Native Movement Blog
Your Language Loves You
Written by Claire Helgeson
As the current Arts in Action fellow, one of my tasks is to complete a piece for Native Movement to use that is relevant to the work they do as an organization. For this blog post, I wanted to share about the inspiration behind the piece I am creating.
One of the reasons my language journey is sustained despite the difficulty and obstacles is the grounding, healing, and strength it brings me. It gives me firm ground to walk in this world, and is much of the inspiration for my art. It is like a mother figure that is life affirming and nurturing, as well as providing rules to live by .
Our mothers are the first voices we hear, they are our first teachers. Intergenerational language transmission depends so much on the linguistic link between mother and child. I have witnessed so many powerful women language warriors who are determined to give their children the most precious gift of language and knowledge of who they are, because they know this will sustain them for the rest of their lives. It inspires me everyday at work seeing strong women who are building a school because there wasn’t one fit to teach their children what they wanted them to know about themselves and where they come from.
Our languages are meant for us.
They come from previous generations who always were aware of us and our wellbeing. They come from lands that sustained us, and they are the sound of the love for the land our peoples always had. Our languages love us in turn by soothing and healing colonial breakages in our minds, surrounding us with a container for our lives, and reforming a bridge for the deepest level of connection to others.
The Arts in Action Fellowship with Native Movement is a 3-month part-time position which provides hands-on experience working with our team. The goal of this Fellowship is to give space to be creative in a collaborative environment, build capacity in our communities for Arts in Action, and support BIPOC, and queer artists/creatives who are interested in expanding their skills around Arts organizing.
2022 Post-Legislative Debrief
2021 was a big year for Native Movement, as our team welcomed many new staff members on board–including Rebecca Noblin, Policy Justice Lead, and David Clark, Gender Justice Policy Communications Specialist, who were hired on because of their passions for systems change work, as well as their knack for understanding how political and governmental decisions affect the outcomes and decisions of communities across Alaska. Rebecca and David both had a big year in building out relationships with partner organizations and supporting their grassroots efforts, in addition to helping shape the organization’s systems engagement work. They’re excited to share some highlights from the year below!
Gender Justice and Healing
Native Movement’s Gender Justice and Healing Program focused largely on three main areas of policy: 2S/LGBTQ+ rights, women’s rights/MMIWG2, and police accountability and reform.
While we engaged with our partners at Identity Alaska and Freedom For All Americans on H.R. 5, the national Equality Act - which unfortunately stalled in Congress and will likely have to be reintroduced - we were also engaging at the state level on HB 17: The Alaska Equality Act, which would have updated Alaska’s statutory Code of Civil Rights to include gender expression and sexual orientation. We also paid attention to HB 8: Banning Conversion Therapy, which would have outlawed the practice of conversion therapy for Alaskan health care providers, and held strategy conversations with our partners at The Trevor Project on how to best help advance those bills. Native Movement was also successful in helping Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates effectively hinder SB 140: Sex-designated School Sports Teams, which would have effectively banned transgender students from joining the appropriate team for sports; this bill was narrowly defeated on the Senate floor before the Legislature officially adjourned. We also followed and supported partner work, where appropriate, on SJR 4, which if passed would have allowed Alaskan voters to decide whether or not our constitutional right to privacy included the very personal and inalienable right to abortion - an essential reproductive right.
In the arena of missing and murdered indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people (MMIWG2), we worked with partners to ensure the passage of the Violence Against Women Act 2022. We were disappointed in the lack of support from Senator Sullivan but appreciated Senator Murkowski’s support. We participated in our MMIWG2 working group’s policy forum in February.
Native Movement is one of the prime sponsors of the Alaska Coalition for Justice (ACJ), a statewide grassroots group that advocates for better police accountability and reform throughout the state of Alaska, which first convened in the summer of 2020 following the murder of George Floyd by police. Through policy working group meetings at ACJ, we partnered with ACLU of Alaska, Alaska Black Caucus, and Fairbanks NAACP on spreading the word about the 8 Can’t Wait Legislative Package. This package - a series of Senate bills carried by Sen. Elvi Gray-Jackson, which later saw companion legislation introduced by Rep. Geran Tarr in the House - followed Campaign Zero’s 8 Can’t Wait policy recommendations, which aim to drastically improve police accountability and reduce instances of police violence. One bill out of the package - SB 7: Public Access to State Trooper Policies - successfully passed the Legislature.
Climate and Environmental Justice
In the 2022 legislative session, Native Movement worked with partners and allies on legislation that has implications for Native rights, climate and environmental justice, democracy, and economic justice. We are happy to report that we made some progress toward building the good, and for the most part we stopped the bad. Here’s how the bills we worked on fared in the 2022 Alaska legislative session.
The Good News
One big victory is that the legislature passed the Tribal Recognition bill (HB123/SB108), and it will now go to the Governor for his signature. This bill requires the State of Alaska to formally recognize all 229 federally-recognized Alaska Native Tribes. It does not grant or expand sovereignty, because sovereignty is inherent and pre-existing, but it codifies a government-to-government relationship between Tribes and the State. It is similar to and consistent with the ballot measure. If the Governor signs the bill or allows it to pass without signature, the ballot measure will be canceled under a provision of the Alaska Constitution that nullifies ballot measures if the Legislature passes a substantially similar law. If Governor Dunleavy vetoes the bill, the measure will remain on the ballot in November.
We also saw the passage of the Broadband bill (HB363). If signed into law by the Governor, this bill will allow Alaska to take advantage of federal infrastructure money coming to the state to improve broadband. The bill that will create a broadband office and advisory board to implement the build-out of broadband in Alaska. For all Alaskans, especially rural Alaskans, broadband can help every facet of life, especially during a pandemic, where we rely on remote connections to sustain ourselves without being at risk. Adequate accessible broadband improves health outcomes, increases educational opportunities, increases public safety, supports economic innovation and infrastructure, and improves civic engagement.
