenant governor on Tuesday culminated Friday with Gov. Bill Walker’s surprise announcement before his state’s largest Native organization that he would be suspending his campaign for re-election.
The political bombshell came after a week of speculation following Tuesday’s resignation of Lt. Gov. Byron Mallott and the disclosure that Mallott, who is Tlingit, had made “inappropriate comments” to a woman. Neither Walker nor Mallott have offered any further details about what Mallott had said or to whom he had said it.
However, at least one Alaskan publication, Must Read Alaska, said in a story published Tuesday that Mallott had made an inappropriate overture to the 16-year-old daughter of a “close associate” during the First Alaskans Institute Elders and Youth Conference, an event associated with and held in the same building as the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. When the teenager’s mother learned of the interaction, she confronted Mallott in a scene that made its way back to Walker’s chief of staff.
The same day Mallott resigned, Walker announced his decision to appoint his director of Health and Human Services, Valerie Nurr’araaluk Davidson, as his lieutenant governor, making her the first Native woman to serve in that post.
Victor Joseph, president and chairman of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, thanks Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) for his service during the annual convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives in Anchorage on October 19, 2018. Photo by Kevin Abourezk
With less than three weeks until Alaska’s general election, Walker had faced an uphill battle against his opponents, Democrat Mark Begich and Republican Mike Dunleavy, and some had questioned whether the Independent politician’s campaign could survive the political fallout of losing his running mate.
After announcing the end of his political career Friday, Walker effectively endorsed Begich, saying the Democrat’s platform was more closely aligned with his own than that of Dunleavy.
“Despite my many differences with Mark Begich, his stance on important issues that I have listed are more closely aligned with my priorities for Alaska,” Walker said.
He said Dunleavy has promised to eliminate Medicaid expansion, an initiative Walker had championed and one he said has provided access to health care for 44,000 Alaskans, created jobs and generated $1 billion in new federal funding for Alaska’s economy.
He said Dunleavy also has promised to make $1 billion in cuts to education, rural Alaska programs and health care.
And Walker said he feared the Republican would undo the work he has done to help Alaska Natives.
“My administration has worked tirelessly to improve the relationship between tribes and the state and restore respect for Alaska’s first people in state government,” he said. “(Dunleavy) will cause our most vulnerable to suffer.”
Indianz.Com Video by Kevin Abourezk: Apology to Native peoples
On Thursday before the Alaska Federation of Natives, Walker had offered a rare apology to his state’s indigenous people for the historical wrongs committed against them.
“As the 11th governor for the state of Alaska, I apologize to you for the wrongs you have endured for generations,” he said. “For being forced into boarding schools, I apologize. For being forced to abandon your Native language and adopt a foreign one, I apologize. For erasing your history, I apologize.”
After Walker’s announcement Friday, dozens of Native village and tribal leaders stood together on the stage at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference and sang a song for Walker. A long line of tribal leaders then stood to hug and shakes hands with Walker.
Several tribal leaders thanked him for the work he has done to help Alaska Natives.
“I have never seen such a selfless, courageous action by a sitting politician, and I just want to thank the governor for his service,” said Will Mayo, co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives.
Honor song for Governor Bill Walker after he ended his re-election campaign at the Alaska Federation of Natives conference in Anchorage. #2018AFNpic.twitter.com/VbKURNwGmj
A federation delegate called for a motion to accept Walker’s apology to Alaska Natives, a motion the organization’s delegates approved unanimously.
“You are a very strong man who kept his word, who was so honorable,” said Victor Joseph, president and chairman of the Tanana Chiefs Conference. “You didn’t have to doubt what he meant because what he said he meant.”
Ralph Andersen, who is Yup'ik and the founding chairman of Walker’s Tribal Advisory Council, said Walker demonstrated his respect for Native people by creating the council and being willing to listen to them.
“You’ve made some very, very heartbreaking, difficult decisions in the past couple of days, and you’ve proven you’re a very strong leader for doing that,” he said.
Alaska Gov. Bill Walker (I) listens as a song is performed in his honor at the annual convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives in Anchorage on October 19, 2018. Photo by Kevin Abourezk
Several tribal leaders gave gifts of regalia to Walker, and another delegate sang an honoring song for him before the entire audience.
The outpouring of emotion and accolades to Walker was indicative of the work the governor has done to reach out to his state’s first people, work that has included signing the Alaska Tribal Child Welfare Compact last December with 18 tribes and tribal organizations.
The compact has led to more than 90 tribes now regularly being allowed to intervene in the lives of struggling Native families well before the state takes formal action against those families.
