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Sheldon Jackson College 



Office of ihe President 



April 25, 1989 



U. S. Senate Energy Subcommittee On 



Public Lands, National Parks and Forests 

 Washington, D.C. 



Dear Honorable Members, 



I extend my sincere appreciation to you for holding public hearings on the 

 Tongass with the people who have the greatest vested interest in the issues. 

 Throughout Russian and U.S. history of Alaska there has been an excessive 

 cast of outside transients who have selfishly intervened for their own personal 

 gain at the expense of Alaskans. Hence, the act of listening by "cheechakos" 

 to the "sourdough caretakers" who have endured, protected and sustained this 

 great place is truly welcomed. 



Indeed, on the surface the Tongass issue before us appears to be one of simply 

 economic development versus conservation. However, I submit that the theme 

 for decision-making should logically be striking a balance of use and values 

 through establishment of mechanisms to maintain harmony. In this regard, I 

 urge that your subcommittee take action to: 



1) create a Tongass regional center for land management, economic 

 development, and scientific research in Sitka. Such action 

 assures regional decisions by the people who are most effected 

 by the planning, rather than those in Portland and other outside 

 locations. 



and 



2) support our Alaskan proposed Tongass legislation submitted by our 

 own Senators Murkowski and Stevens. The resultant reform will 

 still honor the long term congressional commitment to the timber 

 industry and our Southeast Alaska communities. 



This testimony to you is prompted from the honor of serving as leader of 

 Sheldon Jackson College, the oldest educational institution in Alaska. For 

 the 111 years of service in Sitka our heritage has emanated from a priority 

 placed upon preservation of the past balanced with the economic and social- 

 political realities of the future. Two of our new academic majors. Natural 

 Resource Management and Development and Aquatic Resources, are designed to 

 help our future leaders work toward the critical harmonious balance across 

 special interest groups. 



801 Lincoln Street • Sitka, Alask.i 99835 • 907/747-5222 



22-148 0-89-20 



