Tribal groups from opposite ends of the state have formed an alliance to fight mines they say threaten traditional fisheries.
Organizations representing about 30 Southeast Alaska and Bristol Bay tribal governments signed a memorandum of agreement Oct. 18 during the Alaska Federal of Natives convention in Anchorage.
The United Tribes of Bristol Bay opposes Southwest Alaska’s Pebble Mine project. The Southeast Alaska Indigenous Transboundary Commission is critical of mines and exploration projects in British Columbia watersheds that drain into state waters.
Frederick Olsen Jr. chairs the Southeast coalition.
“To combine with several tribes from the other part of the state should send a powerful message to everyone and especially the federal government that we want the federal government to uphold its fiduciary trust responsibility and its government-to-government relationship with its federally recognized tribes,” Olsen said.
Olsen said the organizations agreed to back each other’s efforts to protect their regions’ fisheries.
United Tribes of Bristol Bay President Robert Heyano said what he calls mega-mines are threatening indigenous people.
“Our tribes are under siege, but the unification of our people is a powerful move to defeat these toxic projects,” Heyano said in a news release.
Olsen said the two regional efforts have similar goals, but some differences.
“With our issue, the mines are in a different country. Maybe our fight’s a little more uphill,” Olsen said. “It’s hard to say which one’s harder, of course. The grass is always browner on the other side of the fence in this issue.”
Olsen said the coalition hopes to expand the alliance to tribal groups in other parts of the state.
Developers of mines in both areas say they’re safe and will not damage fish or wildlife habitat.
Ed Schoenfeld is Regional News Director for CoastAlaska, a consortium of public radio stations in Ketchikan, Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg and Wrangell.
He primarily covers Southeast Alaska regional topics, including the state ferry system, transboundary mining, the Tongass National Forest and Native corporations and issues.
He has also worked as a manager, editor and reporter for the Juneau Empire newspaper and Juneau public radio station KTOO. He’s also reported for commercial station KINY in Juneau and public stations KPFA in Berkley, WYSO in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and WUHY in Philadelphia. He’s lived in Alaska since 1979 and is a contributor to Alaska Public Radio Network newscasts, the Northwest (Public Radio) News Network and National Native News. He is a board member of the Alaska Press Club. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, he lives in Douglas.
