National Forum on the Future of Alaska Natives Release No. 0357.99 Remarks As Prepared for Delivery by Secretary Dan Glickman National Forum on the Future of Alaska Natives Washington, DC September 9, 1999 "Thank you very much for that kind introduction and thanks to the Alaska Federation of Natives for their tireless leadership and advocacy. It's an honor to be here with all of you and with my colleague Secretary Babbitt, as well as Senator Stevens, Senator Inouye and Maria Echaveste. Let me also pay my respects to Governor Knowles and Lieutenant Governor Fran Ullman, who I understand is here today. Speaking toward the end of the program like this reminds me of the line attributed to one of Elizabeth Taylor's later husbands: "I know what to do; I just don't know how to make it interesting." "The title of this conference couldn't be more appropriate. The very future of Alaska Natives is what's at stake in the long-running dispute over subsistence fishing rights. Let me say unequivocally that if the state does not move forward with a constitutional amendment, 22 days from now I am prepared to work with Secretary Babbitt to provide the resources necessary to manage these fisheries on the federal level thus upholding ANILCA, preserving the rural priority and protecting the Native Alaskan way of life. "We hope it doesn't come to that. We hope the state can resolve this on its own. We're not in the habit of coming in and administering state affairs. But we will do it if we have to. "We'll do it because, for Alaska Natives, fishing isn't just weekend sport, a nice way to relax after a rough week at the office. It is certainly about food and livelihood, but that is also true of places in Washington state, Massachusetts and other coastal communities. For Alaska Natives, subsistence fishing is the fabric that holds their communities together; it is bound up in their cultural, historical and spiritual lives. "To take it away would be to rip the heart out of Alaska Native villages their social structure, their civic life, their family and community cohesion. The end of subsistence priority would not only be an economic crisis for Alaska Natives; it could also lead to a rash of social ills infant mortality, crime and others for which we would all bear the cost. "Our commitment to Alaska Natives, however, does not begin and end with the subsistence issue. At the Department of Agriculture, we are a strong and reliable partner for these communities, using a number of different tools. The Forest Service has completed several government-to-government Memoranda of Understanding with Alaskan tribes on everything from education to housing to forest management. The agency has helped 11 Alaska Native Corporations to complete forest stewardship planning. Through the purchase of 183,000 acres of land in Prince William Sound, we are working to restore habitats damaged by the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, even as we provide resources for Native communities to invest in their people. And the Forest Service is also working with tribes on technology transfer, youth programs, career fairs and more. We encourage your thoughts and suggestions on ways to improve our relationship with you "And it's not just the Forest Service. USDA's Rural Development Agency, for example, is committed to helping Native communities build the infrastructure they need to thrive. In just this fiscal year, we've awarded $24.5 million in water and waste disposal grants for Alaska Native villages. We've also invested in home improvement for low-income, elderly homeowners. We've made loans and loan guarantees to help local businesses grow. And we provide grants to upgrade community facilities, like roads and health clinics. "Of course, it is subsistence fishing that remains the lifeblood of Native Alaskan communities. It's a system and a tradition that, frankly, is very difficult for many Americans to grasp. While the villages do attract more and more mainland visitors these days, I'd be willing to bet that the people gathered in this room represent at least half of all Americans who truly understand their customs and folkways. "After all, the vast majority of Americans now live in urban and suburban areas. As a people, we've become increasingly disconnected from the land and natural resources right in our own states and regions...let alone the wildlife and fisheries of Alaska. "Part of our separation is a simple matter of proximity -- or lack of. After all, here in Washington, DC, we are closer to Madrid than we are to Alaska. The westernmost point in the continental United States is still a few hours from Alaska by air. And that's just to get to Ketchikan, Juneau or Anchorage. We are then further separated from Native Alaskans by the isolation of their villages. "Many of you may be aware of the farm crisis we're currently having. In fact, with Congress having reconvened yesterday, a farm assistance package will be at the very top of this fall's legislative agenda. And I couldn't help but notice the parallels between the challenges facing American farmers and those confronted by Alaska Natives. "Like subsistence fishing, American small family farm agriculture is more than an economic pursuit. It is a way of life, an ethic that binds generations. Of course, we understand that agriculture is no longer the dominant force in American life that it was 150 years ago. Just as we understand that statehood, urbanization, tourism and the oil pipeline were inevitable and would forever change the Alaskan economy and culture. "But that doesn't mean we just fold up the tent and give in entirely to the forces of modernization. When it comes to certain species, trees and buildings, we have, as a nation, drawn the line and said "no". No, you can't hunt this animal, chop down this tree or raze this building. The ecological or historical interest in protecting them is more compelling than the profit motive of those who wish to do away with them. "When it comes to subsistence rights and the family farm heritage, we must do the same. We need to preserve these last outposts of tradition. We need to protect our farmland from sprawl, and we need to protect our Native American villages from being overrun by sporting and commercial interests. "Already, more than 95 percent of Alaskan fish are harvested for commercial and recreational use. Is it too much to ask that some piece be preserved for the Native Alaskan community, which have been fishing those waters for over ten thousand years? "The fact is that we are all enriched by the contribution of Alaska Native villages. They are a part of our e pluribus unum credo. They are a unique, brilliant tile in the American mosaic. The nation is stronger by virtue of their very existence. "As we look ahead to the new millennium, it's tempting to look only at tomorrow's possibilities -- the new technologies and innovations that will improve American quality of life. But even as we embrace the promise of the 21st century, let's not allow it to eclipse traditions that are 50 times older than the nation itself. The President's White House Millennium Council encourages us not just to "Imagine the Future", but also to "Honor the Past." And I can think of no better way to do so than to preserve the subsistence rights of Alaska Native villages. Thank you very much. #