Craig meeting attracts Sealaska bill critics

Most of the approximately 20 people speaking at Tuesday, Feb 22nd’s Craig community meeting on the Sealaska land-selection bill opposed parts of the measure.

Some worried about damage to subsistence or commercial fisheries. Others were concerned about the future of Forest Service timber harvests.

But most said the bill had improved since the last meeting in Craig, held last spring. And several speakers, including two Sealaska officials, backed the legislation as-is.

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski recently updated the measure. She says more changes may come out of this meeting and one held in Ketchikan the day before.

Here’s an edited sampling of what was said. The first speaker is bill supporter Donna Jackson of Craig.Related Link: Find links to other Sealaska land bill reports.