Voting is a powerful right each one of us can exercise. Our political system in Alaska is fundamentally sound and, in order to keep it that way, we need to register to vote, then vote in elections and spread the word among others that voting is one of our strongest tools to build a healthy Alaska.

While we won't succeed by making personal attacks on anybody, we do need to name the names of those who oppose issues important to Alaskans and Alaska Natives alike, issues such as subsistence, power cost equalization and school funding and seek to remove those people at the ballot box. In fact, there is a group of legislators who seek to interfere in all these important issues, including how we conduct our ANCSA business operations.

When I spoke at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention last month, I stressed that voters must remove the eight Republican senators who voted against putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot that would have allowed a rural preference for subsistence hunting and fishing. These eight are the first ones who need to be voted out, along with Republican House members Ramona Barnes, Jerry Sanders, Scott Ogan, Beverly Masek and Vic Kohring.

I presented a poster during the speech, and it showed the pictures of the eight senators: Dave Donley, Lyda Green, Rick Halford, Pete Kelly, Randy Phillips, Robin Taylor, Jerry Ward and Gary Wilken. If you are like I am, you learn visually as well as through listening and I wanted to make it crystal clear just how I feel about people who are on the wrong side of issues important to both rural and urban Alaska.

We are under attack and the threat that these people pose to Alaska is something I just can't overstate. They and they alone have created the false impression that there is an urban/rural split in Alaska. While they have opposed subsistence, that's only part of the problem. The bigger issue is the attitude created to divide Alaskans. The way to solve this problem is

at the voting booth. I won't get personal, but I guarantee you, I will encourage anyone and everyone to vote against them. It's that simple.

We need to require all candidates to tell us clearly where they stand on issues that matter to us as Alaska Natives and on issues that matter to all of us as citizens of Alaska. We need to replace those legislators who block the people's will, fail to lead and obstruct those who would. We need to vote out of office those who lack the vision of an Alaska of which we can all be proud.

Our two-party system works well. There are good Democrats in the Legislature and there are good Republicans. The eight senators who blocked the people's wishes were all Republicans and the Republican Party needs to do something about that. But there were also many Republicans who voted in favor of a subsistence amendment, along with many Democrats. In fact, there were legislators from both parties who supported other issues of importance that foster unity throughout Alaska. In the future, there will be candidates from both parties who are worthy of our support.

It's fitting that, at the same AFN Convention, Gov. Tony Knowles issued a proclamation to make November "Alaska Native Heritage Month." We have much in our Native heritage to celebrate and be proud of, and it's important that we honor, not only our elders, but those who lived before us. What we need to remember, though, is that if it weren't for the strong survival skills of our ancestors, none of us would be here today. They lived subsistence every single day of the year. The land provided, and by using the resources of the land, our ancestors didn't just survive. They thrived.

Subsistence goes beyond food. It feeds the body as well as the soul. Leaders do more than write laws and policies. They share their vision with us, lighting the path that takes us to a brighter future.

CIRI President and CEO Carl Marrs spoke at last month's AFN Convention as part of a panel entitled "How Can We Change the Politics of Alaska?"

For the past 32 years, the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention has drawn Alaska Natives together for what has become Alaska's largest convention. This year's theme, Alaska Native Cultures & Communities: Into a New Millennium, was central to the purpose of this year's convention.

The AFN Convention was preceded by the Elders & Youth Conference. Their theme was: Strengthened by Tradition, We Will Survive in the Future. "The beginning of a new century has always been a time of introspection and planning for many people across the world," said AFN President Julie Kitka.

The AFN Conference wrapped up with the AFN Banquet at the Egan Center on October 23.

Former CIRI President and CEO Roy Huhndorf accepted AFN's highest award during the convention. He said the award meant more to him than any he ever received in his life. He was named AFN Citizen of the Year, an honor he

shared with Col. Glenn Godfrey Sr., head of the Alaska State Troopers and chairman of Koniag, Inc.

Roy Huhndorf

Huhndorf credited his achievements to the "hard work and diligence of the people who worked with me," and he added that his life's work was made possible by his wife Charlene.

Later in the convention, Huhndorf was elected co-chairman of AFN, replacing Rosemarie Maher of Doyon. AFN delegates also re-elected Co-chairman Al Kookesh of Angoon to serve with Huhndorf.

Subsistence fishing advocate and CIRI shareholder Emil Dolchok of Kenai was named Elder of the Year along with Evelyn Alexander of Minto. Earlier in the month Dolchok was honored at the CIRI Friendship Potlatch as CIRI's 1999 Shareholder of the Year. Dolchok has lobbied tirelessly to educate the state and local government through letters and talks regarding subsistence use of fisheries in the state.

In remarks to the AFN Convention, Dolchok spoke passionately about subsistence and the need for action at the state level. His efforts are supported by his wife of more than 45 years, Margaret (Maggie). CIRI's nomination of Dolchok stated: "Many describe Emil as being connected with the land and those touched by his dedication to lead our youth gain strength from his determination and dedication."

In his speech at AFN, Dolchok talked about subsistence needs in Kenai as well as the entire state. "The fishing regulators, whether State or Federal, must put the sustenance needs of the Alaska residents first. Sustenance means subsistence, livelihood, support, maintenance, and living," he said.

Emil Dolchok

Additionally, Paul Sherry, nominated by Southcentral Foundation, won the Denali Award, the highest award honoring a non-Native. Sherry is president and CEO of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium which manages the Alaska Native Medical Center.