Native leaders, Juneau legislators and others rallied on the steps of the Capitol Friday to try to move a bill adding a second verse to the Alaska state song from committee.
The state song, the “Alaska Flag Song,” honors the state flag, while the long-sought addition of a second verse honors the flag’s designer, 13-year-old Benny Benson, and the contribution of Native people to the state.
A bill adding the second verse has been on the agenda of the Juneau legislative delegation for decades.
It appeared this session to be on its way to approval, with easy passage by the Senate last year, and strong approval by two House committees after that.
Then, House Speaker Mike Chenault, R-Nikiski, gave the bill an extra committee referral, to the Judiciary Committee chaired by Rep. Carl Gatto, a staunch opponent of the second verse.
Now, Gatto is fending off allegations that his actions were racially motivated.
Chenault said Friday he sent the bill to the Judiciary Committee to clear up copyright issues with the song.
The verse’s writer, Alaska poet laureate Carol Beery Davis, gifted the copyright for her lyrics to the University of Alaska Foundation so they’d remain public. Marie Drake wrote the song’s first verse.
Gatto said after the Friday rally that the referral to Judiciary was legitimate, as there are important copyright issues to be looked into. No hearing into those issues has been held since, Gatto said, because he wasn’t going go let it pass anyway.
“I could have a hearing, but I do not intended to pass it out of Judiciary,” he said.
Legislative committee chairs have wide latitude to decide which bills to move forward and which to hold, and sometimes use that to kill legislation unilaterally.
At the rally, Nancy Barnes, chief of staff to Sen. Albert Kookesh, D-Angoon, urged House leaders to allow a vote.
“We just want to get it to the House floor for a vote, up or down,” she said.
That’s a call that’s been made repeatedly by Juneau legislators over the years. Former Rep. Fran Ulmer, D-Juneau, first introduced second-verse legislation 26 years ago, as did Rep. Bruce Weyhrauch, R-Juneau, more recently.
“Growing up in Juneau you couldn’t help but support the second verse,” said Rep. Beth Kerttula, D-Juneau, and a co-sponsor along with Rep. Cathy Munoz, R-Juneau. Both spoke at the rally.
Munoz took music lessons from Davis all though her school years.
“She was a wonderful Alaskan, she was a great advocate for the community and she really shares the Native culture and history of this land,” Munoz said.
Both Ulmer and Weyhrauch succeeded in winning House passage, before it died in the Senate. This time, as has happened before, the second-verse bill won Senate passage but appears to be destined to die in the House.
Gatto acknowledged the bill isn’t stalled because of the copyright issues, but said it’s not because he’s racist either.
“That song is just a clunker,” he said.
It’s almost impossible to sing because nobody can reach the soprano levels that would make it beautiful, he said.
It is not in the best interest of Natives or anyone else to add it to the “Alaska Flag Song,” he said.
“You couldn’t want to honor Natives any more than I do, but this is a terrible way to do it,” he said.
Standing in the way of the bill has led to allegations he’s racist, he said.
“I’ve been called a racist, absolutely,” Gatto said, “I don’t care, I just ignore it.”
Gatto listed a number of Native friends he’s had since moving to Alaska and said none of them called him racist.
“Just give me an example, one example, where I’ve done something that’s anti-Native,” he said.
The Alaska Native Sisterhood’s Connie Munro told the rally that this was the year to adopt the second verse. Munro said the song was a gift to the state that was meant to recognize the first Alaskans.
Davis’ daughter, Connie Davis, was tireless in advocating for the second-verse, before her death earlier this year.
“Now is the time to pass this,” Munro said, “We have to get this through, we’re all Alaskans.”
• Contact reporter Pat Forgey at 523-2250 or at patrick.forgey@juneauempire.com.
Comments (25)
Add commentKeep the song as it was written.
Keep the song as it was written.
Newspeak, pure newspeak Why
Newspeak, pure newspeak
Why must everything change to be politically correct, so as to appease everyone? They seem to have forgotten an "acceptance" as well as an anti "mean spirited" and "bullying" stanza.
Simple is better.
The only state song I actually hum and sing on occasion. Thanks KNOM, for brainwashing me.
Come on!
When is it going to be learned that it is ok to say NO to a select few seeking entitlement?
just say no
it is beautiful the way it is leave it alone
Sounds fine to me. I guess I
Sounds fine to me. I guess I must have lots more going on in my life then those people, because this just isn't a big deal to me.
"A native lad chose our
"A native lad chose our Dipper’s stars
for Alaska’s flag that there be no bars
among our cultures."
What?????
PFFFT
Rubbish! Its not like legislators haven't better things to do.
