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TONGASS REFORM LEGISLATION 



FIELD HEARINGS 



TESTIMONY OF ED THOMAS, TRIBAL PRESIDENT 



CENTRAL COUNCIL OF TLINGIT-HAIDA 



INDIAN TRIBES 



KETCHIKAN, ALASKA 



APRIL 24, 1989 



GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS ED THOMAS AND I AM TRIBAL 

 PRESIDENT OF THE CENTRAL COUNCIL OF TLINGIT-HAIDA INDIAN 

 TRIBES. I WISH TO THANK THE COMMITTEE GIVING ME THE 

 OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THE VIEWS OF THE CENTRAL COUNCIL ON A 

 MATTER OF GREAT IMPORTANCE, THE TONGASS TIMBER REFORM 

 LEGISLATION. 



THE CENTRAL COUNCIL IS RECOGNIZED BY THE FEDERAL 

 GOVERNMENT AND THE JUDICIARY AS AN INDIAN TRIBAL GOVERNMENT. 

 MEMBERS RESIDE PRIMARILY IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA AND HAVE 

 RECOGNIZED CHAPTERS IN ANCHORAGE, SEATTLE AND SAN FRANCISCO. 



THE 1929 ALASKA NATIVE BROTHERHOOD CONVENTION 

 AUTHORIZED ACTION AGAINST THE UNITED STATES FOR 

 APPROXIMATELY 20 MILLION ACRES OF LAND IN SOUTHEAST ALASKA 

 TO WHICH THE TRIBES CLAIMED ABORIGINAL TITLE. IN 1968 THE 

 TRIBE RECEIVED A $7.5 MILLION JUDGMENT. THE COUNCIL 

 OPERATES AS A RESULT OF THAT JUDGMENT. BY ITS CONSTITUTION, 

 THE COUNCIL PROMOTES THE WELFARE OF THE TRIBES AND EXERCISES 

 OTHER POWERS ACCRUING TO IT THROUGH ITS FEDERALLY RECOGNIZED 

 SOVEREIGNTY. 



THE COUNCIL HAS A LONG HISTORY OF RECOGNITION, 

 COMMENCING WITH THE BIA'S "INDIAN INVOLVEMENT PROGRAM" AND 

 LATER THE SELF-DETERMINATION ACT, AND HAS ADMINISTERED 

 EDUCATIONAL, EMPLOYMENT AND HUMAN SERVICES PROGRAMS FOR THE 

 BIA SINCE 1970. 



IN THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE ALLOTTED, I WOULD LIKE TO 

 HIGHLIGHT THE ISSUES OF GREATEST IMPORTANCE TO OUR MEMBERS. 

 THEY ARE FISHERIES ENHANCEMENT, PRESERVATION OF SUBSISTENCE 

 RESOURCES, AND A REASONABLE BALANCE BETWEEN CONSERVATION AND 

 DEVELOPMENT. 



I GREW UP IN THE PRINCE OF WALES AREA. I HAVE BEEN 

 INVOLVED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN FISHING ALL OF MY LIFE. 

 A GREAT MANY OF OUR MEMBERS SHARE THAT HISTORY. WE ARE 

 TROUBLED BY WHAT WE FEEL IS AN OVEREMPHASIS ON TIMBER 

 MANAGEMENT AS THE TONGASS FOREST'S PRIORITY TO THE DETRIMENT 

 OF OTHER VALUES. WE FEEL IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE TONGASS 

 REFORM LEGISLATION CONGRESS PASSES GIVE A HIGHER PRIORITY 

 TO COMMERCIAL FISHING THAN IS GIVEN TODAY. S. 34 6 IS A STEP 