Another victory is stopping legislation that would have housed a green bank at AIDEA. The AIDEA Green Bank bill (HB170/SB123 aka Dunleavy’s greenwashed bank) would have created an entity within the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) that would finance energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy installations. This entity, or green bank, is a model for leveraging state funds with private sector capital. While we theoretically support the idea of a green bank, we are highly distrustful of AIDEA’s ability to properly manage such a fund. Thankfully, the AIDEA green bank did not pass, and supporters of the measure acknowledged at the end of the session that AIDEA is not the appropriate entity to house Alaska’s green bank. We will continue to work with our partners to ensure that Alaska gets the green bank it deserves, one that is transparent, accountable, and prioritizes community-driven projects in rural Alaska, which is not possible to do within AIDEA as it currently exists.
In addition to the AIDEA greenwashed bank, there is a whole slew of bad Dunleavy bills that we helped stop. These include:
Repeal of salmon stream protections (SB97) – This Dunleavy bill sought to give the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) the power to authorize commercial development on any state land regardless of its status—refuge or park or otherwise. It also sought to repeal the Recreational River statutes that protect six popular and anadromous Mat-Su rivers: the Little Susitna River, the Deshka River, the Talkeetna River, Lake Creek, Alexander Creek, and the Talachulitna River.
Directional drilling into Kachemak Bay (HB82) – This Dunleavy bill would have authorized subsurface natural gas drilling and development in Kachemak Bay, which is currently off-limits to oil and gas development.
Increased timber sales on state lands (HB98) – This Dunleavy bill would have increased DNR’s power to offer state forest land for timber harvest. The state canceled a large timber sale due to an appeal to a Forest Land Use Plan in 2017 - Forest land use plans, also known as FLUPs, are one of the final steps before a harvest moves forward. FLUPs provide guidelines like harvest methods and mitigation measures and serve as a last opportunity for public comment and agency consultation. HB 98 would have made FLUPs non-appealable or subject to reconsideration.
We also helped beat back the Dunleavy administration’s push to take over wetlands development permitting from the federal government. The proposed allocation of 4.9 million dollars in the Governor’s budget would initiate a process where the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) would assume “primacy” from the federal Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) over permitting development activities that impact wetlands protected under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This would have led to less Tribal consultation, less analysis and public participation, reduced ability to litigate bad wetlands decisions, and a high cost to the state. Thanks to the hard work of our partners and the public, we were able to reduce the budget allocation to 1 million dollars to fund a study, with no allocation for permanent employees.
The Not-So-Good News
Unfortunately, one of Dunleavy’s bad bills did get through–the Microreactors bill (HB299/SB177). This bill will encourage nuclear energy development in Alaska by eliminating the current statutory requirement that the legislature be involved in designating land for nuclear microreactors. The entire nuclear fuel chain is destructive, dirty, and dangerous. Nuclear energy, even in the form of microreactors, is a false solution to climate change, and it has no place in Alaska. We are disappointed this bill passed, but the good news is that nuclear microreactors remain very costly and there are none currently in existence. We will continue to fight false solutions like nuclear energy in Alaska.
Additionally, several bills we supported did not get passed in this session.
Our partners at Alaska Community Action on Toxics (ACAT) worked very hard to pass the PFAS Use and Remediation bill (HB171/SB121), and we were there to support this important work. HB 171 and SB 121 would have required greater protections for communities by preventing and addressing PFAS contamination, including setting of enforceable drinking water standards for a number of PFAS as well as requirements for polluters to pay for safe drinking water and blood tests for people affected by PFAS contamination. As our friends at ACAT reported, “In total, HB 171 and SB 121 had nine full hearings, which included hours of public and invited testimony. . . . We saw a lot of action and interest from legislators from all political leanings, and they worked together to come to an agreement by making amendments. We held rallies and press conferences, released scientific and community reports, and folks gained a greater understanding of PFAS as a public health crisis in Alaska. What’s more, our good trouble did not go unnoticed, as several articles were published in news sources across the state and on television.” While we were disappointed this important legislation did not pass in 2022, we will continue to work with ACAT to address PFAS pollution in Alaska.
We also did not see the passage of the AIDEA Reform bill (HB271) - HB 271 would have added public accountability reforms to the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority. It would have increased the terms of board members; required that the board pass legislative confirmation; increased public notice and testimony opportunities; and required additional reporting and accountability. We always knew that getting this bill passed would be a long-shot, but it provided a great opportunity to highlight how problematic AIDEA is.
Another bill that did not pass that we would have liked to see pass with amendments was the Renewable Portfolio Standards for Utilities bill (SB179/HB301). This legislation would have established a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) in Alaska’s Railbelt region, the interconnected power grid from Fairbanks to the Kenai Peninsula. The legislation proposed that electric utilities on the railbelt generate energy from renewable resources following a timeline that would get us to 80 percent renewables by 2040. It would have supported solar and wind energy to transition away from fossil fuels. Unfortunately, it also allowed for large hydropower projects such as the Susitna-Wantana Dam, which can have serious consequences for fish passage and other wildlife. We would like to see renewable portfolio standards that do not promote large-scale hydropower, and we will continue to work for a transition to energy that is truly renewable and just.
Finally, the Bill to limit governor’s appropriation power (HB177) had a mixed outcome. House Bill 177 sought to uphold the legislature’s Constitutional power of appropriation by limiting the authority granted to the governor in statute to amend the budget by receiving and expending additional money that becomes available after the budget has been passed by the legislature. This bill would have ensured that federal funds that come in through such federal legislation as the infrastructure bill would not go directly to the governor and instead go through the legislature for appropriation. Although this bill did not pass, through the budget process the legislature ensured that it retains the right to appropriate any such funds that come in before the 2023 legislative session.
Thank you to all our partners and supporters who worked alongside
us to build the good and stop the bad.
What will Native Movement’s policy team be up to over the summer? We will be working with our partners at the AKCES Table, Native People’s Action, and other organizations to ensure that our communities have as much information as possible about this fall’s primary and general elections, which will employ the ranked choice voting method that was approved by Alaskan voters during the 2020 general election. We will also be working with partners to dream up the proactive legislation we want to see in the next legislative session. Want to stay up-to-date on what we’re up to and how you can get involved? Be sure to sign up for our newsletter and follow us on social media!