Passed?
Has this passed the house too?
Star Spangled Banner has more verses...
How many here know that the Star Spangled Banner has two more verses?
Leave it alone!
It is simple and beautiful as is, these new words do nothing more than trash what was once a beloved anthem!
Not sure I see the point
Not sure I see the point or the need of a second verse. And, it's not very eloquent.
If this is passed, it's just a matter of time before someone wants a third verse to include a third culture.
I'd rather our legislature pass their time passing tax hikes on oil companies who complain for tax reductions.
Leave it Like it is.
The proposed "second verse" actually would add a racial slant to the song.
The original is truly representative of our Great Land.
Please kill this offensive bill Mr. Gatto.
Serve the song and you serve your kids
I have been singing this song with the second verse for at least 6 or 7 years now. I have played it at Savikko Park, and at the Alaskan Open Mic... and was actually even considering for Folk Fest as well.
Of course, I might mention that I changed the melody.
*GASP*
People enjoy my version. It is loaded with energy and is something that others are learning to sing along with because it sounds like something exciting rather than a stretched out old tape of a palgerized bar song.
Are your kids learning the song?
The second verse serves the song not only for an historical aspect, but because it lengthens it to a more normal song duration.
Regardless of what the state decides to do, I am going to keep playing it complete with the second verse because it serves the song.... and the people who enjoy music.
No,
Sorry clam, neither my kids or grandkids will do the song wrong. If something is not broken we see no reason to fix it till it is. You are free to do as you please and so are we. The second verse is pointing out differences that we do not wish to exacerbate, if one is Alaskan, one is Alaskan and THAT is the end of that story.
"Sourdoughs" is the problem
The first verse is wonderful except for the line about sourdoughs. It was about the time the gold fever began that the influx of traditional western civilization inundated the state and began to suppress the Alaska Native culture in earnest. How exactly is that sentiment inclusive for all Alaskans?
Note to jerkhead,
Learn your history, the Russians came and went all the way to San Francisco, although it wasn’t called that then. Have you never heard the term “Russian America”? How about “Old Sitka”? And what happened there? The Gold Prospectors came later and although history distorts what actually happened, there is a time to heal, that time is evidently now, look around you at the changes in place names ect. Time to put the past behind and quit dwelling on it. It ain’t healthy for Ya.
@jerkhead
You assume that only non-Natives were gold seekers/sourdoughs?
As for inclusion of Natives, the entire song is a tribute about the flag--the flag that was created by a Native kid.
You can't get much more inclusive then a song that pays tribute to a state's flag that was created by a Native kid. The entire song is about HIS flag which has become Alaska's flag! And we have one of the coolest state flags in the U.S.
Native + non-Native = Alaska history = inclusion of everyone!
But, if you prefer to dissect the song and find certain words or phrases that aren't 100% towards a certain culture, you do the Native kid, Benny Benson, a huge injustice.
Shame on you.
Well stated jo-macnamara!
Well stated jo-macnamara! Spot on!
History
The Russians Came first, yes, but they only touched the coast of Alaska, not the whole of it.
And Jo, the flag was designed by Benny, but the song wasn't written by him. I do him no injustice by expressing my opinion of the song. Shame on you for telling my to be ashamed of my opinion.
I agree we have the best flag.
Leave the flag song alone!
one - short is GOOD.
two - it isn't broken, keep it as original. We don't keep adding verses after the fact to all our other songs.
three - Joe is right. The story about the flag, which everyone learns in gradeschool, and the fact that the whole song is about the flag - is a great tribute.
four - Good for Gato - Natives will push any "separate but equal" measure, and it's a no-win, because anyone voting against it will be called a racist, even if they aren't, because they didn't cave, or they just don't feel the song needs a second verse.
Seriously
What laws has Kookesh and his staff passed ? What good will this do other than add a new verse to an old song? I'm sure with all other issues our State faces you would think Kookesh and Barnes could focus their very limited time on other matters that need to be addressed. This is a ridiculous waste of TIME and effort.
On the State seal there is no
recognition of Native Alaskans. This verse would correct that neglect. If it makes people feel good, why not support it? If you don't like it then don't sing it. And yes, I believe most of these comments are anti-Native. Trigger phrases like "separate but equal" or "a select few seeking entitlement" -- is just a bunch of non-Natives grousing that Alaska Natives have done well after being thrown into the world of capitalism when ANILCA was passed.
the state seal argument
@northwestclam:
I just checked the state seal, and couldn't help noticing that lesbian-Alaskans, midget-Alaskans and disabled-Alaskans weren't recognized either. But then again, the state seal has only so much room, and there's a lot crammed in there already.
