464 



A very brief summary of my employment background will dem- 

 onstrate my commitment to the status quo operation of the Ton- 

 gass Forest. I spent a great deal of my youth working in sawmills 

 in the Haines area. I spent 24 years as a teacher in the Sitka 

 School District. Paramount in my life is my involvement as a 

 Southeast Alaska gillnet fisherman. I have been involved in this 

 fishery for 40 years. Hopefully, the latter gives me credibility in 

 overlapping of occupations. I have long advocated the viability of 

 fishing and logging, provided one group respects the other. 



I am here today speaking as a director of Klukwan, Inc., an 

 ANCSA corporation. I am concerned about the long-term goals that 

 my corporation set years ago. These goals include acquiring timber 

 through the Tongass Small Business Set-Aside Sales Program. An- 

 other goal of our corporation is to build a primary manufacturing 

 facility. This will enable us to fully utilize the investments already 

 made in logging and road building. 



An additional goal of our corporation is to fulfill the commitment 

 we have made to our employees concerning long-term employment. 



As a fisherman, I feel that salmon resources should be protected. 

 If land withdrawals are needed to protect the major salmon river 

 systems, then land adequate for protection should be withdrawn. 



As a director of a landowner and logging company, I am cogni- 

 zant of businesses that serve both fisheries and logging. Infrastruc- 

 ture is present and local investments have been made upon as- 

 sumptions that there will be a viable timber industry and contin- 

 ued fisheries at the present level. 



The economies of Southeast Alaskan communities are diverse 

 and interdependent. I do not believe the economy of many South- 

 east communities would survive the loss of the timber industry. We 

 must have multiple use of our resources in order to sustain our di- 

 versified economy. 



Any radical changes in the Tongass will not only hurt the econo- 

 my of Southeast, but could destroy the dreams of many people de- 

 pendent upon the Tongass. 



In conclusion, there is a group of many people we call the "land- 

 less" who feel that they were left out. I would appreciate consider- 

 ation of resolving this issue through current Tongass election. 



I know the protocol allows me to say that I am very proud of my 

 senator. What he was saying earlier this morning almost brought 

 tears to my eyes. 



Thank you very much, sir. 



Senator Wirth. Thank you very much, Mr. Sparks. 



Mr. Smith. 



STATEMENT OF CARLTON R. SMITH, SOUTHEAST ALASKA NATIVE 



LAND ACQUISITION COALITION 



Mr. Smith. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak to 

 you today. My name is Carlton Smith and on behalf of more than 

 2,000 Alaska Natives from Southeast Alaska, I extend to you a 

 warm welcome to the Tongass. 



Teddy Roosevelt chose to rename the Tongass in 1902 after the 

 Tongass, Tlingit, people. So, we believe it is only fitting in your de- 



