463 

 Senator Wirth. Mr. Senna. 



STATEMENT OF JAMES SENNA, SHEE ATIKA, INC. 



Mr. Senna. My name is James Senna. I am President/CEO of 

 Shee Atika, Incorporated, which is a native corporation formed by 

 the Natives of Sitka under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement 

 Act, ANCSA. 



The shareholders of Shee Atika and their families comprise over 

 24 percent of Sitka's total population, and we thank you for this 

 opportunity to testify. 



The Tongass issues are important to us, and we support some 

 changes. S. 237 represents a balanced view. However, S. 346 poses 

 an unconscionable threat to Sitka and to Shee Atika shareholders. 



Termination of the long-term timber sale contract with Alaska 

 Pulp Corporation would do away with 23 percent of all jobs in 

 Sitka. While this would devastate the community at large, the Na- 

 tives would be hardest hit. 



Native unemployment here, at over 20 percent, is already higher 

 than the overall rate of 8 percent. Natives tend to have less educa- 

 tion, lower incomes, experience more social problems and already 

 lean heavily on government support. 



Sitka is not like small towns in the Lower 48. We are isolated. 

 The road ends seven miles out of town. Arguably, Alaska Pulp 

 might recover, because of possible reparations. The more mobile 

 non-Native population will move, but the Natives, less economical- 

 ly mobile, already subjected to greater social and economic duress, 

 with deep roots and heritage here, will stay, and most likely will 

 require additional government support. 



Sitka enjoys a reasonably balanced economy. Tourism and fish- 

 ing are important, but those and other segments are not growing 

 fast enough to ever replace the jobs the pulp mill provides. 



We generally support the position of the Alaska Loggers Associa- 

 tion with respect to the other Tongass issues, but our gravest con- 

 cern is preservation of the timber contracts. We estimate that over 

 30 percent of all jobs held in Sitka by Natives and their family 

 members are attributable to the pulp mill. We want to save our 

 jobs, not more government support. 



Whatever happened to the idea that a deal is a deal? In S. 346 

 you propose breaching the contract with the mill. If you get away 

 with this, all Sitkans will suffer, not just Alaska Pulp. The credibil- 

 ity of Congress will suffer, too. 



One mill, in a town of 8,200 people, may not seem important to 

 senators and congressmen from the Lower 48, but I must ask, 

 would any of you support a bill that would cost 23 percent of the 

 jobs in your district? 



We support S. 237. Thank you. 



Senator Wirth. Mr. Sparks. 



STATEMENT OF RONALD SPARKS, MEMBER, BOARD OF 

 DIRECTORS, KIUKWAN, INC. 



Mr. Sparks. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My name is Ronald 

 Sparks. I am a life-long resident of Southeast Alaska, having been 

 born and raised in Haines. 



