Alaska passes Arctic policy bill

 An undated landscape in Alaska's Arctic.  (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Getty Images)
An undated landscape in Alaska’s Arctic. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Getty Images)
The Alaska House of Representatives has passed legislation outlining the state’s Arctic policy.

The bill lays out the state’s values concerning the Arctic, and provides a general sense of direction for how lawmakers would like to see it developed. It acknowledges the “risks of a changing climate,” but also declares that the Legislature is “optimistic” that a “new era of economic and resource development” could benefit Alaska.

The bill offered on Friday also recognized the importance of the state’s indigenous cultures and the value of preserving them, but it did not specifically mention the state’s Native languages. Sitka Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins and Ketchikan Independent Dan Ortiz offered an amendment to specifically mention language in the bill, noting the declining numbers of speakers.

“They feel that a huge part of their culture is imperiled,” said Kreiss-Tomkins. “I think it’s very important for us in a policy sense and also as an institution to recognize that the Native language are of an immeasurable cultural value to the state and who we are as a people.”

While one objection was raised that the amendment was redundantly, the measure was ultimately adopted unanimously.

An amendment offered by Eagle River Republican Lora Reinbold that would have stripped language supporting ratification of the Law of the Sea Treaty failed 9 to 25. Reinbold argued that participation in that treaty would cede some of the nation’s sovereignty.

The Arctic policy bill passed 32 to 2, with North Pole Republican Tammie Wilson and Wasilla Republican Lynn Gattis voting against it.

The legislation will now be considered by the Senate.

-By Alexandra Gutierrez, APRN – Juneau

Related stories from around the North:

Canada:  Arctic Council: The evolving role of regions in Arctic governance, Blog by Heather Exner-Pirot

Finland: US seeks Finnish support for Arctic goals, Yle News

Greenland:  Greenland urged to work with Arctic Council, CBC News

Iceland: Iceland conference draws on hopes, concerns for changing Arctic, Alaska Dispatch

Norway:   Permanent Arctic Council Secretariat opens in Tromso, Blog by Mia Bennett

Russia:  The Arctic Council’s Immunity to Crimean Flu, Blog by Heather Exner-Pirot

Sweden: Russia still open for cooperation in the Arctic, Radio Sweden

United Kingdom:  The British Invasion – The Arctic Circle and observer states, Blog by Heather Exner-Pirot

United States: Alaska should seize Arctic opportunities, commission report says, Alaska Dispatch

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