"Who is winnng the Tucson murderer PR blame game?"

I came across this article that I thought was an excellent summary of the Arizona shooting communication situation - "Who Is Winning the Tucson Murderer PR Blame Game."

Clearly, right, left and center are talking about it, and many people I've talked to have had strong opinions - usually strongly pro-Sarah, or strongly anti-Sarah (we ARE in Alaska.) Not many undecideds in this one. But the article, talking purely about the overall messaging of the sides in this, does a pretty objective - and good - job of outlining what, essentially, a pretty toughspot to get out of, messaging-wise.

But really, the biggest problem I think the right, as a whole, will have to get over is to defend this clear fact:

"The conservative establishment has a gigantic infrastructure through organizations like the Media Research Center with multi-million dollar budgets all based on the premise that negative ideas put out through the media corrupt a culture and cause long term problems, even where there isn’t a direct casual relationship between any one trouble teenage mom and a specific MTV reality show. So it’s a bit disingenuous for conservatives to make the claim that all the right wing militaristic rhetoric flowing from conservative talk show hosts and politicians can have no effect."

Anyone looking at this objectively may come up with different conclusions about the "real reason" this happened - but who can say, with a straight face, the guns and violent rhetoric and not-so-veiled threats should continue as they have?

Alaska Native leader speaks out on Palin

Saw this in the ADN Newsreader today, originally from the New York Times. Willie Hensley, a prominent and VERY well-respected Alaska Native leader wrote an op-ed that landed in the Times, aptly titled "In Alaska, Qiviters Never Win." The "qiviters" is a play on a an Inuit word for... well, quitting.

From the article:

In short, Alaska had a governor who had the stature within the state, nationally and internationally, to deal with our problems. She could have used her position to find solutions to the high costs and financial insecurities of our far-northern state. Instead, she abandoned her role as the state’s leader in midstream, making her the only governor in our state’s history to "qivit" in the true sense of the word, at a time when we need strong leadership.

It's actually a great article on the history of this state, and endurance of ALL its people, and worth the read.

Phil Munger over at Progressive Alaska also had a great post today about the voice of Alaska Native people, highlighting Hensley and other Native leaders.

A good day or Alaska... hopefully

In under an hour, Palin will no longer be our governor. Hallelujah.

I have no idea what her plans are after this, and the only way this could be a bad thing is if she decided she still wanted to run for office. If she wants to do some entertainment/newsy thing, go for it - I don't care. It would be easy to turn her off and ignore her - something I can't do while she's making (or, more likely, not making) huge decisions that will affect me and everyone I care about.

This Juneau Empire article did a great job, I think, of explaining some of the "ethical dilemna" Palin faced (or, again, didn't face) and is leaving us with. Basically, a great big mess. It really goes into the ethics complaints issues, and exposes all the PR lies about them from the Palin camp. Ironic that the BULK of the money the state is being made to pay on these "frivolous complaints" is from the complaint Palin filed against herself.

Palin's claims, from the article:

Those claims are contradicted by records released under the Alaska Public Records Law and interviews with administration and other sources. They show a pattern of the Palin administration using public resources and the state's ethics laws in an effort to block and discredit both frivolous and credible charges made against the governor.

Is this the "ethics reform" she was talking about accomplishing?

But as much as, yes, she's abanding the post with tons of unfinished business, and I STILL can't figure out what she was talking about on all her administration's "accomplished," I'm still glad she's leaving. It was pretty likely she was going to leave those things unaccomplished anyways.

From the other big newspapers around the state:

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner on the state vs. national access Palin's given, and her "open access" fail.

The Anchorage Daily News pondering some of the questions around why she's leaving. Might be because NOBODY believes the "Why can't you people believe it's totally atruistic?" defense Palin has given.

Palin's (predictable) problems

No exactly shocking today to hear that another of the ethics complaints against Palin have been found to have merit. Interesting, though.



Here's some of my favorite Palin postings of the past few days:



Shannyn Moore with "It's not Sarah's fault... just ask her."

When it comes to taking responsibility for her failures, Sarah Palin is completely unaccountable. Her finger is always pointed at the most convenient scapegoat. Last fall, I said she was George W. Bush with lipstick; nothing is ever her fault. With her resignation, she has set a new bar for blame.

From the Fairbanks Daily News-miner, "State's oil review stalls," about a few of Palin's unfinished projects.

Describing the project, which would cost $5 million and take two to three years to complete, Gov. Palin said, “no such system-wide risk assessment has ever been conducted on this complex system.”

Two years later, as Gov. Palin leaves office early, the risk assessment project is in shambles.

And, for the musical folk, a bit of theater:

Alaska Native view on Palin resignation... and what's next?

All right, so it's only a little bit of a view, but this Indian Country Today article does a pretty good summation of Native issues and Palin.

