ALR Symposium 2018: 60 Years Later | A Native Perspective of Alaska’s Constitution
Due to the unique history of the territory and State of Alaska, and the social, political and legislative treatment of its indigenous inhabitants, Alaska’s Constitution has an extraordinary impact on the legal rights of Alaska Natives. Willie "Iggiagruk” Hensley was a young Inupiaq man living in remote rural Alaska at the time of the constitutional convention. He presents the perspective of Alaska Natives in the drafting and ratification of the Alaska Constitution. Willie served in the Alaska Legislature, was a leader in the settlement of Alaska Native aboriginal land claims and has had many other experiences which have given him a close look at how the constitution impacts the rights and lives of Alaska Natives. John M. “Sky" Starkey follows Willie’s presentation with some thoughts and legal analysis on how Alaskan courts can incorporate consideration of the near exclusion of Alaska Native representatives and perspectives in the drafting of the constitution when they consider constitutional issues with significant impact on Alaska Natives. He concentrates on the natural resource provisions of Article VIII of the constitution and issues related to Alaska Native hunting and fishing.
The symposium is co-sponsored by the UAA Justice Center and the Alaska Law Review in cooperation with the Historians Committee of the Alaska Bar Association
Recorded on October 12, 2018.
Appearing: John “Sky” Starkey (Landye Bennett Blumstein LLP) and Willie Hensley (University of Alaska Anchorage)