Sutton Green Update w/ Additional Info

[AK_Zombie]

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted anything on this matter. Sometimes the daily grind gets in the way. I'll keep this short and to the point.

1. The borough did vote to give a 100k grant to a new trails group supported by the Friends of Matsu. Look at the track record of the Friends of Matsu and you decide where this might head.

2. The Sutton Community Council did request in writing the borough place any "green" initiatives in the area on hold.

3. During the last Sutton Community Council meeting the council voted to request/allow the use of over 100k in borough funds in the creation of a foot trail to Eska Falls. On the surface this sounds great. All users rights are protected. The question remains whether this will impact hunting in the area over the long term. This area is the Matanuska Moose Range and it would be a shame to see a foot trail in the area be used as ammunition to restrict hunting.

4. I've also received additional information since I last posted regarding a larger issue in the area. I'll leave my personal opinions out of this one and let everyone decide for themselves what this means for the bigger picture in the long run. First I have a copy of an add placed in the ADN telling hunters they must get a permit from the Chickaloon Tribal Council or face an appearance in their Tribal Court and a $1000 fine. Next I have a copy of a map detailing the area this covers. Third I have a copy of an email from Jennifer Harrison the Executive Director of the Chickaloon Traditional Council stating the maps do not apply to non-natives.

I would like to post all of these to the thread but apparently do not have sufficient permissions to do so. So if anyone would like to see these please send me a message.

I encourage everyone to do their own research and make up their own minds regarding the activities in the Sutton area and how these events may impact their future use of the area whether it be hiking, hunting, atv'ng, etc.

 

[bigbear400]

Thank you so much for the info. This is a wake up call for me , I need to get involved . I thank i'm going to start a group called friends against friends of Mat-su

 

[JFLOAT]

Dave

PM sent

 

[AKKCChief]

Tribal Court.............Ha! They don't have jurisdiction for squat.

 

[snowbear]

commented below

Sorry it's been so long since I last posted anything on this matter. Sometimes the daily grind gets in the way. I'll keep this short and to the point.

1. The borough did vote to give a 100k grant to a new trails group supported by the Friends of Matsu. Look at the track record of the Friends of Matsu and you decide where this might head.

Were you at the assy meeting? The Parks & Trails Foundation was/is supported by many groups. I have talked to several of the Board members for the foundation, with the exception of LW as I know very well her anti-motorized opinions, and found them very rational. We also have 3 on the assy that pressed the Foundation on the issue of motorized support before voting in favor.


2. The Sutton Community Council did request in writing the borough place any "green" initiatives in the area on hold.

The whole effort is one that needs to be watched. There is a small group w/the goal of locking up everything from Moose Creek to Granite Creek. The proposal written by the boro planning dept and given to the State was bs and the State told them so.

3. During the last Sutton Community Council meeting the council voted to request/allow the use of over 100k in borough funds in the creation of a foot trail to Eska Falls. On the surface this sounds great. All users rights are protected. The question remains whether this will impact hunting in the area over the long term. This area is the Matanuska Moose Range and it would be a shame to see a foot trail in the area be used as ammunition to restrict hunting.

The Council voted to tell the boro that the non-motorized trail is their 1st priority, the 2nd priority parking. Saying they requested/allowed to spend over 100k is stretching it. The reason is hikers, single track users have been displaced. We met with folks from the boro and the assy rep from the area to discuss a plan forward after the CC mtg and it include working on one of the two new motorized trails designed in 09. USKH will host a meeting, I think in May. A hiking trail restrict hunting? That's out there.

4. I've also received additional information since I last posted regarding a larger issue in the area. I'll leave my personal opinions out of this one and let everyone decide for themselves what this means for the bigger picture in the long run. First I have a copy of an add placed in the ADN telling hunters they must get a permit from the Chickaloon Tribal Council or face an appearance in their Tribal Court and a $1000 fine. Next I have a copy of a map detailing the area this covers. Third I have a copy of an email from Jennifer Harrison the Executive Director of the Chickaloon Traditional Council stating the maps do not apply to non-natives.

Too bad websites won't allow posting pdfs of files of any size cause these maps are good to have. They show private ppty owned by Chickaloon. The public can only use trails that were reserved as part of ANCSA. There are many trespass trails and folks hunt illegally on their land. The key is knowing where you are and when their wanta be cops harass you tell'm to take a hike.

I would like to post all of these to the thread but apparently do not have sufficient permissions to do so. So if anyone would like to see these please send me a message.

I encourage everyone to do their own research and make up their own minds regarding the activities in the Sutton area and how these events may impact their future use of the area whether it be hiking, hunting, atv'ng, etc.