FAIRBANKS -- The Alaska Federation of Natives voted Saturday to oppose a proposed statewide voter initiative that would block large metallic mines from discharging pollutants on land or water.
Doyon Ltd., a Fairbanks-based regional Native corporation, requested the vote on the citizen-sponsored initiative, which is in the signature-gathering stage.
The initiative was launched last spring by Bristol Bay residents who oppose developing the large copper and gold Pebble mineral deposit north of Iliamna Lake.
Volunteers have been collecting signatures for the initiative -- which they hope to put on the election ballot in 2008 -- all week at the AFN's annual convention, which ended Saturday.
The executives of the 12 regional corporations, including Doyon, voted prior to the AFN convention to oppose the initiative because of concerns that it would prevent the corporations from developing mines on their land.
Orie Williams, Doyon's chief executive, said Saturday that metal mining on Native corporation land benefits shareholders of all other corporations through revenue sharing of mineral royalties.
The only delegations at the Fairbanks meeting that voted against allowing Doyon's resolution on the AFN agenda were the Bristol Bay Native Corp., the Bristol Bay Native Association and the Bristol Bay villages.
The initiative has some of its strongest support from residents in the Bristol Bay region who oppose developing the large copper and gold Pebble mineral deposit north of Iliamna Lake.
OTHER RESOLUTIONS
The AFN delegates also voted on many other resolutions. Among them, the delegates voted:
• Against a resolution supporting the creation of a new prison in Interior Alaska.
• In favor of preserving the state's predator control program to cull wolf populations in rural Alaska and resisting Congressional attempts to impose a federal ban on predator control.
• In favor of blocking the proposed Chuitna coal mine on the west side of Cook Inlet from using a coastal site that Tyonek Natives say could be one of the largest pre-contact Athabascan communities in the region.
Mine developers have proposed building a coal storage and transport facility at the site, called Ladd Landing.
• Deferred a proposal requesting Gov. Sarah Palin to return the state biologists who rule on developers' requests to disturb fish habitat to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
The biologists were removed from Fish and Game by former Gov. Frank Murkowski, who put them in the state Department of Natural Resources. The AFN delegates voted to allow their board of directors to vote on the proposal at its December meeting.
MONGOLIAN VISIT
AFN had its first foreign president as its guest, the federation's president Julie Kitka said.
Mongolian president Nambaryn Enkhbayer -- in town to sign a sister city agreement between Fairbanks and one of his country's largest cities, Erdenet -- said he hoped to have many students travel between his country and Alaska.
Kitka gave the president a pair of moosehide and beaver gloves, and the Mongolian first lady, a hand-woven basket.
AFN AWARDS
The AFN gave out its annual president's awards on Saturday. The winners were:
• Public Service: Audrey Armstrong, of Anchorage.
• Hunter/Fisher: Herman Squartstoff of Ouzinkie
• Elder of the Year: Peter Jacob of Bethel
• Education: Shirley Kendall of Anchorage
• Parents of the Year: Wilfred and Vivian Lane of Kotzebue
• Healing Hands (medical): Clara Oyoumick of Unalakleet
• Health: Sophia Chase of Anchorage
• Culture Bearer: John Pingayak of Chevak
• Small Business: Janice Stiller of Anchorage
• Youth Leadership: Leo Neakok of Point Lay and Christie Carlo of Galena
