by Greg Lincoln
Senator and Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) Lisa Murkowski chaired a Field Oversight Hearing entitled, “The Impact of the Historic Salmon Declines on the Health and Well-Being of Alaska Native Communities Along the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers,” followed by an open forum Listening Session last Friday.
The historic hearing took place from 1pm to 6pm at the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) gathering room in Bethel and was open to the public.
Senator Murkowski pounded the gavel to officially begin the hearing.
“I do feel that this is significant, I feel this is historic in many ways to actually be able to bring the Senate Indian Affairs Committee to Bethel to understand more about how the salmon crashes in the YK region are affecting those of you who live here,” said Vice Chairman Murkowski in her opening statement. “I have so many from this region reach out to tell me about how the lack of salmon is affecting their ways of life and truly the need for the federal government to pay attention, to listen, to understand, and to act.
“Over 100 communities in the Kuskowkim, Yukon, and Bering Strait regions are affected by these low salmon runs and I hear, I feel it in your voices when you share with me how painful this is,” she shared. “My hope is that we’re able to engage in respectful dialogue to find common ground on solutions to what is truly a crisis.”
Invited witnesses provided and shared valuable testimony and perspective. Those testifying included Thaddeus Tikiun Jr. – Chairman of the Association of Village Council Presidents, Brian Ridley – Chief/Chairman of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, Jonathan Samuelson – Chairman of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Karma Ulvi – Chairwoman of the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Dan Winkelman – President and CEO of YKHC, Nicole Borromeo – Executive Vice President and General Counsel for the Alaska Federation of Natives, Tisha Neviq’aq Kuhns – Vice President of Land and Natural Resources for the Calista Corporation, and Charles Menadelook – Subsistence Director for Kawerak Inc.
Fishing provides more than subsistence food. It provides physical activity, mental well-being, and culture and tradition.
Members of the public also had the opportunity to provide comments on the record during the Listening Session, which began after the Field Hearing. 35 folks from Bethel and the villages signed up to testify.
The hearing record will be open for two weeks after the hearing for public written comments to be submitted at [email protected] if anyone else would like to testify.
This record will be part of the senate’s official hearing record and will be part of the decision making process, Senator Murkrowski said.
