Please note that these are not the official minutes of the meeting. These are quickly typed-in notes provided by staff. Audio tapes will be available for purchase by the public at IMIG Audio/Video, 2611 Fairbanks St. Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503. Please contact Zena at (907) 274-2161. The price is $6 per 120 minute tape.

Introduction of Commission Members:

Mara Kimmel of Anchorage
Denise Morris of Anchorage
Kelly Brown of Fairbanks
Judge Tom Stewart of Juneau
Sen. Bettye Davis, Chair (Rev. Chuck Eddy had family emergency)
Gilbert Sanchez of Anchorage
Marie Greene of Kotzebue
Sen. Georgianna Lincoln of Rampart
Thelma Buchholdt of Anchorage
Shari Kochman of Juneau
Rep. Mary Kapsner of Bethel
Rev. Michael Oleksa of Koliganek

Channel 2 News Coverage
Geoff Kennedy, APRN

Sen. Johnny Ellis, represents Fairview and Mountain View in Alaska Senate
Awesome array of talent in this room. Commend Gov. and Lt. Governor for recognizing the problems we have. Fairview and Mountain View. I'm sure you will hear some interesting and disturbing stories. Hopefully it will get to other members of the Legislature. I hope it's ignorance and not hate.

David Sam
Child of Kagwonton. And that's how I come to you today. I wrote David Sam because that's the word in English. Difficult to articulate because I've been taught by white people. To stand here before you is very hard because it raises questions about who am I. Because it wasn't taught to me in school. My little brother remembers walking into kindergarten in my mother's hand. As soon as she left he begins to cry. He thought, I'm being given away. And it's so true. Nothing in the school district paid any attention at all as to who we are as a people. And that continues today. The white male system consistently kills messengers. The anger and the rage sometimes comes out. The messages aren't heard. I have a three year old granddaughter. At a gathering last Friday after another act of terrorism ­ it was too big to understand. Maybe my daughter will be able to articulate what has happened to U.S. when she gets older. But this act of terrorism has been consistent to indigenous people. I lived in Sitka. We need to pay attention to what happens to our young people. My granddaughter has a right to learn who she is. White male system makes the indigenous people invisible. I don't know what's worse. Walking into a school and being given away or suicide, which is how our young people has dealt with these issues. I give thanks to Father Oleksa at the subsistence hearings to open the door. But no disrespect ­ why do you kill the messenger and not listen to the message. I appreciate the work that has been done by Father Oleksa with cross-cultural training and InterCambios with bilingual programs. No Native people at masses that took place last week after the terrorist attacks. The damage that has been done to our people is great. A book I encourage you to read. Native American Post Colonial psychology, by Eduardo and Bonnie Duran. It talks about depression. I'm sure you've been hearing many different perspectives about the damage. The system is working against us. Please, continue to listen and stay involved. Listen to the young people. It'd be good if you could do this same thing in the middle of the schools. I'm tired of our children being taken away by the Division of Family and Youth Services and in the school system. Thank you.

Questions from Denise Morris, Shari Kochman. Sen. Davis encourages Mr. Sam to participate in school activities today.

Suggestions:
Encourage more culturally-competent instruction. Curriculum developed by indigenous people. Include Indigenous males so children will have role models. I was director of the Sitka Native education program. The program was extra ­ it wasn't part of the regular school program.

Gloria Sasieta
Concern is minority kids in the school district. It's sad to see how race and color and background makes you go through steps where they will bring you down no matter what. I'm not black. I'm Hispanic from south America. I had to learn the language and it was hard. Raised in New Jersey and it was hard there and really tough here. I have one kid who was kicked out of the school system and he can't go back. My kid has been out of school since April. I have gone to meetings and no one calls me back. No one can help me. Nobody listens. He has a police record now because of threats. How does kicking kids out of school help your child. I know it is happening to others and I don't understand why they don't come forward. I need help to get his education back. If a kid has a disability you still have to help them. I have left my name over and over. You have probably heard my name before.

