One of the Department of Agriculture’s top officials travels through Southeast Alaska and the nation’s largest national forest over the next week. U.S. Agriculture Department Undersecretary for Natural Resources and Environment Harris Sherman arrives in Juneau on Saturday and then heads to Sitka and Ketchikan over the next several days. The culmination of the trip…
Alaska Native Corporations
Murkowski, Young post new Sealaska bills
Senator Lisa Murkowski and Congressman Don Young have introduced new versions of their Sealaska land-transfer bills. Murkowski’s measure was filed Tuesday, and Young’s was released Wednesday.Related Link: Hear the report and find links to bill information.
Sacred sites changed in Sealaska bill
The latest version of the Sealaska land-selection bill changes how sacred sites will be chosen. It also limits their size and how they can be used. But the change concerns some tribal leaders.Related Link: Find links to more information and reports.
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…
Revised Sealaska bill panned and praised
Few people seem all that excited about the latest version of the Sealaska lands bill. Some oppose its terms, while others want to be done with changes and just get it passed. Meanwhile, a number of critics are pushing for more than the two town hall meetings on the bill are happening this week.Related Link:…
Sealaska Lands Bill Part 6 – Congressional Future
Every new session of Congress is a clean slate. Bills that didn’t pass in the previous two-year cycle disappear. It’s up to members of Congress to dust off their old bills and reintroduce them. One of those that will soon get new life is the controversial Sealaska lands bill, which would give the Alaska Native…
Sealaska Lands Bill Part 5 – Future Sites
The Sealaska Lands legislation would transfer ownership of dozens of parcels in the Tongass National Forest to the regional Native corporation for economic development. The company wants to use these Native future sites for eco-tourism, energy and transportation development. Residents and business-owners using these lands are worried about the potential impact on some of their…
Sealaska Lands Bill Part 4 – Enviro Opponents
Among the most vocal critics of Sealaska’s land selection bill are conservation groups. They point to past logging practices by the regional Native Corporation and others, which have removed large stands of trees from Southeast Alaska, and say the region can’t support much more in the future. Most say they want Sealaska to get its…
Sealaska Lands Bill Part 3 – Sacred Sites
We’re taking an in-depth look this month at Sealaska’s lands bill, which will soon be reintroduced in Congress. Among its components is the selection of about 200 sacred sites. In this segment of our six-part series on the legislation, KCAW’s Ed Ronco explains what the sacred sites are, and why they’re included in the bill.
Sealaska Lands Bill Part 2 – Timber Industry
If the Sealaska lands bill doesn’t clear Congress, the corporation says it could be forced to shutter its Southeast timber operations in three years. Many industry insiders say those operations are pivotal in keeping Southeast’s remaining mills and loggers working. Some say they’d also like to see Sealaska mill more of the trees it cuts…