Carnival Thanks
Dear Editor: Betty Eliason Child Care Center would like to say thank you to everyone who helped make this year’s carnival a real success.
Many families from the community came to share in the fun as well as our BECCC families and staff. It was two hours of pure fun and enjoyment. Thank you to the local media for helping us get the word out on KIFW and KCAW radio, KTNL television, and the Daily Sitka Sentinel. Your generosity is very much appreciated.
Betty Eliason Child Care Center
Alaska Day Response
Dear Editor: Following is my response to your article on Alaska Day (Oct. 14) that was also in the Ketchikan Daily News (through the Associated Press) ‘‘Alaska Day A Go.’’
James P. Bailey, doctor of law (land and title specialist) statement:
The United States claims title to Alaska through a quitclaim from the Tsar of Russia by the Treaty of Cession of 1867. ‘‘The Smoking Gun’’ consists of documents created between 1821 and 1824 during the negotiation of a convention between the U.S. and Russia brought about by an edict published by the Tsar of Russia in 1821.
In 1821 the Russian Tsar attempted to restrict other nations from the waters that washed the shores of the Northwest coast of North America; i.e. to all territory lying north of the 51st. degree of latitude by virtue of discovery. ‘‘The Smoking Gun’’ documents demonstrate that Russia did not have title to the lands claimed and indeed casts a cloud on all lands claimed by the U.S. under the Treaty of Cession of 1867.
The documents and the historical context in which they arose demonstrate that the U.S. recognized the right of the Tlingit people to trade with the U.S., Great Britain and Spain. These documents assert that under the Law of Nations Russia did not have title by discovery to any lands not occupied by Russia. The documents are clear – Russia could not successfully claim title to the Northwest coast of North America and the adjacent islands.
We believe Russia lacked title in much of the lands owned and occupied by the Indigenous peoples of Alaska. Dr. Bailey made an in-depth research at the Smithsonian Institute, the National Archives, and Congressional Records where all the records are stored for all the states in the union.
There is nothing on record to show Russia owned Alaska; and there is nothing on record to show the United States bought Alaska. Flawed title is flawed title and does not improve with the passage of time.
John Quincy Adams’ statement: Alexander I of Tsarist Russia communications stated merchants must now trade through the established forts and settlements. In response to the claim, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams, on behalf of United States President James Monroe, declared in diplomatic communications that this territory was not part of the Russian Empire and asserted that the “Natives were independent tribes inhabiting an independent territory.” These diplomatic communications gave full citations under the law of Nations as to why Tsarist Russia did not acquire the region of Alaska. The United States asserted that the Native Nations essentially possess the “Title” and dominion with full sovereignty and independence as any European nation under the law of Nations. This placed the sovereignty of the Alaska Nations on equal footing as any European Nation.
The 1867 Treaty of Cession between Tsarist Russia and the U.S. is an unlawful treaty since the U.S. already denied that the Northwest Territories (Alaska at the time) was not part of the Russian Empire. The U.S. Supreme Court supported this position when it determined in 1975 US vs. State of Alaska (422 US 184) that the 1867 Treat of Cession was a quitclaim. Natives have Dominion.
George Suckinaw James Jr.,
Ketchikan
Writing Contest
Dear Editor: A heartfelt thank you goes out to all of the people who helped make this year’s Alaska Day writing contest a success.
We give special thanks to the courageous writers who put pen to paper and shared their thoughts with the community on the Alaska Marine Highway System on their 50th anniversary. We also appreciate the effort of the teachers who encouraged their students to enter.
Additional thanks go out to the Alaska Day Committee for the generous prize money they provided for the winners.
Thanks to the Sitka Soup, Daily Sitka Sentinel, Raven Radio, and Sitka merchants for helping us spread the word about the contest.
We appreciated the warm, welcoming venue to showcase the elementary and middle school winners that was provided by Kettleson Memorial Library and the Alaska Day Variety Show for including the adult and high school winners in that program.
The Write Women of Sitka
