Postmark: Apr 13,95 2:58 PM Delivered: Apr 14,95 10:15 AM
Status: Previously read
Subject: Subsistence News-4/14/95
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Message:
*On March 30, 1994, Federal District Court Judge H. Russel Holland issued a decision in the “Katie John” lawsuit. If upheld by the 9th Circuit Court, as expected, it will have significant implications on federal jurisdiction of subsistence fisheries in Alaska.
*May 2, 1994, Interior Secty. Bruce Babbitt directed the Alaska Federal Subsistence Board (FSB) to outline steps and resources necessary for the FSB to assume management responsibility of subsistence fisheries in Alaska navigable waters. This action was intended to safeguard a rural subsistence priority required under the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA).
*The direction from the Secty was to explore the possibilities that the federal government would assume management of fisheries on all navigable waters of the state, and the possibility that the federal government would assume management of fisheries in navigable waters only within federal reservations.
*A draft version of the report has been submitted to U.S. Congressman Don Young, Alaska State Senator Georgianna Lincoln, and Alaska Fish and Game Commissioner Frank Rue.
Postmark: Apr 04,95 8:51 AM Delivered: Apr 07,95 10:00 AM
Status: Previously read
Subject: Subsistence News-4/7/95
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Message:
*The Federal Subsistence Board is scheduled to meet April 10-14, at the Anchorage Captain Cook Hotel. Draft agenda includes: status reports; action items; 1995-96 federal subsistence season and bag limit proposals; and customary & traditional use determinations for Kenai Peninsula, Upper Tanana, and proposed statewide process.
*A recent Alaska Senate Resources Committee meeting heard initial testimony from invited guests who supported a resolution to amend the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) to clarify the definition of “public lands” in the act. Once the committee opened the meeting to the public, testimony against the resolution was overwhelming. Opponents of the resolution argued that the state should amend its own constitution to comply with ANILCA.
*As we know, a Tlingit or Haida leader could not force his kinsmen to provide him with food or furs, but as his juniors they were expected to show him respect by sharing their catch with him.
*The leader, in turn, was expected to share with them his special knowledge of the land and its inhabitants, as well as his hunting magic believed to be superior to that of others.
Postmark: Mar 30,95 8:08 AM Delivered: Mar 31,95 9:57 AM
Status: Previously read
Subject: Subsistence News-3/31/95
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Message:
*U.S. District Court Judge H. Russel Holland has temporarily opened the Kanektok, Goodnews, and Arolik Rivers to the subsistence harvest of rainbow trout. Villages from southwestern Alaska have been barred from such activity since the 1970’s. The remote rivers are popular with tourist fly fishermen from around the world.
*Fred Clark has been named southeast subsistence advisory council coordinator. Fred has served as Chugach NF Native Liaison and archaeologist. He replaces Carol Jorgensen.
*According to anthropologist Sergi Kan, despite the importance of marine hunting and fishing in southeast Alaskan subsistence activities, the land was seen as a safer domain. Should a person drown and the body not be recovered and cremated, the spirit of the deceased could not be reincarnated and was lost forever.
*The Katie John lawsuit, pending review in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, involves a 79 year old Athabaskan womans claim to a Copper River summer fish camp called Batzulnetas (Bat-zull-neat-us), “Roasted Salmon Place”.
*Cedar, spruce, hemlock, birch, willow, and cottonwood are used for house logs, sheds, fish drying rakes, and many other uses.
