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WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 22, 2001

Several thousand protesters, mostly Alaska Native, held a march in Anchorage to support subsistence rights.

The yearly march focused on the pending appeal of the Katie John case to the Supreme Court. Alaska Governor Tony Knowles is considering an appeal, which would place the subsistence preference of Alaska Natives and rural residents in doubt.

John, an 85-year-old Athabaskan grandmother, participated in yesterday's march. Another march was held in Juneau.

Knowles called a conference of leaders to discuss the issue. They recommended the State Legislature amend the state constitution to allow for a rural preference.

Currently, the constitution does not allow for preferences. Therefore, it conflicts with the John decision.

Secretary of Interior Gale Norton has recused herself from the issue because she was paid by the state to oppose the department she now heads. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has twice upheld its decision in the case.

Get the Story:
Subsistence rally cry (The Anchorage Daily News 8/22)
Two call for needs-based subsistence access system (The Anchorage Daily News 8/22)

Related Stories:
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)