“To vacate her position early is pretty concerning. It leaves questions about her character – but maybe it will turn out to be a good thing for Alaska Natives.”

But when it comes to Parnell, the soon-to-be governor of Alaska - big ol' question mark. I'm not getting my hopes up that he'll be any better with Native issues, but I've certainly been surprised before.

While I was reading up on this, I spotted another nice little article from a New Mexico Independent blogger taking a vacation in Alaska. It was a pretty interesting view from an outsider looking in on Alaska. If nothing else, I appreciated her setting the record straight on at least one thing:

The people in Wasilla were nice. But as much as I tried, I could not find anyone else who talks all twangy like Gov. Palin. There is no Wasilla accent — that is all her, baby.

All right, all right - there was more substantial observations too. But that accent of hers bugs me. I'VE lived in Alaska all my life, and don't know anyone who talks like that!

I would love it if more media and outside commentators spent even a little time in Alaska before talking about us. From most people I've talked to from down south, and my own brief forays to the Lower 48, it IS a very different place.

Still not sure what to say about Palin

I've been back on dry land for a few days, trying to catch up on the Palin news after my own personal "media blackout." But to be honest, I still don't even know what to think about Palin quitting office.

First reaction, disbelief. Second, glee. Third, WTF?

Despite Palin's claim she "gave her reasons," uh... did you hear any? I mean, I heard a bunch of things thrown out there, but not really. Is she going to run in 2012? No idea (but sure hope not.) Is it because of some looming scandal that's going to break? Wouldn't surprise me.

She spent a lot of time blaming the media, but that's the wierdest part to me. I mean, I know it's been a strategy of hers since the beginning, despite her hypocritical and ironic trashing of Hillary Clinton about "whining" over the media. But quitting because the media is too mean?

Even more ironic, in her rambling statement, people are "naive" to think the media isn't hard on her. Isn't she even more naive to think that doesn't come with the territory? If you think running for Vice President of the United States isn't going to get a million people examining and commenting about every hair on your head, I'm sorry ma'am, YOU'RE very naive. I'm sure it's hard, and I'm sure I'd hate the same, but that's the reason I never ran for PUBLIC OFFICE.

In any case, I suppose I'm with the rest of the country in waiting for her reasons, and seeing what comes next.

And in case you haven't seen it, I thought Shannyn Moore's interview - and their dscussion - on Countdown was excellent. The whole Palin segment was pretty good, including the bit with the Vanity Fair writer. If you haven't seen THAT article, make sure to check it out too!

Palin Resigns, Writing Raven stuck on Ferry.

This special edition brought to you by Writing Ravens mom, as Writing Raven really is stuck on the ferry in Southeast Alaska. She got the shocking news before us and as usual she called and told us to turn on the tv. I managed to see the breaking news live on CNN, as Palin annnouced she will be stepping down as Governor at the end of this month. For more new on this announcement continue check the Alaska Blogs to the right. Writing Raven will update as soon as she gets to dry land.

Palin's letter to Obama over rural emergency

From Kyle Hopkins over at the ADN rural blog, The Village, on Palin's letter to Obama over rural flooding:

One other passage in Palin's letter caught my attention. On the third page, as she's making the state's case for why the feds should declare a disaster, it says:

"Western Alaska communities have the highest average heating fuel ($7/gallon) and gasoline prices ($6.75/gallon). Most rely on limited seasonal employment ... Residents were choosing between food and fuel even before the floods and several communities affected by the floods had requested state economic disaster declarations."

What it doesn't say is that the state denied those requests.

Emphasis mine. It is a bit frustrating to hear an argument using something long wanted - over a year ago! - by rural Alaska by Palin, when she so long ignored it. Palin came late to the game indeed, to the rural economic emergency, and still has nothing to show for what little she did get involved in. Except, of course, she brought some homemade cookies.

_

New look, and a few pieces of news

Experimenting with some improvements to the blog, including a bit of a change in the look. Let me know what you think!

And a few bits if you're looking:

The Immoral Minority has a post up about Palin's new rural advisor.

Mudflats has a post about the Alaskan Marie Antoinette of the moment, regarding rural energy.

And some of the post-mortem on Palin's AG pick, Wayne Anthony Ross, who was rejected in an historic vote for Alaska, the Juneau Empire reported on which of the Southeast, and Juneau, legislators that voted. This was quite telling (representative) of the mood of Alaska Native citizens about Ross:

Rep. Bill Thomas, R-Haines, and Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, both spoke out against Ross on the floor.

Both are Alaska Native, and Kookesh said the Native community could not support Ross "because of the past history and dealings with this gentleman."

All of the Native legislators voted against confirming Ross.

_

WAR is over, I can now enjoy my weekend

Palin enjoyed a triple smack-down Thursday, and I must say two of those was something of a relief.

