NEWS RELEASE
April 22, 2006
Liv Gray Appointed Executive Council Emeritus
The Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska
(CCTHITA) held its 71st Annual General Assembly April 19-22, 2006
in Juneau, Alaska.
The
first resolution that passed was presented by the Executive Councilappointing
Liv Gray to a life-long appointment as Executive Council Emeritus.
Gray, a past executive council member has spent her life fighting
for the rights of Native Americans and especially for the rights
of the Tlingit and Haida people.
Delegates from as far away as San Francisco and Anchorage gathered
at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall in the Andrew Hope Building
and re-elected Edward K. Thomas to his 12th consecutive two-year
term as president of the Tribe.
They also seated 6 vice-presidents, a youth representative and
a tribal judge. Elected were William Martin, of Juneau, First
Vice-President; Dana Ruaro, of Juneau, Second Vice-President;
Richard Peterson, of Kasaan, Third Vice-President; Richard George,
of Angoon, Fourth Vice-President; Robert Sanderson, Jr., of Ketchikan,
Fifth Vice-President; Jay Cabuag, of Seattle, Sixth Vice-President;
Douglas Luna, of Seattle, as one of three Tribal Judges; and Krista
Lampe, of Anchorage, Youth Representative to the Executive Council.
During the Assembly there were 49 resolutions introduced addressing
issues on healthcare, education, subsistence, housing, tribal
management, and in support of other organizations and groups.
Highlights
of the convention included a traditional honor dinner in honor
offormer Tribal President, Clarence Jackson, Sr., and a special
presentation on the relocation of Aleuts to Southeast Alaska during
World War II.
There was an outstanding turnout of people to pay tribute to
Clarence Jackson, Sr., for all that he had done for our people
over the years. The event was made extra special with the clan
leaders in our region stepping forward in honor of Clarence.
The Aleut presentation was presented by David Osterback, Chairman
of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, and he thanked the
delegates for making the time to hear the horrific living conditions
his people had to endure during the war while living in our homeland.
"I am pleased to return for two more years of service to
our Tribe," said President Thomas. "We still have substantial
challenges confronting our people and I look forward in working
with our new council on these and other issues. I also thank the
past council for their years of dedicated service to our Tlingit
and Haida people."
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Media Contact:
Jodi Wolf, CCTHITA Publications
9097 Glacier Highway, Juneau, AK 99801
Tel. 907/463-7123
Email: jwolf@ccthita.org