Bettye Davis and Gloria conversation.
I understand your son was expelled (Hanshew middle school). What are you now doing for your son? I have applied for home schooling. Sen. Davis: Didn't you receive a letter from the school district telling you how to get him back into school? I want the school district to remove the statement that one teacher says he said. No other students heard the comment he "allegedly" said. I want them to investigate more and have the comment taken off. It's a big thing for a 13 year old to go through. Sen. Davis: I agree something needs to be done. Your child needs to go to school. You have to realize that there are certain things you are going to have to do. Please get with someone other than the school district to walk you through the process. Goal for Gloria: Get his records cleared. My son wants to go to school. He's getting counseling and wants to go back.

Sen. Lincoln and Gilbert Sanchez questions: Thank you for having the courage to come and testify. Gilbert:

Lynne Koral
I live in the Fairview area. Alaska Independent Blind Convention. I was so glad it was close. I had asked if there had people with disabilities testifying and was told that there haven't been too many people. Having tolerance in our community should be the same as having inclusion in our community. Summary of meeting that I read on the web site. People talk about employers. Well, people in the disability community are told they can't get jobs. Access is difficult. Many times, people don't go out of their house. They are afraid and don't have the training. It's up to us to educate people on our needs. Braille needs to be in the school district. We can be employed if we have the right equipment. Assistive technology is needed. Funding is needed. Anyone of you could become disabled at any time. Anyone of you could have a family member with a disability. The isolation, depression. Some of us with disabilities have families who feel like they were failures so they don't embrace their family members with disabilities. Lot of alcohol abuse with the vision impaired and blind community because there is so much pain. I love every human being and it is hard to listen to people who think we are complaining. We are just letting people know our needs. We want to be integrated into society. Disability crosses all lines. All races, all classes, all cultures. We can't just put our heads in the sand and forget about it.
(Most lines are attitudinal not architectural ­ Shari Kochman asks if she can use this quote from Lynne to put in our report). Do you think all blind people should be integrated into the
You have to take the individual into account. Integration is best most of the time. We are already separated by the barriers in society. I don't think people mean to be against people with disabilities. We target ourselves a lot of times and it is difficult for us.

Alaska Information Rehabilitation Services (AIRS): This is where you can get Braille done. Not as many places as there used to be. Radio reader services and other 907 563-2120

Sen. Lincoln thanks Lynne for reminding us that we need to be more aware of how much more difficult it is to get around when you have disabilities.

Sandra Anderson
I'd like to thank Sen. Ellis. He's the reason I'm here today because he sent me an email. Thanks Sen. Ellis. Teacher at High School in Anchorage. I teach ESL. 500 students in the School district. English as a Second Language. 4 bilingual interpreters at my school. I'm here to talk about the High School Exit Exams. We are having the test next weeks. I proctored that exam last year and it was difficult to watch them struggling. My students are immigrants and the language is difficult. My students did better on the math portion but didn't do as well on the English portion. They realized as they were doing the exam that they didn't have the language skills. Many of my students have children already. Some are in early 20s. Sole providers for their family. Many of my students have jobs. Go to school from 7:30 to 2:30 and then go to a full work day. Many students feel like why bothering because they don't think they will pass. You have to know poetry and language and history from this American culture that they just didn't have time to learn yet. I see it as elitist and possibly even racist. These people are intelligent but they just haven't acquired the language skills yet. I would like to see the exam as optional. It could be on their record that they took it or not. But if they take the required courses to pass, they should get a diploma. You probably won't hear too many voices on this because

Denise Morris and Thelma Buchholdt questions and comments.

Alice Sam
I have a Down's Syndrome daughter who is 29 and I see so many people who treat her so terrible. It hurts me to this day. She didn't ask to be brought into this world. She's now in Juneau at REACH. She's working two jobs. She is doing good. I am terrified to speak. I saw how lonely the retarded children are. My daughter cries. I grew up with prejudice because my father was Japanese. I was an emotional child. I was 8 or 9 years old when they took my father. I heard from my family ­ don't forget you are Japanese. Prejudice is really hurtful. You don't know unless you go through it. Thank you. I'm not a speaker but Georgianna asked me to speak so I did.

Sen. Lincoln: Comments on how difficult it is to come up and speak. Thanks Alice and encourages others to have the courage to tell the commission how you feel.

