Alaska nominee grilled on Native rights issues
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Filed Under:
Law
|
Politics
Lawmakers in Alaska asked attorney general nominee
Wayne Anthony Ross about his past views on sovereignty and subsistence at his confirmation hearing on Wednesday.
Ross said he will represent all of Alaska if confirmed to the post. But when asked about subsistence, he said that Alaska Natives were given "more rights than other people," The Anchorage Daily News reported.
In response to critics, Ross has drawn a distinction from positions he advocated as an attorney for clients and those as a public official. But he told The Juneau Empire that he is against tribal sovereignty.
"I do believe that tribal government could be utilized under the auspices of the state of Alaska to provide more local control," Ross told the paper. "So I think they have a mistaken impression of what my position is."
The
Alaska Federation of
Natives, the
Tanana Chiefs Conference, the
Association of Village
Council Presidents and the
Alaska Native Brotherhood and Alaska Native Sisterhood in Juneau oppose Ross.
Get the Story:
Juneau Native groups oppose confirmation of attorney general
(The Juneau Empire 4/8)
Ross confirmation hearing testy at times (The Anchorage Daily News 4/9)
Related Stories:
Editorial: Alaska nominee's past views not an
issue (4/8)
Alaska nominee won't discuss
tribal sovereignty (4/3)
Alaska Natives
oppose state attorney general pick (4/1)
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