Oil and Gas Companies Exit from Arctic Refuge Leases
Shared from Gwich’in Steering Committee Press Release • OurArcticRefuge.org
Fairbanks, AK – The Gwich’in Steering Committee applauds the exit of major oil and gas companies from their leases on sacred land in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Regenerate Alaska, owned by parent company 88 Energy, has requested a refund from the Bureau of Land Management of its leases acquired in the government-mandated sale in January 2021.
And this past weekend, the Anchorage Daily News reported that Chevron and Hilcorp quietly paid $10 million to Arctic Slope Regional Corp. to exit their legacy leases, which allowed for testing for oil and gas deposits in the Arctic Refuge in the 1980s (the results of which were never fully made public).
These exits clearly demonstrate that international companies recognize what we have known all along: drilling in the Arctic Refuge is not worth the economic risk and liability that results from development on sacred lands without the consent of Indigenous Peoples.
The Gwich’in are united against any development of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge. This land, which we call Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit (The Sacred Place where Life Begins), is vitally important to the Porcupine Caribou herd, which has sustained our communities for millennia. The Gwich’in Steering Committee has advocated for protection of this land since the 1980s, and in recent years, has been joined by international allies who have raised their voices to stand with us.
The results speak for themselves. A majority of Americans support protecting the Coastal Plain of the Arctic Refuge; twenty-nine global banks now have a policy to decline underwriting oil and gas projects in the Refuge; and fourteen international insurers have also made such commitments. The Biden administration temporarily halted lease activity due to concerns raised by a fast-tracked environmental review by the previous administration, and the United Nations has three times sounded alarms about the harm and human rights violations to the Gwich’in from proposed oil and gas development in the sacred Coastal Plain.
While we gladly welcome the news of these exits, it is a reminder of how much more work is necessary to protect this sacred land, our animals, and our people. Now, the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) – a public corporation of the State of Alaska – is the only remaining major holder of oil and gas leases in the Arctic Refuge.
“AIDEA must show respect to the Indigenous communities they have been overlooking in Alaska projects,” said Bernadette Demientieff, Executive Director of the Gwich’in Steering Committee. “We are spiritually and culturally connected to the land, water and animals. The Gwich’in people and our allies will never stop fighting to protect Iizhik Gwats’an Gwandaii Goodlit.”
PRIDE Month is Here!
Pride month honors the work towards liberation of LGBTQS2+ individuals, advocates, and allies in our communities in the US and across the world. Pride month is celebrated with parades, marches, concerts, parties, and much more with the Pride flag displayed throughout the month. In 1999, to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising on June 28, 1969 in Manhattan President Bill Clinton declared June “Gay & Lesbian Pride Month”.
Learn more about the revolutionary context and story of this month of celebration with Learning for Justice, Here.
Join us for our series of #PRIDE Events starting this week! More details of later events TBA:
Queer Masculinities - Virtual Mxns/Mens Gathering
THURSDAY JUN 2 AT 5:30 PM
Join Native Movement for our online Mens/Mxns Gathering June 2, 2022 • We welcome anyone self-identifying masculine, men, mxn, and/or queer folx to join the conversation! This gathering is proactive and shaped by those who participate- so please join in! Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87221873241
Third Annual Diversity in the OUTdoors!
JUN 6 AT 8 AM – JUN 13 AT 11:45 PM
Native Movement is proud to host Diversity in the OUTdoors! We celebrate PRIDE month by inviting LGBTQS2+ folx and allies to enjoy the OUTdoors. This week, submit your video or picture here to share your adventures! We work to close the adventure gap; the notion that there are certain barriers to the outdoors; whether racially, financially, or gender-based which applies both professionally and recreationally.
Call on EPA to finalize Permanent Protections for Bristol Bay
The EPA has released their proposed determination for permanent protections in Bristol Bay which kicks off a 30-day public comment period. Please take a moment to submit your comment and share with your community!
"For too long, Pebble has been an ever-present threat in Bristol Bay. Future generations should not have to live with the threat of mining that would devastate our cultures, communities, and sustainable economy. Native Movement joins the United Tribes of Bristol Bay in asking the EPA to use its Clean Water Act authority this year to ensure that Bristol Bay's pristine lands and waters are protected forever.
The majority of Alaskans support EPA action to end the threat of Pebble and want to see Bristol Bay protected for good. It is time for the EPA to expedite the 404(c) process and finalize protections this year. The 404(c) protections should prevent Pebble, and other potential large mining operations like it, from storing or disposing of mining waste at the headwaters of our fishery. The EPA’s action must protect several critical sub watersheds: the North Fork Koktuli, South Fork Koktuli and Upper Talarik Creek, all of which support the productivity of Bristol Bay's wild salmon and are under threat from Pebble and large-scale mines like it.
Introducing Arts in Action Fellow, Claire Helgeson!
My name is Claire Helgeson and I’m the 2022 Arts in Action fellow at Native Movement! I grew up in Seattle, Washington, and have lived on Áak’w Ḵwáan land, Juneau, for five years. My family originates from Scan- dinavia and the Celtic regions of Europe. I carry the Woosheektaan name Shkaayiltín. Alongside making art, I work with Tlingit and Haida’s Lingít language immerson preschool, Haa Yoo X̱ ’atángi Kúdi.
My passion for Indigenous language revitalization inspires much of my work. Being in the Lingít language community in Juneau has brought so much into my life. I am inspired by the powerful healing that our languages bring. I have encountered this healing globally in my travels to Ireland to learn my ancestral language, Gaeilge. I am excited to find ways to continue to express the link between my art and my love for language through this fellowship.
Ireland is my place of inspiration. I have been traveling there since 2018. Beginning
to learn the language has been an abundant journey for me. I love drawing connections between my experiences in the language there and here in Juneau. When I am there I gather new ideas and inspiration to bring back to my studio. I find balance as an artist by doing collaborative projects with people in Alaska and in Ireland. I am grateful for the full life I have!