Juliette Hildreth
Live in Anchorage, relocated after spending some time in village but moved to Anchorage because there wasn't economic opportunity. I want to give you the perspective to be a baby ANCSA. So much disrespect for shareholders of corporate and tribal leadership. I want to tell you there is reverse racism in the Native community. I don't want to speak too harshly because some of the people are in my own family. Everyone is too busy, driving their cars and using their cell phones. I got Sen. Davis on the phone, my legislator, but I can't get a hold of Native people in my corporation. There is a rift between the young and older shareholders. The disrespect I get ­ you can hear it in my voice. I'm just a halfbreed. Bigotry. A pipeline company ­ section 29 ­ recruit, train and retain. Joint pipeline federal state office. EEO officer never enforced the clause. My Native corporation never fought for the jobs. It landed with AFN and they had me go over to Alyeska pipeline. I know what has happened to my application. It has been thrown away four times. Yet retired AFN employees are on the payroll. Young natives don't have a chance. There is a groundswell of shareholders who are getting so disenfranchised. When I read about this today. Another report on racial discrimination. It gets so tiring. One person can make a difference. I've gone through five section 29 managers. How difficult can it bge. Recruit, train and retain. People saying they are culturally diverse because they have "black" friend. That makes me sick. It's a big mess out there. I have some big mentors. Roger Cremo. He keeps moving forward. There is a very unhappy Native community. I won't let my kids go to AFN. I tell my kids ­ don't drink, don't smoke. They go there and that's what they do. Sen. Davis ­ thank you for always being there when we have problems in our district.

Rep. Mary Kapsner question:
What is your corporation? It's mixed because the elders are dying. I have a mix. Management calls you a dissident for saying anything. Shareholders have a big problem. Internal strife within the regional corporations. Native appointees to the Governor's office were all over 50 and were all men. The Native Liaisons. I spoke to Tim Twardock, one of the Native liaisons about the concept of having a representation of the Native Community, he just didn't understand the concept.

Sen. Davis:
Don't give up on your people. Continue to have your voice be heard but know that not everyone can agree on everything.

Regina Manteufel
I've been active in the Fairview community for 12 years. I've been active at this center for longer than that. I'm hear to talk to you about problems with Parks and Recreation. We are not having a mix of students like we should. Should have the Hillside kids mixing with our Fairview kids. Mix the blind students and the overweight kids and girls and different cultures ­ like the Native events. We don't have that. We have traditional white sports. I have been raising funds for this center. I keep bringing up ideas for this center to do to raise money and they don't do it. We have cuts to the Parks and Rec budget and funds from this center being diverted all over town. Why don't we have a big camping trip over here at this park ­ Lyons park. We busted our butt to get it. We can get volunteers for International events but no one to help out with events locally. There aren't enough girls on these sports teams. It gets so frustrating. I've had 12 years of fighting with the staff trying to get people to do things. I'm getting ready to take out a $1000 ad to let people know what's going on. These kids are missing out. I was lucky because my mom got me involved in things young. I've been a victim of a hate crime. I was beat up when I was a kid because I was white. I've been raped. I've seen little girls get together and form a team but no one works with them. I have people call me and ask me to help set things up. People have these lists but people don't want to share them. Would it be too difficult to send an email to 200 people asking them if they would volunteer to set up a camping trip at the park. I'm tired of baseball. Why can't we have a camping trip?

Andrea McCloud
Three things I want to talk about. 1.) Definition of Tolerance to add to record from webster's dictionary. Sympathy or indulgence for beliefs that are different or conflicting from one's own. It is intimidating to speak in front of bodies such as yours. I have done it before but it is always intimidating. I was watching the news last night and that's what brought me here. Something was said that I'm concerned with and that's why I had to speak up today. Saying them: and Us. I was showed a lot of intolerance by a member of your commission. I was not tolerated. Look at yourselves and see how tolerant you are. This isn't them or us it's that we have different beliefs.
2.) Human Rights Commission. Back in '82 I brought up systemic discrimination. The Human Rights Commission has a stamp that says "there is no substantial proof of discrimination" They need to get rid of that stamp. Food stamp program. They found discrimination and it had to come back to the State.
3.) Speaking English. I'm an immigrant from the Middle East and I didn't speak English until I was 8 years old. I think the English and Second Language only programs inhibit people. I work in the School District and those programs are a dumping ground. Look into that.
Under the Human Rights Commission should expand its list of protected classes. Add political beliefs. If you are not part of a certain party you are not listened to. Divisive between the Democrats and Republicans. I'm a non-partisan. There are a lot of non-partisans out there. I was in the elevator with one of you and asked about a governor's veto and

