The Sunday Delegation: AFN Wrap Up
Peltola is a rockstar, Sullivan and Murkowski highlight record on Alaska Native policy priorities
Hello, readers of THE DELEGATION! I hope you're having a relaxing Sunday. I'm writing this while traveling back to D.C. from Seattle, WA. I was able to breeze through security with TSA PreCheck, which I'll consider a win! If you don't have PreCheck, it's possibly the best $85 you could ever spend.
The big news out of Alaska this week was the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) 2022 Convention. This year was notable in that it was the first in-person AFN since COVID-19 first emerged, but, more importantly, it was the first AFN since the history-making election of Congresswoman Mary Peltola. The Convention’s theme this year was “Celebrating Our Unity".”
Alaskans know that AFN is a BIG DEAL. Every year, the Convention brings together Alaska Native communities to address challenges, participate in panels, and celebrate Native culture, history, and experiences. It also serves as the principal public policy forum for the Alaska Native community, which means the three members of Alaska's Congressional Delegation each get a chance to address attendees and meet with constituents. With that said, let's get down to business.
Welcome to Mary's house away from the House.
Congresswoman Mary Peltola made history just a few weeks ago when she became the first Alaska Native — and the first woman — to serve Alaska in the U.S. House of Representatives. By all accounts, Peltola was greeted with a rockstar welcome by AFN's attendees. Cardboard cutouts of the Congresswoman's face were distributed to the excited crowd — now that's a party favor! Cheers and applause were constant, and even her opponent, Sarah Palin, admitted, "We are in Mary's house, and I know that."
In her keynote address to AFN, Peltola humbly thanked the crowd for their support, noting the great honor of serving in Congress. Consistent with her campaign messaging, she lamented the toxicity of partisan politics and decried a lack of unity.
"This is what democracy is built on: Unity. Coming together. Compromising. Building consensus, building coalitions, working together. Seeing each other as humans," Peltola said in her address.
In a particularly emotional moment, Joni Nelson and Dawn Vallely, daughters of the late Congressman Don Young, presented Peltola with the late Congressman's iconic beaded bolo tie. Upon receiving the bolo tie, Peltola declared, "now I'm a real Congressman for all Alaska." Congressman Don Young's daughter, Dawn, told convention attendees that her dad would be "very, very happy with the results of the special election." She finished by encouraging AFN participants to get out and vote for Peltola.
The late Congressman's daughters aren't the only ones supporting Peltola. This week, a significant number of former staffers and long-time friends of Congressman Young announced a fundraiser for Peltola, with some others adding their names to an endorsement letter for the incumbent Congresswoman. An across-the-aisle endorsement isn't unheard of in "Youngland." The late Congressman himself cut an ad in support of Senator Maize Hirono, a Democrat from Hawaii.
Among their reasons for supporting Peltola's reelection, the letter's signatories noted her commitment to Congressman Young's legacy of bipartisanship, positive campaign style, and her "Alaska First" policy agenda. The full letter can be found below or at this link. As a matter of full disclosure, the author of THE DELEGATION (that's me), a former staffer for Congressman Young, signed onto the Peltola endorsement letter.
Murkowski highlights work on Alaska Native policy priorities.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, up for reelection herself, addressed AFN and highlighted her work on policy priorities important to Alaska Native communities. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was also supported by Senator Sullivan and the late Congressman Young, provides significant investments in Alaska Native communities to bolster climate resiliency, expand broadband, provide safe water infrastructure, and much more. Murkowski was instrumental in drafting the infrastructure bill and continues highlighting its importance to the State of Alaska.
Her speech registered her support for reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, which includes provisions to address the ongoing crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). She also participated in a board meeting of the Indigenous People's Council for Marine Mammals (IPCoMM), a group working to maintain traditional subsistence practices while also focusing on sustainability.
AFN brings together Alaska Native artists who sell traditional jewelry, art, and clothing. This showcase of craftsmanship is wonderfully Alaskan, and Murkowski made a point to visit Alaska's Indigenous artisans. If you're ever considering buying items from Alaska Native vendors, make sure you're buying authentic Native art. The Anchorage Museum has great tips for shopping for Alaska Native arts and crafts.
Sullivan emphasizes unity, highlights record on combating sexual abuse and domestic violence.
Senator Dan Sullivan's AFN remarks focused on unity and overcoming adversity — particularly in the aftermath of Typhoon Merbok. Sullivan, whose wife Julie is the daughter of late Athabascan leader Mary Jane Fate, spoke extensively about the benefits of the infrastructure bill for Alaska Native communities. Sullivan noted just how much funding was provided to expand broadband access in rural Alaska Native communities through the infrastructure bill. The MMIWG crisis deserves enormous attention. Sullivan's AFN remarks covered his work to prevent the disproportionate violence directed at Indigenous women and girls; he even name-checked Senator Murkowski and former AFN Co-Chair and Assistant Secretary of Interior for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney. His complete remarks can be read here.
"We have so much more work to do on this critical issue of sexual assault and domestic violence and in the related and heartbreaking and horrendous issue of missing and murdered indigenous women. But there's light on the horizon here, because these issues are finally starting to get the attention they deserve. Thanks to initiatives like Savannah's Act, which is led by Senator Murkowski, and Operation Lady Justice, led by former AFN Co-Chair and Assistant Secretary of Interior for Indian Affairs Tara Sweeney. Both of them have done such great work on this important issue. We're going to continue to unify on it, but I ask for a round of applause for the great work that they've done on this issue," said Sullivan in his AFN remarks.
Excellent reporting, Zack.