Instagram: @claire.helg
https://www.clairehelgeson.art
The Arts in Action Fellowship with Native Movement is a 3-month part-time position which provides hands-on experience working with our team. The goal of this Fellowship is to give space to be creative in a collaborative environment, build capacity in our communities for Arts in Action, and support BIPOC, and queer artists/creatives who are interested in expanding their skills around Arts organizing.
STATEMENT ON THE LEAKED DRAFT SUPREME COURT DECISION
Native Movement is grieved and outraged by governmental moves to eliminate essential human rights regarding citizen’s decision making agency over our own individual bodies.
The draft Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is clearly reflected in a history of relentless attacks from governmental agencies and industries on Indigenous lands, waters, and bodies from the onset of colonization. The absence of free, prior, and informed consent perpetuates many forms of violence, from Indigenous Nations to individual persons, the undermining of sovereignty and self-determination has always been and continues to be about control, abuse of power, and profit.
The draft supreme court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is a direct attack on our ability to exercise inherent human rights including body sovereignty – the right to choose what happens to our own sacred being. Accessible, safe, and affordable reproductive health care, including abortion, must be available to everyone. Eliminating safe access to abortion is as much political as it is economic, keeping people with uteruses in lower wage earning jobs and ensuring future generations remain chained to the system of economic disenfranchisement. This Supreme Court decision removes the agency and autonomy of already strained and stressed people from marginalized communities, furthering inequities in a country that does not provide universal healthcare, living wages, and paid parental leave. The impacts of the Court’s decision will continue the perpetuation of systemic racism that disproportionately funnels people of color through state agencies and the prison industrial complex.
In Alaska the news of the draft Supreme Court decision is compounded by local state proposed legislation (SB140) to ban transgender youth from school sports, furthering once again the removal of body autonomy. This bill specifically aims to regulate the bodies of K-12 girls who wish to participate in sports. Policies that seek to control, erase, and eradicate trans people are entirely inhumane and utterly cruel. Trans, two-spirit, and gender expansive individuals are valuable contributing members of our communities, they have the right to childhoods free of trauma and erasure.
Native Movement sees both the Supreme Court draft decision and the Alaska State legislature’s proposed Anti-Trans Sport bill (SB140) as acts of great violence. Additionally, in the week of National Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (May 5) these acts are particularly heinous. These collective acts of violence further underscore the deep systemic inequities disproportionately impacting women, trans and non-binary relatives, and people of color. The crisis of MMIWG2S is the criminal result of the U.S. justice systems which control and dismember Indigenous Nations by intentionally failing to protect Indigenous women, girls, and two-spirit people.
Native Movement believes in the power of collective organizing – people power. We reclaim agency as we seek community protection and demand our voices be heard, rising together, voting, and mobilizing to fight for justice.
#voteprochoice #defendabortion #protectranskids #endtransphobia #MMIWG2S #abortionishumanrights #ourbodiesourrights
Nughelnik: Remembering Forward : Conference May 20-22
The Alaska Just Transition Collective is excited to announce the second Just Transition Summit on May 20th-22nd, 2022 on Dena'ina Land in Anchorage, Alaska.
Nughelnik: Remembering Forward defines and explores collective healing through the lens of a Just Transition. We look forward to sharing space, celebrating togetherness, and grounding ourselves in our vision for a just path forward once again.
Nughelnik is a Dena'ina phrase that means "It is remembered within us". Thank you to Joel Issak & Helen Dick for this translation.
Follow along at justtransitionak.org for more updates, announcements, and application details
What is State Primacy Over Wetland Permitting and Why Is It a Problem?
The Dunleavy Administration is making a push in its budget proposal this year to take over wetland development permitting from the federal government. The proposed allocation of 4.9 million dollars in the Governor’s budget before the legislature would initiate a process where the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) would assume “primacy” from the federal Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) over permitting development activities that impact wetlands protected under section 404 of the Clean Water Act. This week, the House Finance committee included money for state primacy in its budget negotiation package. State primacy would be very problematic for many reasons.
Less Tribal consultation. Well-functioning and intact wetlands are critical to the protection of salmon, especially in their early stages of life. Wetlands and peatlands also serve a climate-protecting function, a major force in earthly carbon sequestration. Alaska Native peoples have been lovingly tending Alaska’s wetlands since time immemorial. Currently, with federal primacy, the federal government must conduct government-to-government consultation with Alaska Native Tribes regarding wetland permit decisions to seek input and mitigate impacts to the land and water on which Tribal members rely. While DEC is maintaining that it does and will consult with Tribes, the experience of Tribes who have been repeatedly requesting consultation and having those requests rejected belies this contention.
Less analysis and public participation. When the federal government permits a project, it is legally required to elicit public participation and analyze the environmental, cultural, and subsistence impacts of projects under several federal laws, including the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). The NEPA analysis will no longer be required for wetlands if the state takes over permitting, which would remove an essential avenue for Tribal and public participation. It is not clear how NHPA and ANILCA analysis will occur under a state permitting regime.
Reduced ability to litigate bad decisions. Under state primacy, if the state acts unlawfully, citizens will be forced to litigate in state court, which has a loser pays rule. That means that in certain cases if a citizen brings a lawsuit in state court and loses on their claims, regardless how valid those claims are, the citizen will have to pay the attorneys’ fees of the other side. This rule significantly chills legitimate public interest litigation.
High cost to the state. Wetland permitting is expensive, and it’s not clear that the state has done its homework to determine how much wetland permitting would cost. Implementing this program will cost millions of dollars for a service the federal government is currently performing without cost to Alaska.
Easier to push through unpopular development. The Dunleavy Administration, DEC, and mine promoters want state primacy over wetland permitting to streamline the industrialization of areas like the Bristol Bay watershed. Unable to prevail in the court of public opinion or with the Federal EPA, the Dunleavy Administration is now attempting an end-run around both to permit the Pebble Mine.
