low-key, almost conversational tone in which the court’s decision was written. The complete ruling is available online at: www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pd- f/17-949_6kgn.pdf “I thought it was a very good decision. And it was a little unusual that it was a little more personal…they said things like ‘Mr. Sturgeon you NLYʭ]P`[dZ`]SZaP]N]LQ_ ɪ “It read more like a story and there were lots of other tidbits there too.” The single strongest statement in the Supreme Court decision was the reinforcement that Alas- VLT^OTʬP]PY_LYO_SL__SP1POP]LWRZaP]YXPY_ X`^__]PL_T_LYO,WL^VLY^OTʬP]PY_Wd ɭ?SPd^LTONWPL]Wd_SL_,WL^VLT^OTʬP]PY_ LYO_SPWLb^RZaP]YTYR,WL^VLL]POTʬP]PY_LYO ^SZ`WOMP_]PL_POOTʬP]PY_Wd “Lands here should not be treated like parks down South.” ?SPU`^_TNP^LW^Z]PTYQZ]NPOLYO^ZWTOTʭPO,9 - ILCA as the law of the land in Alaska, he added. “ANILCA was a grand compromise. The lands were set aside, but it also ensured the Alaska economy and lifestyle could continue. It makes it very clear that we are not like a normal park.
“They truly held up ANILCA as the model.” A supporting decision by Justices Montemayor and Ginsberg agreed with the decision but at- tempted to preserve some authority for the Parks Service to protect lands and waters in Alaska. Nothing in that supporting opinion is binding, and is more of the justices’ personal opinion, Sturgeon said, adding that both the state and Federal governments still share responsible to protect park lands, but the Feds have no addi- tional powers. Sturgeon also praised the court for its emphat- ic support for the Katie John decision supporting subsistence use on Federal Lands. “Katie John was collateral damage,” he said. “It was the 9th Circuit that threw Katie John under the bus. It was not something I started out with, but when the 9th rules and stuck it in, try- ing to deny me on the basis of Katie John.” A coalition for Alaskans helped convince the court that Katie John should not be considered in the decision. “The State of Alaska and AHTNA presented a solution to the Supreme Court, to ignore Katie John and rule, which is what they did. And the court sent back a strong message that Katie John
The Alaska Miner
April 2019
30
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