Comments on: Senator Begich Addresses the Senate on Alaska Native Issues

By: Alaska Pi

Alaska Pi — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:12:35 +0000

@12 AKPetMom Says:

Senator Begich mentions the Native Corporations and how they assist in procuring heating fuel and supplies for villages, however, there seemed to not be much assistance coming to Nunam Iqua and Emmonak last winter and spring from the Native Corporations.
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I do not think it too farfetched to say that IF a business owned by Calista, the Regional Corp for that whole area, had not published Mr Tucker’s letter it would have been quite a bit longer before attention to the real troubles in the Y-K D came to light. Through their newspaper company Calista got the story out, offered drop-off places for goods and airlifted quite a bit of supplies in.
The Regional Corps are for-profit-businesses Villages can be either profit or non-profit. My Regional Corp donates large amounts every year to Native social service organizations, education, arts and so on but they are NOT set up to directly assist shareholders individually. They have the same messy legal responsibility to do for ALL shareholders , not one or some as any for -profit business.
Many different native corporation social services assisted folks with fuel and food last year but it was the sheer magnitude of the problem last year which overwhelmed what was already in place…

Senator Begich did a fine job speaking up about some of the gains made by Alaska Natives in the last 50 years and touched on some of the issues facing us all as we move forward …
He , however, scared the living daylights out of me with talk of what sounds like a similar-to-CDQ plan for
” My off-shore oil development legislation is unique by providing that local governments and tribes get a share of any revenues from federal outer continental shelf development.”

I need to write a letter and tell him to dump THAT booger idea… at least until the CDQs are made to work as intended !

By: Just Had To Jump In

Just Had To Jump In — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:07:03 +0000

AKPetMom & Jojobo1 -
I believe you have made a darn good point.
As much as the Native Corporations are doing good they STILL are missing lots in their individual villages.
Of course you have those Community Development Quota organizations that are supposed to be helping rural village but instead rake billions off the pollack and crab industries that go to salaries of a few and LOTS of questionable investments.
NOT A PEEP out of them last winter.
Sen. Begich, as much as improving with the rural villages and Native groups much more looking at details need to happen to keep the progress going to those who need it.
We have so much farther for this group of noble peoples to go!!

By: jojobo1

jojobo1 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:00:28 +0000

AKPetMom I did not see anything about them helping either Just the bloggers,Chavez and the cookies palin took up

By: Elizabeth

Elizabeth — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 22:36:29 +0000

The speech is a great start in getting the attention of the powers that be. I would have liked to see more about the fisheries issues.

By: AKPetMom

AKPetMom — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:46:15 +0000

We can thank Hugo Chavez of Venezuela and kind hearted individuals from across the nation and Alaska for assisting in heating fuel vouchers and food boxes but I did not see one article either in blogs or in the local media regarding Native Corporations coming to the rescue of the villages in need.

Did I miss something?

By: daisydem

daisydem — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:13:27 +0000

That’s a beautiful speech. I truly hope that Sen. Begich continues to represent all of you well. It seems to me that he is doing a good job so far.

By: boodog

boodog — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:46:26 +0000

Some of the numbers Begich quoted were more positive sounding than I had thought they were. Although there is still a long way to go, especially with the individual treatment of some Natives, the veterans finally receiving their overdue pay and recognition is great. It is a beautiful speech and I think the Alaskan Natives have found a voice with Sen. Begich.

By: Problem Solver

Problem Solver — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:35:06 +0000

I’m pleased that Senator Begich put into the record this information about Alaska and Alaska Natives. I would be even more pleased if he demonstrated some leadershp in the way of public support for a public option in health care reform.

By: Village Reader

Village Reader — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:57:34 +0000

I really like Sen. Begich. Good Job!

By: Erin

Erin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:45:58 +0000

I *heart* Mark Begich.