If you’re concerned about state primacy over Alaska’s wetlands, you can contact the House Finance Committee, Senate Finance Committee, and your own senators and representatives. Let them know that state primacy is too costly from a financial perspective and that cutting out Tribal governments and chilling public participation in these critical decisions is unacceptable.
Nuclear Energy is a False Solution
Too Dirty. Too Dangerous. Too Expensive. Tell your legislators to vote NO on SB 177/HB 299, the micro nuclear reactors bill that would make it easier to bring costly, dangerous nuclear energy to Alaska.
On Monday, March 21, at 3 pm the Senate Resources Committee is holding a hearing on SB 177. This bill, which was introduced by Governor Dunleavy, encourages nuclear energy development in Alaska by eliminating the current statutory requirement that the legislature be involved in designating land for nuclear energy sites.
The entire nuclear fuel chain is dirty.
Uranium mining produces radioactive waste that causes cancer and other diseases, and a disproportionate number of mines in the US have been on Indigenous lands.
Uranium enrichment plants have a long history of leaks and spills and are located predominantly in Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) communities.
Nuclear energy is dangerous, with spills and leaks of radioactive materials causing significant contamination and pollution.
Nuclear energy is more expensive than many renewables, and development is slow.
Hazardous nuclear waste must be stored in perpetuity, burdening future generations with the risk and responsibility of storing it.
Take Action >>> Use the Form below to send a letter to your Representatives
Herring Protectors Respond to Board of Fish Process
Herring Protectors are urging the Board of Fish to vote to reduce the harm being perpetrated against people and ecosystems that depend on herring.
Herring Protectors are urging the Board of Fish to vote to reduce the harm being perpetrated against people and ecosystems that depend on herring. But the State must recognize that it can’t solve the fundamental conflict at the heart of the Sac-Roe industry, except by returning control to the rightful stewards of these fish. Until then, there will be conflict, and great risk of continued herring collapse. It’s time to return to an approach with 10,000 years of proven history. Return stewardship of the herring to the people of Sheet’ka Kwaan.
Sitka Tribe of Alaska (STA) has proposed a few modest changes to this management regime: sound proposals that would result in more herring being left in Sitka Sound where they belong, to feed our communities and power our marine ecosystems. These proposals would especially protect the mature, females that guide reliable spawning behavior and keep herring coming back to Sitka year after year. But even if the Board adopts all of STA’s proposals, it won’t resolve the fundamental problem with this fishery, which is that culturally, ecologically, economically significant forage fish simply shouldn’t be ground into fish meal.
On the other hand, the Sac-Roe/fishmeal industry has submitted several proposals attempting to limit subsistence access, while aggressively trying to remove the guardrails to their own industry at the expense of subsistence users and the larger ecosystem that our communities and other commercial fisheries rely on. We urge the Board of Fish to stand with the people of Sheet’ka Kwaan (Sitka) and support the on-the-ground community members who rely on the herring.
The Herring Protectors invite members of the Anchorage Press to join us at the Egan Convention Center at 3pm on Saturday March 12th for a response to the Board’s votes and deliberations on Herring Proposals.
It’s Time to Build Alaska’s Prosperous Future
“ Once every Alaskan has the ability to engage in the global digital economy, our state will flourish”
Op-Ed Published ADN, March 4, 2022 Written by Ruth Łchav’aya K’isen Miller, the Climate Justice Director for Native Movement, raised in Dgheyay Kaq’ (Anchorage). Margi Dashevsky, the Regenerative Economies Coordinator for the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition, raised in Tanan (Fairbanks).
Alaska and the world are changing rapidly. In the face of COVID, climate change and economic uncertainty it’s time to do what Alaskans do best: come together and support our neighbors. Alaskans are harnessing local ingenuity for economic, ecological and social well-being while providing stable, quality livelihoods. Alaska Native communities are especially well-poised to inform new ways with old wisdoms, leading with the cultural wealth and knowledge of millennia of relationship with Alaska’s lands and waters. The following real-life innovations, already underway, cross diverse economic sectors and regions of our state in renewable energy, food production, ecotourism, broadband and workforce development — visit AKNextEconomy.com to read more and connect.
Energy
Clean and affordable energy is good for us, our pocketbooks and the planet. “Alaska’s natural, renewable energy resource endowment is three times larger than the entire United States energy consumption. The benefits of accelerating transition to develop those natural resources include jobs, lower energy prices, higher energy security,” said Mark Foster, MAFA Energy Consulting.
Food
The Alaska Food Hub provides an easy place to buy local food, “like a virtual farmer’s market,” according to Robbi Mixon, also with the Alaska Food Policy Council. Plus, shopping locally is a great way to boost our economy: For every dollar spent at Alaskan-owned businesses, three times more value is retained in Alaska.
Alaska Native kelp farmers are showing how an emerging ocean kelp farming industry harvests social and ecological returns on investment. A recent proposal projects that kelp can become a $100 million industry per year. “Kelp is a super food that is excellent for our bodies and has significant benefits for the planet,” said Skye Steritz, a kelp farmer at Noble Ocean Farms.
Tourism
The COVID-19 pandemic highlights the importance of a homegrown tourism industry that caters to independent travelers, while keeping profits in Alaska. “Regenerative tourism is a holistic approach to tourism. It proactively works to improve ecosystems, elevate local economies and promote meaningful and responsible visitor experiences” said Mary Goddard, who works as a Regional Catalyst at Allen Marine.
Broadband internet
The Akiak Native Community is now providing high-speed internet to their village and is helping other tribes do the same. Even just a 1% increase in Alaskan broadband could mean $67.7 million for our economy and 1,890 new jobs. “Once every Alaskan has the ability to engage in the global digital economy, our state will flourish,” said Brittany Woods-Orrisson, with Alaska Public Interest Research Group and Native Movement.
