Joe Poor’s commentary claims support for Tier 3 Chilkat River designation is funded by “‘outside’ groups whom (sic) have no vested interest in our community.” Tier 3 designation was first proposed by Chilkat Indian Village. It is supported by Lynn Canal Conservation which has a 47-year history in Haines and many members who are second or third generation residents. It is also supported by the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council, a long-time regional conservation group with numerous southeast Native members and staff. Who are the “outside” groups – trollers who depend on Chilkat cohos and (formerly) kings? I would like Joe to name the funders so that LCC can collect our checks.
Joe should look again at “outside” groups who “. . . don’t care about you or me or where we chose to live, play or work.” It seems like Constantine, a Canadian mining exploration company, and DOWA, a multibillion-dollar Japanese financial backer of the project fit the definition of “outside” funders rather well.
Eric Holle