stands. In a lot of ways, they strengthened Katie John. “Our opinion is that the Supreme Court has signaled their support to protect subsistence.” The decision extends far beyond hunters and ʭ^SP]XPYLYONLYTXXPOTL_PWdTX[LN_XTYP]^ He pointed out that gold miners working not far from the Nation River also rely on hovercraft LYOSLaPSLONZYʮTN_^bT_S_SP;L]V^>P]aTNPL^ well. The case took almost 12 years and cost Stur- geon $1.2 million in legal expenses, for which $1.1 million has been defrayed through contri- butions. The Sturgeon Trust continues to accept donations to cover the last $100,000 in costs. ,YNSZ]LRPWPRLWʭ]X,^SM`]YLYO8L^ZYNLY provide more information for those interested in contributing. Sturgeon has never personally received any funds related to the case. He chuckled at the question of how he’ll spend his time now that the decision is over. “I’ve got a lot of things I still do! And I’m still working!” Sturgeon serves on the board of directors for the Alaska Mental Health Trust, Alaska Wild Sheep Foundation, Resource Development Coun- cil, Alaska Safari Club International, The Alaska
Forest Association and The Alaska Outdoor Coun- cil. He never stopped the moose hunting either. “I’ve not missed a beat moose hunting — I’ve not missed but one time since 1971.”
April 2019
The Alaska Miner
31
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