Job training
Workforce development can smooth the shift away from resource extraction and ensure that Alaskans have good-paying jobs. Apprenticeships offer an avenue for worker education for “those journeymen to be able to build the necessary jobs in the energy sectors,” said Ryan Andrew, Assistant Business Manager at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 1547.
Climate change threatens our economy with floods, landslides, fires, coastal erosion, infrastructure failure and declining fisheries. Alaska’s dependence on resource extraction and deference to large corporate interests may have brought a rapid influx of wealth to some over the past 50 years, but did so at the expense of economic diversity and stability, not to mention the health of Alaska’s lands, waters, and communities. These industries constrain our state. As we reduce greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of our economy, we make space to create a sustainable and flourishing economy.
These are just some of the ways Alaskans already lead the way toward a prosperous Alaskan economy that will enable future generations to enjoy the ways of life we cherish. We are ready to build an economy that is sustainable, equitable and thriving for all Alaskans.
What is Just Transition?
Just Transition is a framework for a fair shift to an economy that is ecologically sustainable, equitable and just for all Alaskans. After centuries of global plunder, the profit-driven, growth-dependent, industrial economy is severely undermining the life support systems of the planet. The current economy based on extracting from a finite system faster than the capacity of the system to regenerate will eventually come to an end—either through collapse or through our intentional re-organization. >>Read more from the Alaska Just Transition Collective << and visit www.AKNextEconomy.com
Protect 2S/LGBTQ Alaskan Students
Our legislators should be PROTECTING 2S/LGBTQ Alaskan students, NOT causing them further harm
The Alaska Senate Education Committee will have its first hearing of the year on Senate Bill 140 — an anti-trans bill that would prevent a trans student being able to pick a sports team that matches their gender.
SB 140 is yet another bill in a nationwide anti-trans state legislation campaign that has negatively impacted the mental health of 85% of 2S/LGBTQ youth across the country. Our legislators should be PROTECTING 2S/LGBTQ Alaskan students, NOT causing them further harm. // TO TESTIFY: Call the Juneau Legislative Information Office at 907-465-4648 at least five minutes prior to the start of the committee hearing.
SB 140 is a blatantly discriminatory bill designed to exclude transgender girls and deny them the ability to participate fully in sports and school community. This bill will profoundly violate all students’ privacy by forcing educators and coaches to identify and separate transgender youth from their peers.
This bill is part of a coordinated attack on transgender student athletes across the country. Like so- called “bathroom bills,” these policies aim to erase and exclude trans people from sports, school communities, and all aspects of public life.
TESTIFY: Thursday, March 3rd at 10:00am in OPPOSITION to SB 140
How to Testify at the Hearing:
- Call five minutes before the hearing. Calling from:
- Anchorage (907)-563-9085
- Juneau (907)-586-9085
- Fairbanks (844)-586-9085
- All other locations in Alaska (844)-586-9085
- Ask to be redirected to the Senate Education Committee meeting to provide public
testimony on SB 140
- Stay on the line, when it is time to testify they will call on you and unmute your line
- Be sure to state your name, where you live, and that you oppose SB 140
Unable to call in to testify? No problem-- you can email or call committee members any time!
Senate Education Committee (where the bill is now) - Senate.Education@akleg.gov
● Chair Roger Holland (R - Anchorage, N), 907-465-4843, Senator.Roger.Holland@akleg.gov
● Vice Chair Gary Stevens (R - Homer, P) 907-465-4925, Senator.Gary.Stevens@akleg.gov
● Member Shelley Hughes (R - Palmer, F) 907-465-3743, Senator.Shelley.Hughes@akleg.gov
● Member Peter Micchiche (R - Soldotna, O) 907-465-2828, Senator.Peter.Micciche@akleg.gov
● Member Tom Begich (D - Anchorage, J) 907-465-3704, Senator.Tom.Begich@akleg.gov
Testimony Tips
● State your name
● State the community you live in (your district or zipcode is fine, don’t share your address)
● Thank the committee for their time
● State that you oppose SB 140
● Give a few sentences about why you oppose SB 140
● Restate opposition to SB 140
SB 140 Talking Points
● Discriminatory bills like SB 140/HB 230* heighten trans students’ risk of being bullied and attacked, which increases their risk of mental health issues and suicide.
● Denying trans students the opportunity to participate strips them of the many benefits of participating in sports, including better self-esteem, increased sense of belonging, and improved grades.
● This bill would violate basic privacy rights by requiring educators and coaches to police whether a student is trans or not, which the school is not legally or ethically authorized to do under medical privacy laws, professionalism standards, and non-discrimination laws.
● This bill imposes a narrow and unscientific definition of “sex” that invalidates gender identity – this is contrary to the growing consensus of medical and mental health professionals, not to mention federal law.
● There is simply no data to support fairness concerns when trans athletes participate, especially since less than 0.6% of people identify as transgender and not all want to play sports.
● These bill targets students of color – who are already routinely policed, shamed, and dehumanized in school settings – and will face outsized consequences, as administrators and other athletes perpetuate racist and sexist stereotypes about femininity and gender presentation.
● This bill will lead to the stigmatization and isolation of trans students, undermining their health, safety, and social and emotional development.
There are real issues with gender parity in sports, like unequal funding, resources, and pay. Promoting baseless fears about trans athletes does nothing to address these pressing problems. SB 140 does not solve any real issues, and instead actively stigmatizes, isolates, and denies basic participation in school activities to trans students. To protect students’ privacy and push back against discrimination, lawmakers must oppose this bill: let trans students be part of the team.
#AKLeg This Week
Each of the following sessions this week
will be livestreamed on www.akleg.gov
On Tuesday March 1 there are two hearings:
10:15 in House Energy - No Public Comment - House Bill 299 was introduced by Governor Dunleavy and encourages nuclear energy development in Alaska by eliminating the current statutory requirement that the legislature be involved in designating land for nuclear energy sites.
3:00 in House Social Service committee - Public Testimony Opportunity - Critical state services and programs are at risk with the proposed split of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. The split will only add to the financial cost of social service. Take Action Here with AKPIRG.
