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A Y 4, R 31/3:104-52 \V) ALASKA NATIVE COMMISSION REPORT JOINT OVERSIGHT HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON THE FINAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL-STATE ALASKA NATIVES COMMISSION DATED 1994, TO EXAMINE THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED, AND HOW THE PROBLEMS OF NATIVE ALASKANS CAN BE IM- PROVED THROUGH BETTER FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS NOVEMBER 16, 1995—WASHINGTON, DC Serial No. 104-52 Printed for the use of the Committee on Resources, Committee on Energy and" Natural Resources, and Committee on Indian Affairs C3upenntend8nt of Document* DEPOSITORY JUN 5 1996 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFflCE WASHINGTON 1996 Boston Public Library : '^Q'^ernmont Documen i ts Dept. ForsalebytheU.S.GovernmentPrintingO: SuperintendentofDocuments,CongressionalSalesOffice,Washington,DC 20402 ISBN 0-16-052429-6 .-^\\ Y 4. R 31/3:104-52 \VJ ALASKA NATIVE COMMISSION REPORT JOINT OVERSIGHT HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES AND COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS UNITED STATES SENATE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION ON THE FINAL REPORT OF THE FEDERAL-STATE ALASKA NATIVES COMMISSION DATED 1994, TO EXAMINE THE RECOMMENDATIONS PROPOSED, AND HOW THE PROBLEMS OF NATIVE ALASKANS CAN BE IM- PROVED THROUGH BETTER FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS NOVEMBER 16, 1995—WASHINGTON, DC Serial No. 104-52 Printed for the use of the Committee on Resources, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and Committee on Indian Affairs Dupenntendent of Document* DEPOSITORY JUN 5 199G U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 21-794CC WASHINGTON : 1996 Boston Public Library j^^:iowernmont Documents Dept. ForsalebytheU.S.GovernmentPrinting SuperintendentofDocuments,CongressionalSalesOffice,Washington,DC 20402 ISBN 0-16-052429-6 COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES DON YOUNG, Alaska, Chairman W.J. (BILLY) TAUZIN, Louisiana GEORGE MILLER, CaUfornia JAMES V. HANSEN, Utah EDWARD J. MARKEY, Massachusetts JIM SAXTON, New Jersey NICK J. RAHALL II, West Virginia ELTON GALLEGLY, California BRUCE F. VENTO, Minnesota JOHN J. DUNCAN, Jr., Tennessee DALE E. KILDEE, Michigan JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado PAT WILLIAMS, Montana JOHN T. DOOLITTLE, California SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut WAYNE ALLARD. Colorado BILL RICHARDSON, New Mexico WAYNE T. GILCHREST, Maryland PETER A. DeFAZIO, Oregon KEN CALVERT, CaUfornia ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American RICHARD W. POMBO, California Samoa PETER G. TORKILDSEN, Massachusetts TIM JOHNSON, South Dakota J.D. HAYWORTH, Arizona NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii FRANK A. CREMEANS, Ohio GERRY E. STUDDS, Massachusetts BARBARA CUBIN, Wyoming SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas WES COOLEY, Oregon OWEN B. PICKETT, Virginia HELEN CHENOWETH, Idaho FRANK PALLONE, Jr., New Jersey LINDA SMITH, Washington CALVIN M. DOOLEY, CaUfornia GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California CARLOS A. ROMERO-BARCELO, Puerto WALTER B. JONES, Jr., North CaroUna Rico WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY, Texas MAURICE D. HINCHEY, New York RICHARD (DOC; HASTINGS, Washington ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD, Guam JACK METCALF, Washington SAM FARR, California JAMES B. LONGLEY, Jr., Maine PATRICKJ. KENNEDY, Rhode Island JOHN B. SHADEGG, Arizona JOHN E. ENSIGN, Nevada Daniel Val Kish, ChiefofStaff David Dye, ChiefCounsel Christine Kennedy, ChiefClerk/Administrator John Lawrence, Democratic StaffDirector SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES FRANK H MURKOWSKI, Alaska, Chairman . MARK 0. HATFIELD, Oregon J. BENNETT JOHNSTON, Louisiana PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico DALE BUMPERS, Arkansas DON NICKLES, Oklahoma WENDELL H. FORD, Kentucky LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho BILL BRADLEY, New Jersey BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii JON KYL, Arizona PAUL WELLSTONE, Minnesota ROD GRAMS, Minnesota HOWELL HEFLIN, Alabama JAMES