Sealaska Corp. endorses Walker and Murkowski

The Sealaska Corp. board of directors last Friday endorsed Bill Walker for governor and Sen. Lisa Murkowski in her reelection bid for U.S. Senate.

The board also announced its opposition to the measure on the Nov. 8 statewide election ballot that would call a constitutional convention to consider revisions to Alaska’s founding laws.

“Reassessing Alaska’s constitution could fundamentally endanger not just the rights of all Alaskans, but specifically Native sovereignty,” Jaeleen Kookesh, Sealaska vice president of policy and legal affairs, said in a prepared statement.

The board a week ago announced its support for Mary Peltola in her campaign to fill the seat of the late U.S. Rep. Don Young. Peltola is a former state House member from Bethel.

“Sealaska rarely endorses candidates, choosing to support only those candidates who are closely aligned with Sealaska’s vision for Alaska and the interests of its 23,000 Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian shareholders,” the corporation said in announcing the Walker and Murkowski endorsements. “Sealaska is deeply engaged in public policy issues impacting Alaska Natives, including traditional values and way of life, economic opportunity and land rights. “

Former Gov. Walker is running to defeat Gov. Mike Dunleavy. The Sealaska board said it is endorsing Walker because of his decision to expand the state’s Medicaid program, his support for the preservation and teaching of Alaska Native languages, and his support for fair wages and working conditions

The board announcement said, “Murkowski is an emphatic advocate for Alaska Native people in Washington, where she serves in several crucial leadership positions impacting Alaska Native and American Indian policy.”

In endorsing Peltola, the board said its support “is based on her long track record of working for and with Native communities across the state and because of her deep experience at all levels of government in Alaska.”