On Thursday March 3 there are two hearings:
10:00 AM in the Alaska Senate Education Committee - First hearing of the year on Senate Bill 140 — an anti-trans bill that would prevent a trans student being able to pick a sports team that matches their gender. SB 140 is yet another bill in a nationwide anti-trans state legislation campaign that has negatively impacted the mental health of 85% of 2S/LGBTQ youth across the country. Our legislators should be PROTECTING 2S/LGBTQ Alaskan students, NOT causing them further harm // TO TESTIFY: Call the Juneau Legislative Information Office at 907-465-4648 at least five minutes prior to the start of the committee hearing. Review other #AKLeg testifying tips here: http://akleg.gov/docs/pdf/AKLEG_Testimony_Instructions.pdf
3:30 in Senate State Affairs - Invited Testimony Only - HB 123 The Tribal Recognition Bill is getting a hearing with invited testimony only. Take Action to support this bill with Native Peoples Action.
3:30 in Senate State Affairs - Public Testimony Opportunity - SB 167/HB 286 are companion bills, introduced by Gov. Dunleavy, that will make it harder to vote in Alaska, putting our democracy at risk. This bill removes automatic voter registration, prevents voters from using an alternate ID to vote, and prevents family members and friends from helping each other vote. Learn more and take action with the Alaska Center.
AIDEA Reform Bill Introduced in Alaska Legislature
Written by Rebecca Noblin, Native Movement Policy Justice Lead
What is AIDEA and why does it need reform?
The Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) is a public corporation of the State of Alaska, created in 1967 by the Alaska Legislature “to increase job opportunities and otherwise to encourage the economic growth of the state, including the development of its natural resources, through the establishment and expansion of manufacturing, industrial, energy, export, small business, and business enterprises.” AIDEA’s structure as a separate, though public, corporation of the State of Alaska allows it to operate through its governor-appointed board, which interprets its own establishing legislation to require very little public or legislative oversight of its decisions.
AIDEA reported $1.4 billion in assets in both 2020 and 2021. AIDEA has its hands in multiple projects across Alaska that support the extractive economy, including the Ambler Access Road, the West Susitna Access Road, and Arctic Refuge oil and gas leases. AIDEA is also currently suing the federal government to protect its interest in the Arctic Refuge leases.
AIDEA lacks transparency and public involvement. It also lacks adequate legislative oversight. Moreover, its board members are appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the governor, making it susceptible to political whims. Among AIDEA’s transparency issues is its board’s penchant for holding meetings in executive session, which are not public under Alaska’s Open Meetings Act. In 2020 the AIDEA board spent 68 percent of its meeting time in executive sessions. This included meetings where AIDEA made decisions to expend substantial amounts of public money. AIDEA also does not give sufficient public notice for its meetings, often giving notice five days or fewer before important decisions, such as spending $35 million on the Ambler Access Road. AIDEA also insists that it does not need legislative approval for these major expenditures of public dollars.
What does the AIDEA Reform Bill do?
On January 18, Representative Andy Josephson introduced House Bill 271, a bill designed to address some of the problems with how AIDEA operates. HB 271 would do a number of things, including:
Requiring legislative confirmation of the five public members of the board and the Director;
Requiring the public members of the board to come from different sectors, including a Tribal government representative, a member with experience in socially responsible investing, and a member with experience in renewable energy project development;
Instituting staggered 4-year terms rather than allowing the board to serve “at the pleasure of the governor”;
Increasing scrutiny and stakeholder involvement in all AIDEA projects over $10 million;
Increasing the dividend AIDEA pays to the state from 25 to 50 percent to no less than 50 percent;
Requiring 30 days notice for change of regulations and requiring AIDEA to publish a written justification for any change to a regulation;
Requiring AIDEA allow all interested members of the public at least two minutes to comment on any decision and requiring production of a publicly available response to public comments before voting on any action;
Requiring the release of more information publicly; and
Requiring local consent for projects over $10 million and requiring the creation of Regional Resource Advisory Councils.
While this bill would represent a major improvement in how AIDEA operates, there’s more that needs to be done. We will be pushing legislators to amend the bill to require more public notice of meetings, longer comment periods, and restrictions on meeting in executive session, among other things.
How can Alaskans get involved?
Sign up to get updates on AIDEA Reform legislation and AIDEA board meetings at www.BadAIDEA.org! When legislative hearings are scheduled on the AIDEA Reform legislation, you can call in to testify in favor of the legislation and strengthening amendments. And you can also call into AIDEA board meetings to make your voice heard.
The Trickster Times
In response to AFN’s Celebration this week, “ANCSA at 50: Empowering our Future”, we are sharing a NEW newspaper that chooses radical re-imagination of Indigenous sovereignty and #LANDBACK for our future in Alaska. Check out the whole paper at TricksterTimes.com and tell us, what is YOUR ideal headline in 50 years?
This is a project of Native Movement & Always Indigenous Media
Arts, Action and Community in Utqiagvik
Aloha!
The three main objectives of my Arts In Action Fellowship with Native Movement are to: 1) Learn a new skill, 2) Host a Community Art Build, and 3) Create an Art Piece. Since my last Blog Post, I held my Community Art Build and learned about screenprinting!
COMMUNITY ART BUILD
For my Art Build, I hosted an Art Night in my home community of Utqiagvik with the help of my sister Kawahine, Climate Justice Organizer; this event took place on Friday, October 29.
The goal of this Art Build was to provide a safe space for community members to express themselves through Art and to engage on topics/concerns regarding our northern communities.
Unexpectedly, the majority of the group were young Native men. People of all ages participated which allowed for great conversation, engagement and an opportunity to connect from different life experiences and perspectives.
I led the discussion by asking each participant what they envision for our communities and Kawahine asked what happiness meant to them which translated beautifully onto the canvases that they all got to bring home.
SCREENPRINTING
After several failed attempts, I eventually created my first successful screen print! My supervisor Jessi, Arts In Action Coordinator, walked me through the basics of Screenprinting which I've come to really appreciate as an artform. I learned very quickly that this process requires patience and careful attention. I created a (not-so-simple) design to try my hand at screenprinting.
