Historic: Anchorage Assembly OKs govt-to-govt relationship with Eklutna

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The Anchorage Assembly has passed a resolution setting up a government-to-government relationship that acknowledges the sovereignty of the Village of Eklutna.

The village will now formally take up its own resolution to reflect the agreement, said Aaron Leggett, village president and chairman.

“It serves as a model for municipalities and states, in Alaska and beyond, and so it’s really exciting that we are in many ways a leader in terms of how to properly, respectfully recognize and develop intentional, thoughtful, and productive relationships with tribes,” said Assemblyman Kameron Perez-Verdia. “I’m excited and I congratulate this body for moving forward with this.”

The measure passed 10-0, while an amendment by Assemblywoman Crystal Kennedy to remove the word “sovereign” failed.

During the meeting, Leggett clarified something he had stated during an earlier work session, which described the consultation role that he would have on projects in the municipality. Leggett expressed displeasure at the way it was characterized in Must Read Alaska, and read portions of a document that more fully described what he had been trying to explain earlier about how much authority the tribe would have over development in Anchorage.

Later, he described the relationship as one that would evolve.

13 COMMENTS

  1. Personally, I think this is quite exciting.

    The health indusrry knows that an ounce of prevention in the forefront, reduces immeasuable amounts of pain, suffering, and expense down the road in a person’s life.

    That is basically what this government-to-government relationship equates to.

    Tribal Consultation affords this local indigenous Tribe to give their input on matters that they have historically have always had a stake in.

    This begins to create process and procedure for their inclusiveness as a stakeholder in the forefront.

    Bringing stakeholders to the table is just good practice.

    There are plenty of models to look to for crafting something that is mutually-acceptable here.

    Well done.

  2. Wow, these Einsteins currently investing the assembly have found a way to identify a tribe as a tribe. Genius! Wonder why nobody ever thought of that before? Wait, they did about 150 years ago.

  3. You can thank Don Young and Lisa for this stupidity. There’s not a village in western Alaska that could afford to pay for a single service provided. You are quickly going to discover they don’t have to follow State Law. They also have all the free money to fight you to and through the US Supreme Court.

    Sovereignty is a racial divider.

    • Too bad they have to follow the US Constitution right? ‘ Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution states that “Congress shall have the power to regulate Commerce with foreign nations and among the several states, and with the Indian tribes”, determining that Indian tribes were separate from the federal government, the states, and foreign nations’

  4. The virtue signaling assembly just can’t sit down and take care of the business of running the city in a fiscally responsible way. The hour they wasted arguing about this idiotic ordinance, which will only further complicate the activities of the operations at the port and other parts of town, was like watching a school teacher attempt to get spoiled children to consider the damage they were doing to their favorite toy while they fought over it. Pretty disgusting display of how to waste my tax dollars.

  5. That’s OK. The Juneau Assembly took 3 months to debate the Paris Climate Accord, and another borough here in Southeastern is preparing to negotiate a nuclear arms agreement with Putin. An unincorporated village has suspended its long and difficult debate on whether to allow people to keep roosters, and now they’re debating the Trump impeachment, which is a much easier topic for them.

  6. 10-0 pass. Really disappointed to see Kennedy and Allard support this, seeing as they are the closest ones to them!!

  7. Next meeting the Anchorage Assembly’s agenda has them taking on Middle East Peace. After a brief intermission they will be debating Modern Monetary Theory.

  8. The Anchorage Assembly’s time would be better spent working on the Govt to Citizens relationship. They have failed miserably…

  9. Let’s try this version Suzanne? I’m good with it if you are.
    1) Anchorage recognizes Eklutna’s sovereign status, which it doesn’t really have.
    2) Anchorage uses it’s political might to persuade Alaska’s legislature to do the same.
    3) Alaska’s governor persuades the federal government to grant Eklutna tribal sovereignty.
    4) BIA then issues a memo reflecting Eklutna’s sovereignty.
    5) Eklutna then applies for a casino permit.
    6) Alaska’s governor grants the permit.
    7) Ergo… a casino in our front yard.
    There has been a succession of clown, over decades, trying to wangle a casino in S. Central.

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