The annual Alaska Federation of Natives convention closed on Saturday after passing 40 non-binding resolutions, some in response to recent events.
One was written because of this summer’s subsistence fishing restrictions on the Kuskokwim River and the resulting arrests. AFN is requesting that elders 65-years old and above be allowed to subsistence fish with no restrictions.
Another resolution asks that Alaska Native artists be allowed to sell art with feathers from birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty. Recently an artist was fined for including raven feathers and flicker feathers in a mask he tried to sell online.
Other resolutions ranged from trying to restrict salmon bycatch by the Bering Sea pollock fleet to encouraging conference participants to vote in favor of a constitutional convention on this year Nov. 11 ballot.
Anne Hillman is the healthy communities editor at Alaska Public Media and a host of Hometown, Alaska. Reach her atahillman@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Annehere.