M. JEFFORDS, Vermont BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota CONRAD BURNS, Montana Gregg D. Renkes, StaffDirector Ben S. Cooper, Minority StaffDirector (II) SENATE COMMITTEE ON INDIAN AFFAIRS JOHN McCAIN, Arizona, Chairman DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii, Vice Chairman FRANK H. MURKOWSKI, Alaska KENT CONRAD, North Dakota SLADE GORTON, Washington HARRY REID, Nevada PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico PAUL SIMON, IlUnois NANCY LANDON KASSEBAUM, Kansas DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii DON NICKLES, Oklahoma PAUL WELLSTONE, Minnesota BEN NIGHTHORSE CAMPBELL, Colorado BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming ORRIN HATCH, Utah Steven Heeley, Majority StaffDirectorIChiefCounsel Patricia Zell, Minority StajfDirectorIChiefCounsel (III) CONTENTS Page Hearingheld November 16, 1995 1 StatementofMembers: Abercrombie, Hon. Neil, aU.S. RepresentativefromHawaii 15 Campbell, Hon. BenNighthorse, a U.S. Senatorfrom Colorado 11 Faleomavaega, Hon. Eni, aU.S. Delegate fromAmerican Samoa 13 Inouye, Hon. Daniel, a U.S. Senatorfrom Hawaii 4 McCain, Hon. John, a U.S. SenatorfromArizona 2 Murkowski, Hon. Frank, a U.S. SenatorfromAlaska 5 Romero-Barcelo, Hon. Carlos, a U.S. Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico 14 Stevens, Hon. Ted, aU.S. SenatorfromAlaska 1 Young, Hon. Don, a U.S. Representative from Alaska, and Chairman, Committee onResources 1, 15 StatementofWitnesses: Bems, MeUssa, Chair,AlaskaFederationofNativesYouth Council 44 Craig, Rachael,AFNElder, NANA Region 42 Calista Corporation(prepared statement) 255 Fate, MaryJane, Co-Chair, Alaska Natives Commission 21 Prepared statement 76 Grorsuch, Chancellor Edward Lee, University of Alaska Anchorage (prepared statement) 79 Kitka, Julia, President,AlaskaFederationofNatives 36 Addendum totestimony 123 Prepared statement 95 Knowles, Hon. Tony, Governor, State ofAlaska 16 Prepared statement 71 Napoleon, Harold, Special Assistant to the President, Alaska Federation ofNatives 36 Prepared statement 89 Northstine, Greg, Coordinator, AFN Sobriety Movement (prepared statement) 190 ScasJan, Sarah, Vice President, Hvunan Resources, NANA Regional Cor- poration- 53 Prepared statement 159 Schaeffer, John, Adj. General (Retired), Commission member, Alaska Na- tives Commission 21 USopbioclkesffo,unD,r.AWlamlat,ero,fDViastninNgeusiss,heFdeEllddmera,nA&lasCkuartFiesde(rtaesttiiofnyionfgNoantibveehsal..f. 41 ofChancellorGorsuch) 36 Webb, Doug, SeniorVice President, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company .... 56 Prepared statement 167 Additional material suppUed: ACall ToAction: Taking CommunityResponsibihty 136 AlaskaFederation ofNatives Convention Special Resolutions 117 AlaskaNative UtilizationAgreement 174 AlaskaNatives DyingFrom Injuries, Accidents, Suicide, orHomicide 249 Executive Summary, ReportoftheAlaska Natives Commission 61 Final Recommendations forAction, submitted to theAlaskaNatives Com- missionJanuary 12, 1993 262 Communications submitted: Anderson, Kristian N. (Association ofAlaska Housinng Authorities): Let- terofNovember 22, 1995, to Chris Kennedy 310 (V) VI Page — Communications submitted Continued Webb, Douglas M.: Letter of October 18, 1995, to Bob L. Armstrong (DOI) with attachments 171 FEDERAL-STATE ALASKA NATIVES COMMISSION FINAL REPORT THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1995 House of Representatives, Committee on Re- sources; AND U.S. Senate, Committee on Energy AND Natural Resources, and Committee on Indian Affairs, Washington, D.C. The joint hearing met, pursuant to call, at 10:30 a.m., in room 1324, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Don Young, Chair- man, House Committee on Resources (presiding as Chairman ofthe Joint Hearing), and Hon. Frank Murkowski, Chairman, Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. STATEMENT OF HON. DONYOUNG, A U.S. REPRESENTATIVE FROM ALASKA, AND CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON RESOURCES Chairman Young. This is a joint oversight hearing by the Sen- ate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Senate Commit- tee on Indian Affairs and House Committee on Resources on the Federal-State Alaska Natives Commission Final Report dated 1994. It is quite an honor