August 16, 2014
Saturday

How can Sealaska represent that this $50,000 independent expenditure is in support of “Byron Mallott's efforts to work tirelessly on Alaska Native issues” when the Political Action Committee that this money was donated to (Mallott-One Alaska) used these funds for an anti-Parnell campaign?

I was at my cousin Donnie's totem pole raising in May of 2013 when Governor Parnell was adopted by Joe Williams into the Killer Whale clan from Saxman. I saw how truly touched he was. It is hard for me because I have heard so many tribal members state the Governor is not supporting the native community. I did some research and I identified millions of dollars of appropriations which were used to fund Southeast Alaskan Native Tribes and Tribal programs since 2011, including the following under the Parnell administration:

$7,000,000 dollars to the Walter Sobeloff Cultural Center

Funding renovations to the ANB hall in Sitka

$3,500,000 for the Klukwan - Jilkaat Kwaan Cultural Heritage Center and Bald Eagle Observatory,

$800,000 for the Wrangell Cooperative Association - Chief Shakes House Restoration and carving shed. My husband was encouraged by the Governor to work on the repatriation of the Clan hat that had been held in trust with the Alaska State Museum. Prior to the ceremony there was not enough housing for the ku.éex’, so the State of Alaska sent an Alaska Marine Highway ferry over so our Tribal members would have a place to stay.

$500,000 for Tlingit - Haida Regional Housing Authority - Kake and Angoon Alternative Energy/Biomass Heating,

$25,000 Angoon ANB Hall Wood fire Boiler.

$135,000 Yakutat ANB hall renovations and energy repair.

$2,650,000 for Metlakatla Indian Community - Design and Construction of Chum Hatchery and the Annette Island Packing Co., 3.5 million for the Ketchikan Indian Community - Southern Southeast Alaska Vocational Training School program,

$195,000 for Tlingit & Haida Community Council - Replace Roof.

This does not include the $35 million dollars that was just funded for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to design and construct a residential housing facility.

Under this administration the "village public safety officer program" (VPSO) has been increased by 100%.

I understand Sealaska's concerns about losing Native representation within the state of Alaska. As a shareholder, I’m disappointed to see our Corporation deploy shareholder funds for activities that are best left to the individual shareholder.

This donation of $50,000 is a lot of money to our shareholders. Ballots were mailed out a few months ago, why did we not get to vote on such an expenditure? I am a Sealaska Shareholder and I support Governor Parnell.

https://aws.state.ak.us/ApocReports/IndependentExpenditures/View.aspx?ID=675

Sincerely,

Dana Ruaro
Juneau, Alaska

About: Former- 1st Vice President Tlingit & Haida Central Council
Former- Alaska Federation of Natives Board member
Former - Seargent at arms for Alaska native Sisterhood grand camp

Received August 13, 2014 - Published August 16, 2014

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