This is not the time or the place to develop the world's largest open pit mine on the backs of the tribal nations of this region.

We need some answers. We need to be heard. We cannot accept this as a government formality for turning a deaf ear on the poor.

I hope that our tribal leaders, the State and Federal Government will become a stronger advocate for recovery and wellness.

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

We appreciate Senator Murkowski's work to assist AYK salmon populations through Congressionally-directed spending in support of research, monitoring, and co-management.

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.

We voted you in with trust, as well as others. It is time for us to wake up and not sleep.

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 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.

It is time for a change.

Thank you very much, Senator Lisa Murkowski, for being with us today on this historic day, as you said.

One of the key takeaways from that was the need for Native people to have a seat at the table, equal voice in management of subsistence resource.

We have sacrificed a lot on the Yukon, from salmon gear to fishing times, of the whole people on Yukon River.

The traditional harvesting culture in Alaska Native communities remains really strong.

Stop allowing the status quo so as to not affect industry harvest to the extent practicable in fisheries management.

Allow them to have an opening to enable their communities to continue to teach this way of life.

We can never thank enough those who have stood to defend us and our Country's freedoms.

If we don't fish, we don't eat. It is pretty basic.