printer friendly version
A Day at the Races: Alaska
Monday, November 1, 2004
Democrat Tony Knowles (top) and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski. Photos © AP
A DAY AT THE RACES
South Dakota
Heated Senate race targets Native voters.
California
Governor makes issue of tribal gaming. Again.
Oklahoma
Cherokee tribal member eyes open Senate seat.
Alaska
Two strong candidates bank on Native vote.
Washington
Washington tribes battle gaming measure.
Nebraska
Nebraska tribes could finally get Class III gaming.
Montana
Cyanide mining initiative irks tribes.
Colorado
Retiring Ben Nighthorse Campbell prompts battle.
|
Boasting 16 percent of the population, Alaska Natives are a significant
voting block in their home state. But they haven't been actively courted
in recent years.
That is changing and the results will be seen in the race between
Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Democrat Tony Knowles, a former governor.
The candidates are neck-and-neck in the polls after engaging in
an occasionally bitter campaign.
Murkoswki, appointed to the seat vacated by her father, Gov.
Frank Murkowski, has earned praise from Native leaders
through her short time in the Senate. She frequently attends
Senate Indian Affairs Committee hearings and voices support
for proposals to increase health care and education
funding.
Back home, Knowles has tremendous support for his celebrated
decision to drop the Katie John subsistence rights case.
He was treated as a hero at the Alaska Federation of Natives
convention in 2001 for the move, and was heartily welcomed
by group just this past Friday, when he appeared at a forum with
Murkowski.
At the forum, both candidates said they oppose regionalization of tribes,
one of the most controversial issues in the state. During
his administration, Knowles recognized tribal sovereignty
and sought to work more closely with tribes. Last year, Murkoswki
opposed a regionalization rider introduced by colleague
Sen. Ted Stevens, also a Republican.
Like most Alaskans, Murkowski and Knowles
support drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge, a hot-button issue. Inupiat Eskimos who own
land in the region want development but Gwi'chin Natives who
depend on caribou there oppose it.
Relevant Links:
Sen. Lisa Murkowski -
http://murkowski.senate.govLisa
Murkowski for Senate -
http://www.lisamurkowski.comTony
Knowles -
http://www.tonyknowles.com
Related Stories:
Democrats protest
Murkowski land swap legislation (09/17)
Alaska wants to reduce tribal powers in child
welfare (09/09)
Murkowski finds it
difficult to escape father's shadow (08/10)
Alaska Natives press unity on
sovereignty (10/25)
Alaska to pay legal fees in
subsistence case (10/09)
Alaska won't appeal Native rights case
(8/28)
Alaska Native
subsistence case upheld (5/8)
Copyright © 2000-2004 Indianz.Com
