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2:21 The Anchorage Assembly unanimously approved Thursday, January 14, 2021, an ordinance that formally establishes a government-to-government relationship with the Native Village of Eklutna.
The president of the Eklutna village Tribal council, Aaron Leggett, called the ordinance “a monumental achievement by both governments.”
“This isn’t something that will happen overnight, I think it will be a continually developing relationship and I’m sure that we will find ways to simply have more dialogue on a government-to-government level so that we can get rid of misunderstandings, miscommunications and mis-intent.”
The ordinance is the culmination of nearly a year of work between Leggett, a council working group of Forrest Dunbar, Kameron Perez-Verdia and Christopher Constant and others.
Anchorage Assembly establishes formal government relationship with Native Village of Eklutna
Print article In a unanimous vote, the Anchorage Assembly on Thursday officially established a formal government-to-government relationship with the Native Village of Eklutna. The move is also intended to place respect and recognition for the area’s Indigenous Dena’ina Athabascan people into municipal code, according to a memorandum about the ordinance. “This is a strike at the heart of the question of justice,” Assembly member Christopher Constant said. “The recognition of the sovereignty of the Native people of the Village of Eklutna by the Municipality of Anchorage is long overdue.”
Anchorage considers formal relationship with Eklutna village
by The Associated Press
Last Updated Jan 12, 2021 at 9:28 am EDT
ANCHORAGE, Alaska The Anchorage Assembly is expected to consider an ordinance proposing a formal government relationship between the municipality and the Native Village of Eklutna.
The prospective ordinance follows a 2019 assembly resolution seeking to establish the relationship with Eklutna’s tribal government, Alaska’s News Source reported Monday.
The ordinance was scheduled for a public hearing and vote at the assembly’s meeting on Tuesday.
The ordinance outlines a process for Eklutna to provide input to Anchorage municipal processes. The measure would direct the municipality to develop policies with Eklutna to identify programs and projects affecting the village.