My print portrays Arctic Alaskan tundra flowers: fireweed, cottonflower, wildflower and aqpik. Eventually, I got the hang of it and I felt so proud of myself and my cute little cloth print!
The past several weeks have been full of new experiences, reflection, and personal growth. I continue to learn more not only when it comes to arts organizing, but also learning more about myself as an artist. More to come, quyanaqpak!
- Kawai
The Arts in Action Fellowship with Native Movement is a 3-month part-time position which provides hands-on experience working with our team. The goal of this Fellowship is to give space to be creative in a collaborative environment, build capacity in our communities for Arts in Action, and support BIPOC, and queer artists/creatives who are interested in expanding their skills around Arts organizing.
November 30th • Tending to the Light
Learn how to support Native Movement’s work and meet our incredible, fiscally sponsored partners: Tanan Ch’at’oh Gwich’in Language School, the Herring Protectors, Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition, and the Poor People's Campaign. Register Here >>>
Individually and collectively, we are tending to the light in our lives: building community and people power. We are proud to be funded by and for our community. Every person, regardless of the amount you are able to contribute to this grassroots fundraising drive, is a meaningful part of this movement. We are grateful to be building community with you.
Native Movement is proud to be a part of a powerful movement led by Indigenous, Black, Queer, womxn, and gender non-binary communities rising up to interrupt destruction and restore balance. With your help, we continue our critical work to ensure Indigenous Peoples rights and the rights of Mother Earth with grassroots funding to advance a just and equitable community for ALL.
Introducing Kawai Danner, Native Movement Arts + Action Fellow
My name is Kawai Danner and I am the Arts In Action Fellow! I’m so excited for this amazing opportunity with Native Movement and I can’t wait to share my journey with you along the way. I am writing from Utqiagvik, Alaska, my beautiful hometown. My native roots and upbringing have inspired the work I do today and the passion I have for healing & wellness.
It took me a long time to come out of my shell when it comes to art. I’ve always loved writing and journaling which was my way of expressing emotions and spilling my thoughts onto a page. I know how it feels to create a piece of art, unsure of others’ reaction or how it’s portrayed. Eventually, with the motivation from my family and the hopes of reaching out to and uplifting people, I embraced and invested in my creative side. My art process begins with a feeling which may arise from within myself or in response to my environment; this feeling translates to an idea which then makes its way onto the canvas. I sketch by hand and finalize the art piece digitally. I feel most creative when I’m meditating or when I’m simply taking time for myself. Art is powerful and can be used to inspire meaningful change.
Through this Fellowship, I hope to gain new skills and tactics in using art as the driving force in activism. My goal is to become equipped with the knowledge and tools necessary to be able to run community art builds and to create spaces for native artists, activists, and community members to connect and have meaningful discussions. I’ll be learning new skills like screen-printing, stencils, messaging, the inner workings of arts organizing and much more!
Thank you | Mahalo nui loa | Quyanaqpak
-Kawai
Artist Bio:
Kawai Danner (she/her) is from the coastal village of Utqiaġvik, Alaska and the island of Kauaʻi, Hawaiʻi; she is Iñupiaq, Native Hawaiian, and German. As a Portland State University student, she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science: Public Service and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance. Through her work, Kawai strives to be a part of real, positive change that empowers indigenous communities while paving the way to a more sustainable future. Through her art, Kawai advocates for freedom of self-expression and aims to shed light on issues affecting native people, native land, and native rights. She is deeply passionate about mental health awareness, youth & community wellness, and cultural revitalization.
Instagram: @kawai.babyy
Buy Prints: https://ko-fi.com/kawaibaby
The Arts in Action Fellowship with Native Movement is a 3-month part-time position which provides hands-on experience working with our team. The goal of this Fellowship is to give space to be creative in a collaborative environment, build capacity in our communities for Arts in Action, and support BIPOC, and queer artists/creatives who are interested in expanding their skills around Arts organizing.
Public Testimony to Protect the Arctic Refuge
There's still time to give testimony at the BLM public hearings for the Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on oil and gas development on the coastal planes of the Arctic Refuge. Today (Sep 15th) at 6PM and tomorrow at 1PM and 6PM.
Public Testimony by Nauri Toler
Native Movement Environmental Justice Community Organizer
Sept 14, 2021
I am Iñupiaq from Nuiqsut and Utqiagvik, I currently live in Eagle River on the homelands of the Dena’ina. Thank you for hosting these meetings. I'm glad to have an opportunity to look further into the impacts of development of oil and gas on the coastal plain.
First I want to highlight the difference between indigenous voices before and against this project. While it's not 100% true, my experience is that those that speak for the development stand to gain financially, and I'm not saying anything bad about that. But in contrast we who speak against development have a lot to lose. It's not measured in dollar amounts, but in culture, tradition, mental health etc. We speak about protecting our land for children and future generations, and those of the people we want to protect. Extractive development may provide a short-term financial gain, but with many immeasurable negative consequences. Our people have had so much taken from us within the last few generations, I feel it is owed to us to evaluate these kinds of projects with our health and wellness being the priority.
Consider things like violence against indigenous women and children increase with extracted development projects nearby. Consider impacts to mental health, sense of identity and how that may worsen with already significant problems with suicides within our communities, especially with our youth. Consider the cumulative impacts of our health and subsistence, our communities rely on subsistence not just for food but to practice together our traditions, to take pride in our way of life. This is important in this sensitive area where caribou calving happens.
Development not only creates reliance on financial income that will only last decades, it threatens subsistence practices we have relied on since time immemorial. It impacts our part of the world more so than other areas. I'm asking that our people, health, culture and traditions are given a priority after historically being an afterthought or considered a barrier.
We deserve justice and acknowledgment at some point. I am asking the BLM to lead in this an example of the powerful entity to be an ally to Indigenous people of Alaska and take our well-being as not just a consideration, but a priority in this evaluation. Thank you.