One, in particular, was a great relief, and that of course, was the vote by the Alaska legislature to reject the confirmation of the Palin AG appointmee Wayne Anthony Ross. Anti-subsistence, anti-Native sovereignty, anti-gay Ross was shot down in a 35-23 vote. All democrats and many republicans voted against Ross, and many cited his strange statement recently that lawmakers shouldn't be worrying about "legal or illegal" when confirming Palin's senatorial appointment and just do it as a reason for their final vote.

Palin's reaction was fairly predictable about disappointment, and lawmakers doing it for "petty" reasons - like not wanting a guy who thinks gay people are degenerates and aligns with the governor no matter what being petty, I suppose. But she also called the nay voters hypocrites.

She cites the hypocrisy based off the of positive citation the legislature voted to give Ross on his 65th birthday, then voting him down now, as the hypocrisy.

Uh... two things here guv.

First - annointing someone as attorney general of the state and essentially giving him a birthday card are two pretty different things. I would HOPE there would be much more scrutination here.

Second - that's VERY pot calling the kettle black. Palin publicly praised Walt Monegan for his service and efforts just a few months before firing him.

The other two events also involve rejection of Palin appointees. The first is Palin's second (and fourth?) "appointment" to the open senate seat, Joe Nelson. He withdrew his name for the job, and was not too happy about it in his letter.

The final was the rejection of Palin's board of fisheries appointment Brent Johnson. I was gratified to see that it was not only the imbalance of the commercial fishing to sport fishing board members that made the legislators vote it down, but they also cited the lack of Alaska Native representation.

This lack has been an issue since Palin began, and I'm glad to see the legislative body recognizing it, and doing something about it.

Impressive, not impressive... WTF?!

Such was my reaction to the ongoing news today.

Impressive - Ken Salazar.
(from the Anchorage Daily News)

Not impressive - Palin rural advisor John Moller
(from the Fairbanks Daily News Miner)

WTF?! - Palin's latest action regarding her appointment craziness.
(from the ADN)

And I do mean crazy.

Mudflats and Celtic Diva do the best job of summing this up, I think, but let me sum up the Palin madness of late. This being just ONE of the issues she's seem to gone nutty over lately.

State Sen. Kim Elton took a job with the Obama administration, so it's up to Palin to appoint a new senator, which the democratic senators must confirm. The dems only submitted one name to her as a suggestion, a state representative who has spoken out against Palin's actions in the past.

Palin ignores this, and appoints a man who was registered as a republican until just a few weeks before. Naturally, the dems reject him. The Juneau dems submit FOUR names to Palin for consideration. Palin ignores this, and appoints a nice, unknown guy who has never run for public office. Naturally, the dems reject him.

The craziness took a whole new turn today, when Palin, who, by law, must appoint ONE person, "submits" three names to the dems. Just in this, she's not following the law. Need more crazy? TWO of the names are of people the dems have already rejected. The third person is yet another unknown, yet ANOTHER guy who wasn't even registered as a democrat until last month!

Mudflats and Celtic Diva do a better job of how many legal issues (not even taking in the ethical ones!) Palin caused with this latest, most bizarre act.

One of the more mind-numbing parts of this to me is why Palin is getting so frustrated for the dems not choosing her strange choices to represent Juneau, when she's never come up with a good reason for why she's not choosing any of the names the dems submitted. Why are her choices for a voice for Juneau more qualified than those the dems are submitting?

The people of Juneau voted, they voted democrat, and by law they need a democratic replacement. TWO of the names she's submitted weren't even democrats until March. With the end of the legislative session just days away, they have had no voice this session. WTF?

For the other two issues I was following today - or at least heard about - Salazar and Moller.

I removed the embedded video because it automatically started playing a commercial every time the blog was opened... annoying. So, here's the first of the two-part interview KTUU did of Salazar. For the second part, click here, or visit the KTUU site (they have some other coverage as well.)

Ken Salazar is the new Secretary for the Interior. He was up here to talk about oil (and this is the big reason Alaskans care about him right now) and offshore drilling, visiting Dillingham and Anchorage.

Although I'm SURE there's many thousands of Alaskans who will not agree with me here, it was gratifying to see how many Alaskans do. His visit to Dillingham was overwhelmed with local opposition to offshore drilling, and many, many Native people stood up to make sure he knew they opposed it.

So many times we hear the big voices with lots of money behind them, including many Native corporation voices, who are all for drilling and profit. I can understand these positions - jobs and revenue, building communities (though not as much as you'd think) and... well, more money.

