Unity Theme Resonates at AFN

October 28th 7:38 pm | Carey Restino

The word on everyone's lips at the Alaska

Federation of Natives annual convention last weekend

was unity — though the definition differed.

While some endorsed unifying to demand tribal

rights similar to the Navajo Nation, others promote

a more tempered response, asking for Alaska

Natives to pool their energies in order to work

together toward state and national goals.

The convention, which draws thousands each

year, included a long list of speakers, panel discussions

programs and presentations, as well as entertainment,

a Native arts fair and more. This year's

theme, "Strength in Unity," resonated throughout

the convention and was at the forefront of many

presenters' speeches.

"It would be very helpful if the state of Alaska

would recognize us as political entities —

both our tribal governments and our Native

corporations," said Natasha Sing, general

council for the Tanana Chiefs Conference

during a panel discussion on how to

strengthen relations with the state.

"Recognition is the first step. The Tanana

Tribe is combating domestic violence and

suicide and they are not doing this with federal

or state funds. We bring value to the

state of Alaska."

Valerie Davidson, senior director for the

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium,

advised the hundreds watching the discussion

to recognize their abilities and

strengths and build pride. Davidson said

people are always saying she must be pretty

smart to be a lawyer.

"I say that's not what makes me smart,"

Davidson said. "I'm Yupik, that's what

makes me smart. I've seen elders here texting

in Yupik. We have an incredible ability

to use what is available to us to get our message

across."

The panel grabbed hold of an analogy

Davidson made to relations with state officials

being much like a high school dance.

People find it difficult to make that first

move, she said, and sometimes, conversations

that should happen don't because of

awkwardness, she said.

"No matter how awkward those conversations

are, we have to ask for that dance,

and then another, and maybe even ask for a

slow dance," she said. "Because that's what

it's going to take."

While William Streur, commissioner of

the Alaska Department of Health and Social

Services said he wasn't sure if he was ready

for a slow dance with fellow commissioners,

he said he recognized the need to communicate

more clearly the needs and desires of

Alaska Natives. He, too, commented on the

work Alaska Natives were doing within

their own communities dealing with social

and health issues as well as working toward

the success of the Native Corporations.

"It's time for the state to start using some

of their creativity to start dealing with the

issues that face us and put some money

behind it," Streur told the crowd. "I'm not as

optimistic as some people as far as where

we will be 10 years from now in terms of

state revenues. I think we will need to

rethink almost everything we do in Alaska.

I really think it's going to require everyone

taking their cotton-picking party hat off and

start to work together."

Convention draws national politicians

Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska, Sen. Lisa

Murkowski, R-Alaska and Sen. Mark

Begich, D-Alaska, each took to the convention

stage to discuss their views of the current

political climate with relation to Alaska

Natives and the state overall.

For his part, Young, who is 78, said he

would like to see an Alaska Native run for

his seat if and when it opens up. Though he

reportedly targeted 2011 Iditarod champion

John Baker of Kotzebue, who was also the

event's keynote speaker, that effort didn't

prove fruitful, with Baker reportedly denying

interest in politics. However, Young told

the Alaska Dispatch he would be honored to

stand behind not only an Alaska Native

candidate, but an Alaska Native woman.

Murkowski took the stage to a standing

ovation, and applauded what she called a

long history of Alaska Native unity including

those who refused to back down on the

building of the pipeline until settlement of

land claims.

"Our Native leaders did not back down,"

she said. "They knew if they did there

wasn't going to be a settlement. It took courage."

In addition, she pointed to the success of

the Alaska Native corporations. The corporations

dominate the top 10 of the recentlyreleased

Top 49ers list published in October

edition of Alaska Business Monthly.

"You have wisely invested the profits of

your corporations and your energy" in your

communities, she said.

Murkowski warned, however, that federal

money was drying up.

"Money is going to be tougher to come

by," she said, "and we are going to have to

adapt to this new reality. This is not a bad

thing, but it is a change. But I think that

rural Alaska is up to the challenge. Our

Native communities would not have survived

tens of thousands of years if they were

not adaptable."

Begich focused his presentation Saturday

on the federal dollars channeled to Alaska,

as well as his legislative priorities and his

efforts to bring high-ranking federal officials

not only to Alaska but to Alaska's rural

communities. He criticized the No Child

Left Behind Act, an effort by the federal government

to reform schools nationwide.

"This has not worked for Alaska," Begich

said. "The law did damage in my view to

rural Alaska."

Noorvik residents win AFN award

Two Noorvik residents were among those

who received an award at the 2011

President's Awards banquet Friday.

Thomas and Edith Pungalik received the

hunter-fisher award recognizing an Alaska

Native who exemplifies and preserves the

spirit of successful subsistence hunting,

trapping and sharing, and our way of life,

according to the convention literature.

The literature said Thomas Pungalik is an

avid hunter and provider, and uses traditional

skills learned from his parents. He

has taught many youth how to hunt and

shared the values of hunting, it said. Edith is

a traditional sewer and provides all the

hunting clothing needed for the season, it

said.

"Both have been active in regional efforts

to maintain the Inupiat culture and are

involved in committees , such as the Elders

Council, to ensure that such knowledge is

passed on to the next generation," the brochure

said.

Other winners included

• Citizen of the year: Rosita

Worl, vice chairwoman of Sealaska Corp. and president

of the Sealaska Heritage Institute.

• Denali award

(for a non-Native): John Katz, outgoing director for

the governor's office in Washington, D.C.

• Culture

bearer: Tlingit and Haida weaver Della Mae Cheney,

originally from Kake and now living in Douglas.

• Della

Keats "healing hands": Sarah Smith, a tribal doctor

at Southcentral Foundation. She is originally from Old

Harbor on Kodiak Island and now lives in Anchorage

•

Eileen Panigeo MacLean education: Agatha

John-Shields. Originally from Toksook Bay, she now

lives in Anchorage. She is an assistant professor of

education leadership and co-director of the Consortium

of Alaska Native Leadership Engagement and

Development at the University of Alaska Anchorage.

•

Elder of the year: Chief Paul Williams of Fort Yukon.

Williams was born in Salmon Village near Chalkyitsik.

He served as chief of the Venetie Reservations for 10

years and as the second chief for 22 years.

• Glenn

Godfrey law enforcement: Alaska Commissioner

of Public Safety Joseph "Nashalook" Masters.

• Health:

Loretta Throop of Anchorage, Southcentral Foundation

board member. She is originally from Ninilchik.

• Lu

Young youth leadership: Teressa Baldwin, founder

of Hope4Alaska, a nonprofit focused on suicide prevention.

Born in rural Alaska, she now lives in Palmer.

•

Parents of the year: David and Teresa Ulroan of

Chevak. They have raised five children with Cup'ik,

western and spiritual values..

• Public service: Gilbert

Truitt. Born and raised in Sitka, he served his community

for 34 years as teacher, basketball coach, athletic

director, administrator and principal.

• Roger Lang

youth leadership: Peter Squartsoff of Port Lions. He

learned much of the Alutiiq language and instructed

classmates. He is now Alutiiq language assistant for the

Native Village of Port Lions.

• Small business:

Raymond Michael May of Kodiak, who was raised in

Port Lions. May owns Kodiak Island Storage and has

two successful fishing vessels.

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Unity Theme Resonates at AFN