Theresa Obermeyer
Gender equity. Women are minorities. Referred to the agenda from yesterday's Tolerance Commission meeting and said it wasn't advertised. Upset because she would have come if she had known about it. Everything is a paper shuffle in this state. One of my jokes is "all I have in life is a 34-cent postage stamp." I have three teenagers at East High. I am being prosecuted by my children's principal again. A police officer came to my door yesterday. It's all so ridiculous. My son's final football game is happening and I can't go to it. I'm really lucky. I've always been helped. I've always been believed. I was surprised when I came here. 17 years of Hate Crimes against the Obermeyer family. The greatness of the United States of America is individual responsibility. I have tried too long. You are being used. Refers to the list of speakers at yesterday's meeting. Carol Comeau. She just sent me a certified letter. 6 fabricated court trials I have been called to. What about my family. All of this is so sick and demented. It's an effort to tear my marriage apart. My father was a judge: He always told me the greatest thing in life is a good story. I have lots of good stories. Politicians in DC. Main job is getting their children elected to the State Legislature. I'm sorry Rev. Eddy isn't here today. I hear he has a family emergency. High School exit exam. That is Exxon.

Shirley Saucelman
I'm a physician in Anchorage. Praise a couple good things I've seen in Anchorage recently. Judge Rose's mental health court. Treat people's illness rather than through the jail. This is a very serious time for persons with mental illness. National Alliance for Mentally Ill. Sadly, family of people of mental illness are forced to deal with criminal justice. Hope to have brain treated as part of the body. Things are getting a little better. We do have medications so people can live in their community. New CIT Crisis Intervention Team. The Mental Health Trust ­ John Malone ­ is very interested in it. Gets people into treatment, even before they are tried with a crime. This is worse for someone with darker skin. They tend to get less treatment and go to jail longer.

Question from Shari Kochman:
How do we get a CIT Crisis Center here? How would it be funded? Sam Cochran of the national one is wonderful. Is there a similar crisis intervention program for alcohol? She doesn't know.

Debbie Hunter
I didn't think I was going to get called here. Listening to political testimony. This happens to be racial. I was crossing the street the other day. I had the Right of Way. I was walking and the car stopped. So I continued walking. She stopped again. So I stepped back and what I think she was trying to do is hit me. She did. She was white. Hit me directly. I was screaming so loudly some people who were at 5th Avenue Mall came over. They didn't see the accident. She claimed it was an accident. The police officer believed her. He was also white. I started yelling because I thought he was taking her side. I have had serious back problems. The paramedics told me I needed to calm down. The officer told me she was being charged with failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. She was also driving without a license. That wasn't the first time I was targeted by a white motorist. The day before. Same thing, I had the Right of Way. Ford Bronco. He saw me in the crosswalk. It was like he was playing chicken with me. Daring me to walk across the street. Several incidents prior to that, both involved white male motorists. First I went to Channel 13. White male reporter said, "what's the point here. What's the story here." "What would you be trying to accomplish for putting this in the news." Apparently there was an anonymous caller who reported the incident and also for public safety purposes I think it is important. He didn't think public safety issues were important. I went to Channel 11. I specifically wanted to speak to Mary Case because she was Korean. She said, "we don't do old stories." She made some remark about people being stalked or something. All these excuses for not being able to put this in the news. There could have been someone who had seen it. This is the news media here that doesn't think safety is in issue. I realize they can't put every little fender-bender in the news. I know that. This time I'm knocked off my feet on my back. And this isn't significant enough to be in the news? What if it had been reverse? If a white woman was hit by a black person or Native person. They'd put that in the news and be tracking it down. It's the media's responsibility to inform the public.

Someone from the audience asks if she tried to write a letter to the editor. She hasn't yet but she's been notifying the business community.

Rep. Kapsner offers her sympathy for her having to go through this. Gilbert Sanchez urges her to notify others in the community.

Other business:
Rep. Mary Kapsner reads a legislative citation sponsored by her honoring Father Michael Oleksa for his years of work strengthening communication between Alaskans. Father Michael has lived and worked in rural Alaska for many years and speaks Yup'ik. He created a cross-training cultural series of tapes and does training statewide.

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