But rarely is the local voice heard with much volume, and I'm very glad Salazar took the time to head to Dillingham. He made a point of saying the Dillingham trip was his desire and idea, to visit a rural location (you know, the people who will feel the NEGATIVE effects of oil accidents - because Anchorage sure won't) and hear what they had to say. I cringed to hear him say the ANWR bit (it's not going to happen,) NOT because I support drilling in ANWR, but because I knew at that moment about half of Alaska shut their ears to him. He had some intelligent things to say, very well thought out.

I've had some hope for this guy, as I was down in Colorado where he presented local Native tribes to open up the Democratic National Convention. Because, though I do have interest in the oil part of his job, like all Alaskans, he's also the Secretary over the Bureau of Indian Affairs. I was a little disappointed he didn't get to visit any Native sites or organizations up here, but I'm more glad he crammed Dillingham AND Anchorage into his "one city" visit. I just hope he'll come back to take a look at what we're doing with Native issues, health care, culture, social services, etc. up here soon.

For Moller... sigh.

This is the guy Palin appointed as her rural advisor, and I had some hope as he "describes himself as Alaskan Native" (I don't know what that means) and comes from rural Alaska.

I won't say much about his lackluster interview with the Fairbanks Daily News Miner on Sunday, because most of it was a lot of "I'm not really going to answer that question with anything but 'we'll see.'"

But his subsistence answer was strange to me:

Q: What about subsistence issues?
A: AFN (Alaska Federation of Natives) has had a position on subsistence. It doesn’t align with our constitution. If it’s going to be addressed, it needs to be addressed as a whole, the Legislature and the administration — that’s if it’s going to be addressed.

Uhh....

First... that's not an answer. Second, why are we bringing up the AFN stance? Natives don't all get a vote in the AFN, so it's not the end-all or be-all for Native people. It's an important organization for sure, but ask the average Joe Native what AFN's stance is on subsistence and 9 out of 10 wouldn't be able to tell you. Third... I don't even understand what the last part of that answer means!

So it's snowing on Easter, the volcano is still erupting, earthquakes are shaking my house, and Alaska politics are doing the impossible - getting even nuttier.

Is there a nice, boring state I can hide out in for awhile? Just until I'm sure we're not getting sucked into some wierd 8th dimension of a black hole? Anyone?

_

Another Palin appointment criticism

Palin is drawing criticism for yet another appointment. Her appointment of Brent Johnson to the state Board of Fisheries goes against the norm of what governors have been doing since Hickel:

From the Juneau Empire article:

John Blair of Sitka... said Johnson's appointment raises two important concerns: It would leave Interior Alaska without representation, and it does not correct the current lack of Alaska Native representation on the board.

The "Alaska Native representation" part has been a concern for quite a while.

Updates on politcs in Indian Country

If you're wondering how the stimulus is affecting tribal entities and other Native interests so far, Maia of Own the Sidewalk pointed out this excellent site a while back that I've now come to haunt:

Indian Country Works

It's put on by the National Congress of American Indians, and is excellent. I would love to say our own state has organized the information half as well...

And in the White House, Indian Country Today did an article about additional Native appointments being done, NOT just in the BIA, but other divisions of the government. They also honed in on EchoHawk, a bit of a controversial figure in Indian country, and Obama wants him for the BIA.

I still am wondering who's going to get that senior advisor position though. There has already been some decisions that I wish a Native senior advisor was in place for. I loved that this was a campaign promise in the first place, and since we've heard of various vettings for the position, I'm hoping it's more because he wants to do a careful job of this appointment than he's forgotten about it, or doesn't consider it as that important.

In the state Native politics arena, well.... all I can say is, "WAR! What is it good for?" and let you fill in the rest of that. And that WAR is Wayne Anthony Ross.

Palin's pick for AG is being heavily opposed by Native groups, including the Alaska Federation of Natives, and the house and senate hearings for him went on last week. If you're an Alaskan, I invite you to read some of the blogs I note below, and see if this is who you want as the top legal authority in this state. If not, e-mail, or call your legislators TODAY and let your voice be heard.

If you're not Alaskan, I invite you to read the blogs too. Look at the people Palin is trying to place in the top spots, and THEN try and visualize who she'd try and put in the top spots were she president.

Progressive Alaska (Phil did some excellent research, even pulling up old op-eds that WAR did)
Celtic Diva's Blue Oasis
The Immoral Minority
Mudflats
Bent Alaska
Meet Sarah!

Listen in to public testimony tomorrow

If you want to listen in, or participate, in the house hearing on Sarah Palin's attorney general pick, Wayne Anthony Ross, you can check out the Alaska Gavel to Gavel site. As well as audio and video to watch during, there is archived audio of Wednesday's senate hearing on Ross as well.

Mudflats, Progressive Alaska, Celtic Diva, The Immoral Minority, and Meet Sarah! all have coverage of the Wednesday hearing.

