Alaska Native delegates march on Capitol after senators refuse to call language loss 'emergency'

A resolution intended to declare an Alaska Native language emergency is advancing in the Alaska Senate, but without its most important word.

On Thursday, the Senate State Affairs Committee voted to approve House Concurrent Resolution 19 after stripping the word “emergency” from the document.

The changes prompted the annual Tribal Assembly of Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska delegates to adjourn for a march to the Capitol. Assembly delegates filled the committee room, and the crowd spilled into the hallway, though only three were allowed the time to speak to the committee. (A previous session of public testimony was held Tuesday.)

“We are coming before you, but we are not coming before you on our knees,” said Paulette Moreno, First Grand President of the Alaska Native Sisterhood and one of the marchers, speaking to lawmakers about the group’s determination.

Read more: http://www.juneauempire.com/news/state/2018-04-20/alaska-native-delegates-march-capitol-after-senators-refuse-call-language-loss