for me today. Senator Murkowski will be here in a few moments, but I follow a tactic of always starting on time. We do have some esteemed colleagues here, my senior Senator, Senator Stevens, Senator McCain; of course. Senator Inouye, Sen- ator Campbell, and they all have busy schedules. If I could, with the will of the committee at this time, I would like to recognize my senior Senator for an opening statement. And each Senator as they finish their statement if they have to leave, do it quietly please. Senator Stevens. STATEMENT OF HON. TED STEVENS, AU.S. SENATOR FROM ALASKA Mr. Stevens. Well, I have no opening statement, Mr. Chairman. I am delighted that you are conducting this hearing, and I thank all of the separate committees that are meeting here with you. It is a very important hearing. I do think that you and Senator Mur- kowski are to be commended for having created this Natives Com- mission in the first instance with the help ofsome ofour colleagues who are here, and you did a good job. It is nice to have an opportunity to explain that report here, and I look forward to working with you to implement it as soon as possible. Thank you very much. (1) Chairman Young. Thank you, Senator Stevens. Senator McCain, you have informed me that you have another appointment so you are recognized next. STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN MCCAIN, A U.S. SENATOR FROM ARIZONA Mr. McCain. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and it is very nice to be back with you again. You and I were here more years ago than you would Hke to recollect, and I am pleased to partici- pate in this joint hearing on the conditions of Alaska Natives and on the recommendations of the Alaska Natives Commission about what can be done. I join the other members in extending a warm, Washington, D.C., welcome to the witnesses, many ofwhom I know have come a very long way to testify. Last month, along with my friend and colleague Senator Stevens, I was delighted to be able to visit a small Alaska Native village called Tyonek. On that trip, I saw firsthand some of the conditions that confront many Alaska Natives throughout rural Alaska. The young and old leaders ofthat Native village impressed me with the dogged determination they bring to the task of improving the conditions challenging their people. I was inspired by their endurance as a people and a culture that have known great adversity. The Alaska Natives Commission report, released in May of 1994, has given the Congress and our committees an ample record of the conditions affecting Alaska Natives. We now know from its com- pilation offacts and figures that the living conditions facing Alaska Natives are even more dismal than they appear to the eyes of the occasional visitor. For example, some of the Commission's findings are simply ap- palling. The suicide rate among Alaska Native males in their early 20's is 30 times the national average; nearly two-thirds of Alaska Natives students in urban high schools do not graduate; the infant mortality rate ofAlaska Natives is twice the national average. Dur- ing the 1980's on average, one Alaska Native committed suicide every 10 days. The picture drawn by this report reminds me of something Will Rogers once said, "Someone with a message is a whole lot harder to listen to." The main message of this report lies in its recommendations. The recommendations not only address what the Congress should do, but also what should be done by the State of Alaska, each Native village, corporation, and organization, and in- deed each Alaska Native citizen. Real hope for improving the lives of Alaska Natives rests mostly with Native people and their institutions. We in Congress can and should do our part. But as we have found with the rest of Indian country, nothing works better than a Federal policy that encour- ages self-determination and self-governance by Native Americans themselves. These are the policy recommendations I find most persuasive, and I intend to work closely with my friends. Senator Stevens, Sen- ator Murkowski, and you, Mr. Chairman, in developing more ways to bolster Native American self-governance. And, again, it has been a great privilege for me to have the opportunity to work with Sen- ator Stevens and Senator Murkowski and you.