Boring election, exciting times for Native politics

So the municipal election was pretty yawn-worthy - and pretty much what everyone thought would happen did happen. Sullivan vs. Croft in a runoff. Anchorage-ites determined they don't want to spend a dime on anything except fire safety (and possibly public transit.) Even after attending a candidate forum, I could only eliminate candidates, not get excited about them. Would you believe I was more invested in the school board elections?

But there are some interesting bits of Native political news, big and small.

U.S. Supreme Court rules against Native Hawaiian's land claims

I don't think this shocked anyone, this is sort of history as usual, but some important notes to "bring it home."

1. I would love for Palin's AG pick to reassess his view that OUR Native land claims (ANCSA) had no benefit for Native or non-Native Alaskans. The struggle to get land claims settled in Hawaii and the Lower 48 is a good example of just what benefits both Alaskan parties continue to receive from this.

2. The supreme court ruling that the official apology by Hawaii for their actions had no standing in this case SHOULD open the doors for official apologies from many other entities. Without fear of legal ramifications, it could pry out some official apologies.

Native people in Alaskan political news

Joe Nelson

Palin's second pick for the open dem seat in Juneau, after her first pick got soundly rejected. From all accounts, Nelson's a good guy - who is not involved in the general democratic political scene. Meaning... no experience. I mean NO experience. He's a board member of Sealaska and Sealaska Heritage Institute - the Southeast Alaska Native regional for-profit corp and nonprofit corp, works at the U of A Southeast - as well as being a Tlingit (Alaska Native) man and husband of former representative Mary Nelson.

Board membership and a good job is one thing - but why is Palin selecting someone who has never voluntarily run for anything except board membership? If he really wanted to be in office... why hasn't he ever tried to do so? I'll lob my views from the side here - I think it's the people of Juneau, the ones he'll be representing, that should have the bigger voice on this. But I do find it all very strange.

Jeannie Mackie

An Athabascan (?) self-described stay-at-home-home mom married to former Senate Majority Leader Jerry Mackie. She was chosen to fill the school board vacancy and this is her first time running for anything. There is "less than a percentage point" separating her and Mia Costello as of midnight. I've heard it said that she part of why she wants to run is to help the Native student situation out in Anchorage, but can't find material/news bits about that either on her site or in the news.

James Labelle

Here's a guy I'm hoping will keep it up. The seat will go to Kathleen Plunkett, but Labelle got a pretty respectable 17-18% for a first run at something. Young guy, and son of Jim Labelle, a big ANCSA name. He comes from a pretty political family, not to mention a family I respect quite a bit, so I hope he'll step out and define himself really well, and keep at it.

Walt Monegan

His name was famous as the top cop who got the boot from Palin in the whole "Troopergate" issue, though it looks pretty definite he's not going to be mayor this time around. He's a guy who could really make a difference, and was trying to do just that, for rural Alaska and Native issues. He was already working on it when he got the axe. He's lived both rural and urban, is of mixed-Native heritage (Tlingit and I THINK Yup'ik... but don't quote me on the Yup'ik) and a decent, smart man. This was his first run for elected office, and I'm hoping he's really going to find his niche in the world soon. We could use him.

And in case you missed it...

The Alaska Federation of Natives,
Association of Village Council Presidents and
the Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood Grand Camp #70 (Glacier Valley - Juneau)

These are three Native organizations that have voted to oppose Sarah Palin's attorney general pick, Wayne Anthony Ross. Check out my previous posts for details. Suffice it to say that they are my organizational heroes right now. And please let me know if you see any other organizations - Native or non-Native - taking a stand on this issue!

In all - and I feel as if I'm repeating myself here - this can be a really exciting time for Alaska Native politics.

Another Native group opposes Palin's AG pick

Last week, two major Native groups, the Alaska Federation of Natives and the Association of Village Council Presidents, voted to oppose Sarah Palin's pick for attorney general, Wayne Athony Ross. (My previous entries: 1 and 2)

On Saturday, Camp #70 of the Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANB/ANS) held a special session to vote on the same issue, and came up with the same conclusion - to oppose the selection.

The ANB is one of the oldest (possibly THE oldest?) Alaska Native organization, founded in 1912, divided into "camps" aound the state. My hope, and it looks like Camp #70 out of Glacier Valley (Juneau) has the same hope, is that all the other camps around the state will follow suit.

Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood
Glacier Valley Camp #70

RESOLUTION NO. # 01-09

Title: Requests that Executive Committee Grand Camp oppose the confirmation of Wayne Anthony Ross to Attorney General for the State of Alaska.

