JUNEAU, ALASKA-- Next Saturday,  Southeast Alaskans alongside, State Representative Sara Hannan,  Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC), and the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) will gather on the steps of the Alaska State Capitol to show local support for the 2001 National Roadless Rule on the Tongass National Forest. The Tongass National Forest falls within the traditional territories of the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian Peoples, the original inhabitants of this land since time immemorial. 

The existing national roadless rule protects ~9.2 million acres from logging and logging roads in Alaska's Tongass National Forest. The rally is being held in anticipation of the public release of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the Alaska-specific Roadless Rule, which is expected sometime this summer. A state-specific rule could unravel critical ecological and cultural protections under the existing 2001 National Roadless Rule. The Tongass, is the largest intact Pacific temperate rainforest region in North America, and serves as a “carbon life-raft” for storing carbon and maintaining America’s resilience in the face of the climate crisis. 

Speakers will include: 

• Sara Hannan, Alaska Representative House District 32

• Joel Jackson, Organized Village of Kake Tribal Council President

• Wanda “Kashudoha” Loescher Culp, Tlingit activist and WECAN Tongass Coordinator

• Naawéiyaa Austin Tagaban, Artist, SEACC Board Member

Members of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council (SEACC), the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International, Indigenous Alaskans, and Yees Ku Oo (multicultural dance group) will also attend. A Livestream of the event can be found at the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN) International’s Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/WECAN.Intl/

When: Saturday, June 22nd, 10 am- 12pm.

Where: Alaska State Capitol Building, 120 4th St, Juneau, AK marching to Overstreet Park, Harris Harbor Way, Juneau, AK.

Visuals: Two large banners with salmon and tree rally signs. At Overstreet park, there will be music, free burgers/veggie burgers, and local Coppa ice cream and Woosh.ji.een fry bread will be for sale. Attendees will have the opportunity to write comments in support of the 2001 National Roadless Rule.