AVCP Convention

The assistance within state regulations we will work with your representatives, we will champion it as a preference and a priority for those people whose lives depend upon it. We will work with the federal government to see that that is also followed through and we will work to make sure at the next election that there is the opportunity to vote on subsistence as part of our constitution. It's a great honor and a privilege to be here as a candidate. A couple of people asked me if I would stay over tomorrow morning because they saw on television that I can cook eggs pretty well. They wanted to see if I could really do it and I'm sorry I'm going to have to leave. But the next convention I can show you how I flip those eggs. I think of the friendship and the warmth with which we have worked together.

I would look forward to that and I would be honored to continue that as your governor and we will stand up for Alaska. The leadership that you have shown is a proud leadership and one that I would be honored to work with. Thank you, Chairman Fisack. There's been some requests to have some answer questions. Absolutely I will protect the environment as it is as your theme of this convention says it is our life, our endurance and our strength. The question also was will I work to put an end to the high seas interception of our

fisheries and the waste of our fisheries. I think we should remember that it was Alaska. At the grassroots level that brought to the attention of the world the waste that was being done on the high seas with a group called sea cops and they insisted that political leaders in this state stop the high seas drift net and it not only was successful here but it was taken to our president and then to the United Nations and to me that is a reaffirmation of the belief that people do make a difference and I will continue that fight working with you to see that the high seas drift net is stopped, that the factory trawlers which you fall John have insisted that they stop the waste of our hands and our halibut and that we will make sure that we protect the resource that is our first obligation and I

will make that commitment and work with you. The other side of the subsistence issue we are bowing down to determine progress. We have a problem and our traditional lifestyle because of progress. We are continually hearing of the chemical contaminations, heavy minerals contaminates which are the two causes of our subsistence way of life fluctuate some years we are more chemical some years we are more minerals contaminated now, waterfall, wildlife and sea

we are actually getting to the area and affecting the lifestyle of our native people's population. One of the people that I most admired and was a heroine I thought for Alaska was a very young woman leader who as mayor to look and a fellow stood up for that very issue and stood up for her community and in a sense stood up for the whole state I was mayor of Anchorage

at the time and it was a great honor to see another mayor taking such a leadership position. I will work with communities and with organizations such as ABCP to make sure that that contamination does not threaten our resources. I will work as I mentioned with a problem at Good News Bay where with a potential platinum mining there is a severe damage that could be done to the herring fishery. I think that this is something that must be reviewed and if they will wait for three more weeks we will review that and take a brand new look and make sure that that resource is protected. The involvement of the local communities has been of a great assistance is something like the Eskimo Whaling Commission and the Eskimo Walrus Commission which have given a great

deal of additional knowledge and information and management skills to where that there was a proper management of the resource. I think that the Alaska Department of Fish and Game has unfortunately not had the resources to give the adequate information for the right kinds of decisions and I agree with you that the biological information is not complete. I will see that not only is that information forthcoming but that there be a strong local and regional effort in determining the policies. I think there is traditional and customary trade and bartering which is a part of it but the actual sale, the commercial sale of the row and the use of the salmon for feeding

the dog teams, I think it is something that really should be questioned and would look to a determination of a board of fish that was sensitive to the issues of subsistence and could make some fair determination to where those who feel that the wrong direction was being made would have a fair opportunity to have their case heard. I would also say that since you spoke to me in Eskimo I feel like in asking for your vote I will have to ask you to vote for the capital of in the carla and that is Tony and Willy, that is our Eskimo. After time we will take a 10 minute break. Great.

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