WHEREAS, the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood, Glacier Valley Camp #70 in a special session took up the subject of the appointment of Wayne Anthony Ross by Governor Sarah Palin of the State of Alaska, and

WHEREAS, Camp 70 recognizes it is not in the best interest of Alaska Native people and Alaska to have Wayne Anthony Ross as Attorney General for the State of Alaska, and

WHEREAS, Camp 70 believes Wayne Anthony Ross does not and will not honor subsistence agreements already agreed to by Alaska Natives and the state, but will also actively work against enforcement of subsistence rights and will not fairly represent their interest in future disputes between Alaska Natives, Commercial, Commercial Sport, and Sport users, and

WHEREAS, Camp 70 believes Wayne Anthony Ross will not work towards ending the energy price disparity that exists between predominantly Native rural communities and urban non-Native communities that seem to enjoy comparatively low cost of energy, and

WHEREAS, Camp 70 believes these issues are of regional and statewide concern that can best be addressed by testimony and evidence being provided by Grand Camp on behalf of all Camps organized in favor of ending discrimination and diminishment of Native rights, and

WHEREAS, Camp 70 knows the Attorney General for the State of Alaska has tremendous impact over the day-to-day life of Alaska Natives and therefore must be an individual who understands Native rights and honors the State of Alaska’s obligation to treat all Alaskans fairly within the proper framework, jurisdiction and attitude, and

WHEREAS, Camp 70 believes Wayne Anthony Ross does not comprehend, understand and has demonstrated no interest in the special relationship between Alaska Natives, Tribal entities, the United States and the State of Alaska, and


NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Camp 70 requests that Grand Camp of Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood take all actions necessary to prevent the confirmation of Wayne Anthony Ross by taking actions including:

• Providing direct testimony against his appointment

• Calling all Local Camps to action and requesting written and oral testimony against his appointment

• Providing a copy of this Resolution to Senators Albert Kookesh and Bert Stedman for further distribution to all State Senators
  
• Providing a copy of this Resolution to Representatives Beth Kerttula, Cathy Munoz and any other Representative who is a member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood for further distribution to all State Representatives
  
• Authorizing the ANB and ANS Grand Presidents provide written and oral testimony at the Judiciary Committee hearings of each chamber on behalf of all members of the ANB and ANS

AFN letter says Palin's AG pick is "unfit"

Though I've been haunting the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Web site all week, I didn't find the letter AFN was drafting about its vote to oppose Sarah Palin's choice for attorney general, Wayne Anthony Ross. I was incredibly grateful to be e-mailed the full press release... until I was shocked.

The firm wording is totally called for, but there was one thing they objected to that I didn't even know.

Wayne Anthony Ross thinks that ANCSA was a waste?

Holy crap.

The 1971 "Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act" - commonly referred to as ANCSA - is too big an issue to tackle in a single post, but at it's core, it was intended to settle the land dispute of Native land claims in Alaska. It quite literally "settled" with Native people by transferring money to go to newly formed corporations in exchange for lost land, and determined what was still Native land and give title. Twelve original regional corporations were formed to handle this money and titles to land, as well as several hundred village corporations.

Yet Mr. Ross believes neither Native and non-Native Alaskans "haven't got much to show for the expenditure?"

Again. Holy crap.

First... well, you got LAND. That was kind of the point. And despite who thinks the settlement was fair or not, Native people also got the title to land (also the point) and a settlement for the land taken.

Second, I think it's painfully clear Ross doesn't know much about ANCSA. People - political entities - from all over the world come to study this landmark settlement of aboriginal land claims. Highly flawed as it is, it is a model in the world for both governments and aboriginal people.

Third, the letter mentions oil construction, and anyone who knows anything about ANCSA knows that oil was the catalyst in the first place! My guess is Native people would still be trying to get the issue heard in court (as many tribes down south are) if it were not for oil. The motivation for the whole settlement was oil. Period. No ANCSA, no oil money.

I don't understand the animosity Ross seems to hold for Native people or issues, but it seems to point more towards willful ignorance at this point than anything. I didn't know anything about this guy to begin with, and the more I learn, the more appalled I am at the choice.

The letter in full:

Anchorage, Alaska – April 2, 2009

On Tuesday, March 30, the Alaska Federation of Natives’ Legislative Committee unanimously adopted a motion to oppose the nomination of Wayne Anthony Ross to be Attorney General of Alaska. Here are some of the reasons behind that decision.

Subsistence: Mr. Ross has been most vocal in his opposition to a rural subsistence priority, in both state and federal law. However, subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering are the very core of Alaska Native life, as they have been for thousands of years. The vast majority of an estimated 125,000 Natives in Alaska practice subsistence regularly in order to put food on the family dinner table. Fish constitute 59% of the statewide rural subsistence diet, but subsistence takes only 2% of all the fish annually harvested in Alaska. The other 98% go to commercial, personal use, and sport users. Most subsistence activities occur on federal lands and waters, where Congress has unequivocally enacted a rural priority (in Title VIII of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1980).

