It is time for a change.

It is time for a new path.

it seems to me that the Yukon is in a humanitarian crisis.

We want you to understand the importance of Tribal voices, Local & Traditional Knowledge and cooperative management in fishery management processes.

We must work together, because ultimately the loss of salmon threatens your ways of life.

I do not have that magic button that can put fish back in the river now.

I would like to thank Senator Murkowski, members of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, and your staff for organizing this field hearing to hear directly from our Tribes.

I really hope that we could move forward with a just path and that the tribes are listened to and heard, and their opposition to this project as a majority of the tribes are opposed.

We need immediate action to find solutions to this crisis. That won't happen unless the Federal Government is willing to listen to and partner with Tribes.

I have a Tlingit name, Aan shaaw tk'i. I do not have a Yup'ik name.

We also appreciate Senator Murkowski's support for greater Tribal representation on the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

The Federal Government must act.

If you are serious about talking about co-management, you have to look at getting more funding for it.

I have actually been challenged on this, on even having this field hearing here in Bethel.

Do it now, because you don't want Alaska to be the next devastating American dust bowl.

Thank you for your comments.

If we were able to manage the resource, if we have funding that was stable for a dedicated period of time...

Again, it is not going to be a perfect solution, but hopefully it is a stepping stone in the right direction.