If subsistence cannot be protected from the overwhelming competition of other users, most villages will not be able to feed themselves and will disappear. Such an enormous out-migration to Alaska’s cities would create a socio-economic crisis that would harm all Alaskans - especially urban residents. A rural priority is not only humane, but it is the intelligent thing to do in the interest of all Alaskans.

In his most recent gubernatorial bid, Mr. Ross stated that, if elected, he would hire “…a band of junkyard dog assistant attorney generals to challenge the federal law…” This is old news. The constitutionality of Title VIII of ANILCA has been challenged time and again in the federal courts. The courts have consistently upheld the rural subsistence priority on federal lands and waters in Alaska. That is settled law.

Tribal Sovereignty: Mr. Ross’s contempt for Native leaders and their self-governing institutions is obvious. He opposes the very existence of tribal governments, which have exercised their authority since time immemorial. Many millions of federal dollars come into this state to serve Alaska Natives simply because the federal government has a government-to-government relationship with tribes in Alaska. The State of Alaska receives some of these monies directly, while other funds go directly to tribal consortia, non-profit associations, and tribal governments, to assist them in the delivery of vital human services. If Mr. Ross does not know these facts, he is uninformed. If he doesn’t care, he is irresponsible.

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act: Mr. Ross has often opposed the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement and the 1988 congressional amendments thereto. In 1987, he wrote that ANCSA had been a waste of public resources by Congress. He added: “…We average Americans, native and non-native alike, haven’t got much to show for the expenditure…”

That statement is not true. By settling Natives’ claims to the land, Congress cleared the right-of-way for construction of the oil pipeline. ANCSA, more than any event since Statehood, created modern Alaska. Everything that we have here today was made possible by that 1971 real estate sale between Natives and the United States. If it had not happened, the pipeline, the oil and the resulting economic boom would have been held up for decades in the federal courts. Mr. Ross’s view disregards the abiding legal principle of aboriginal land title, which descends from colonial times. Mr. Ross does not understand ANCSA’s history and legal foundation any more than he recognizes the benefits that it provided to everyone in Alaska.

Mr. Ross also criticized the 1991 Amendments to ANCSA, arguing that they would promote Native authority in Alaska. The truth is the exact opposite. The 1991 amendments were opposed by most of Alaska’s tribes because they saw the statute as failing to give tribes sufficient powers. Mr. Ross does not know what actually happened; but he waves “tribal sovereignty” as a scare tactic. That is politics, not law.

Legal Competence: Mr. Ross was among several candidates for the Alaska Supreme Court seat vacated by Justice Bryner in 2007, and for the Court of Appeals seat vacated by Judge Stewart in 2008. He did not make the “short list” of qualified applicants sent to the Governor for either seat.

Nominations for the state judiciary are handled by the Alaska Judicial Council, which rates all candidates by means of a Bar Survey answered by attorneys. The Survey has to be anonymous in order to encourage frank, honest answers. However, in a letter recently published by the Alaska Bar Association, Mr. Ross strongly objected to the anonymity of the Bar Survey. The secret ballot is an axiom of modern democratic process. Mr. Ross’s objection to it in his own case demonstrates a certain disregard for democracy, itself.

Between now and Mr. Ross’s confirmation hearing on April 8, AFN will strongly urge its membership, and all concerned citizens in Alaska, to ask their own legislators to oppose his confirmation. By his extremism, his biases and his lack of competence, Wayne Anthony Ross is unfit to be the Attorney General of Alaska.

Excellent and accurate letter.

For some of Ross' other quotes regarding Native and rural issues:

An article sent from SMR, regarding his opposition to building hate-crime legislation, focusing on Native education, etc.

"Alaskans are divided because we have too many people pointing out the perceived problems, and we don't have enough people pointing out how well we work together."

On Native sovereignty and subsistence (from the ADN):

''The idea of Native sovereignty is a 19th-century principle, and we are going into the 21st century.''

''Rural preference is wrong and not necessary to ensure subsistence foods."

The crazy part of Ross' argument/defense of these types of comments is his assertion that people are jumping the gun, so to speak, on what his stance really is. That he "doesn't have positions" on these issues. Let me sum up the Tundra Drums interview with Ross by paraphrasing the answers he gives to every issue they ask him about:

"I never said anything bad, and if I did, it was because I was paid to."

He seems to think subsistence isn't even an issue anymore. Someone hasn't been paying attention.

His statements and battles from the past speak for themselves.

_

Native groups vote to oppose Palin's AG pick

From the ADN rural blog, The Village:
AFN votes to oppose Ross appointment

AFN is the Alaska Federation of Natives - Native representatives from all around the state.The Association of Village Council Presidents also voted to oppose the appointment - Western Alaska representatives (the area you may have heard about lately with fuel shortages.)

In case you need a catch up - Palin appointed Wayne Anthony Ross to the attorney general position. Anti-sovereignty, anti-subsistence (not to mention very anti-gay,) Ross seems to be the last straw in Palin's long series of decisions against strong Native issues.

Yet she's never one to disappoint me with her irony. In her statement about Ross:

Now more than ever, it is essential that Alaska’s sovereignty be protected...

Alaska sovereignty good. Native sovereignty - eh, not so much. It's almost like she can't help but mention those key words that make it so ironic. Native attorney Heather Kendall-Miller on Palin:

Heather Kendall-Miller, a Native American Rights Fund attorney in Anchorage, said Palin picked an attorney general that represents her values rather than the most qualified person. She said it reflects more on Palin than on Ross.

"She's shown no interest in trying to work with the Native community on important issues of subsistence or tribal sovereignty."

The Village post cites another 1997 ADN article about Alaskan Indian country. Ross' quote about Native sovereignty:

''It's a giant leap backwards into the 19th century,'' said Anchorage attorney Wayne Anthony Ross, who represented sport hunters in the 1989 lawsuit that overturned as unconstitutional the state's subsistence preference for rural residents. ''They want to see Alaska balkanized into little fiefdoms where these self-proclaimed Native leaders will reign supreme with help from the Great White Father.''

The Great White Father? Can we at least try and pretend we didn't learn everything we know about Native sovereignty from old John Wayne movies?

The argument from Ross now that all this is out is that those comments he made on anti-soereignty, anti-subsistence were from another time. Not to mention that the anti-subsistence stance is that is wasn't anti-subsistence, but "pro-constitutional." Furthermore, these issues aren't as big a deal as they were.

Uh...

Only if you've had your head in the sand for the last couple years.

Palin's asserts that the protests are from a "few" vocal critics who may have a "different opinion."

First - it's not just a "few." Two major Alaska Native groups have now voted to oppose her appointment (and more individuals have spoken out), and though I don't know the vote count, I'm willing to bet it wasn't close.

Second - subsistence and sovereignty issues are not idle opinions about things that barely touch these people's lives. It's not an opinion about whether or not your favorite American Idol guy is better. It's an entire way of life.

Her response reminded me of (non-Native) friends that, once we were talking politics, said, "You always bring up the Native issues. We aren't talking about Native issues."

It's only outside the comfort of my own home and family that it becomes "Native issues." Within, it's just life. It's the stuff that makes up every day, not some subsect of my life.

I'm glad that these Native groups and leaders are finally taking a stand on the increasingly anti-rural break the government is taking... not that it was ever really "pro-rural." As even the Native groups say, they don't think there's a real chance he won't get affirmed, but there's a point that comes when you have to say enough is enough.

WAR on Native community

From the Bristol Bay Times:

Palin declares ‘WAR on the Native community,’ rural leader says

More on this later, but this is regarding Palin's appointment of Wayne Anthony Ross as attorney general. From the article:

And in a 2002 debate during his failed run for governor, Ross said he would ‘hire a band of ‘junkyard dog’ assistant attorney generals to challenge the federal law that requires a subsistence preference, according to the Associated Press.

Palin says final farewell to the myth that she cares about Native people

I didn't know much about Palin's new attorney general, Wayne Anthony Ross, when it was announced today. There was certainly a huge reaction from... well, half the people I know, and pretty much all negative.

I was still in public school when he ran for governor, and don't remember anything about that run. "Corrupt Bastard" Kohring's attorney? Sounds about right for the current political decision-making process. I was prepared for the irony that she hires the guy who defended convicted felon/lawmaker Vic Kohring in his corruption scheme, her painting the "anti-corruption" picture and all.

But what else besides the somewhat expected? I spotted the "Who's Wayne Ross?" bit in the Anchorage Daily News, taking mostly from his run for governor. I was still in public school when he ran in '98 and don't remember him in it. I was queasy after reading it. Despite disagreeing with the great bulk of his positions (again, expected), there was this glaring... ALARMING bit:

Native sovereignty threatens to create separate classes of Alaskans and would further divide the state, Ross said. ''The idea of Native sovereignty is a 19th-century principle, and we are going into the 21st century.''

Ross, an urban hunter, wants to keep the state constitutional guarantee of equal access to fish and game. ''Rural preference is wrong and not necessary to ensure subsistence foods,'' he says.

If one more person tells me there's no way Palin can be against Native interests because her husband is part Native, I'm going to lose it again.

Palin picks an anti-sovereignty, anti-subsistence guy for her top lawyer?

Seriously, folks, if anyone could possibly still argue Palin cares at all for Native issues - no, not even that. I challenge anyone to argue she even cares about the Native VOTE at this point.

Speak up, Native leaders. We need to hear your voice on this.

Photo courtesy of Dennis Zaki, http://www.alaskareport.com/ - Ross on right.