I mean, aren't lesbians, midgets and disabled Alaskans worthy of recognition too? Don't they have a history in shaping our state as well? Should we give them a verse too?
Let's face it. Things like adding a second verse to the state song, while well-intending, are divisive. It's pandering. Alaskans need less division of cultures.
And as I stated earlier, the second verse isn't that eloquent. I'd vote against it for that reason alone.
If it ain't broke, don't fix it, especially if it will pizz people off either way.
But upon closer examination, I found a word that appeared in the last stanza of the song that would include EVERYONE in Alaska and will hopefully put this issue to rest. It's in caps below:
"Alaska's flag, for ALASKANS dear, the simple flag of a last frontier."
The more times we put a hyphen before the word "Alaskans" we continue the division between the cultures.
Let's move on.
This issue really doesn't deserve the attention it is getting.
The legislature has more important things to do.
Northwest Clam
I am Alaskan Native, but i consider myself HUMAN above all else, and because I dont support frivolous feel good legislation doesnt mean I am anti native. I would like to see Kookesh do some actual work for all Alaskans and not just pander to entitlement seeking natives. We all live here and we all have to get along regardless of the discrimination in the past. I'd prefere to see our Native leaders like Kookesh focus on the present and the future instead of wasting time on the hill with law making that has no real effect on anything.
Response to Stated Concerns
As stated at the rally, the Alaska Flag song is about what makes Alaska beautiful and unique as a state. The first verse speaks of the landscape and scenery that we, as Alaskans, proudly boast to be the most beautiful of any. It also mentions one aspect of a moment in time for Alaska- the time of the early sourdoughs and the gold rushes that brought thousands of people to this rugged land for the riches it had to offer. The words of the Alaska Flag song ARE beautiful and they encompass much of what Alaska means for many of the residents in our state. I think that every Alaskan would agree that this verse should remain untouched. But many Alaskans would also agree that the state song can be made better without alteration to the first verse.
The addition of the second verse of the Alaska Flag Song would fill a void in the symbolism of our state that many of the people who have responded to the Juneau Empire article refuse to acknowledge exists. To those who recognize it for what it is, this void is blatant, obvious, and painful. One of the most monumental factors that makes Alaska unique among all of the states in the union is the rich history of this land that reaches back in time far beyond the days of the sourdoughs, and the incredible diversity of culture that springs from this history and has survived much trauma in its transition into Western society to remain very much alive today. This is not a viewpoint, opinion or value held by any one person or any group of people, but a fact about our state that is highly significant. Alaska Native culture and history is not a piece of Alaska’s story that can be separated out. Throughout every stage of development in Alaska’s history and every phase that has come and gone, the presence of Alaska Natives has been a constant. Alaska Natives have always been here, and will always be here, and will always be what makes Alaska unique. In the continuation of their culture, which is intrinsically tied to the land, Alaska Natives are as much a part of the land as the geographical features that we all love and the animals that roam it, and this is a beautiful thing. The Second Verse of the Alaska Flag Song recognizes this and calls it what it is.
The Second Verse also acknowledges the breadth of diversity that Alaska is lucky to have today that includes many cultures that are non-Native. This diversity is something that should be celebrated, not avoided. The fact that there are differences among us is not something that should be shied away from. If differences become a topic to avoid, the mentality that those differences are something to be ashamed of arises, and that is not in the best interest of any human being. Our differences and unique qualities as people and as a state should be shouted on the rooftops with pride. As it acknowledges the past, the verse also speaks of hope and harmony for all of Alaska’s people for the future, and I don’t understand how anyone could say that such words are not beautiful.
As for other arguments that were made, I will respond to them briefly.
To ‘mwchristian’ and ‘really’: The efforts to add the Second Verse do not seek political correctness, or to appease anyone seeking entitlement. It simply seeks to include a fact about Alaska that is significant; exclusion of this piece of Alaska’s character as a state is conspicuous and disconcerting.
To those who expressed the concern that legislators are wasting time on an issue that is not important: If people felt that it were not important, it would not have been brought forward in five separate legislatures. Legislators respond to expressions of importance by their constituents- the people of this state. This combination of facts speaks for itself. Also, if this were such a non-issue, it would not meet with such contention and strong feeling as it has. It would just slide through. If there is the sentiment that legislators are wasting time on this, it seems that the effort being put into stalling this bill should be dropped, and it should simply be brought to the floor for a vote. The reality is that this is something that is not likely to ever go away because the Second Verse was written for the specific purpose of being added to the state song, and there will always be people ready and willing to take up the effort to make it so. We would waste much less time by allowing it to have a vote.
To Representative Gatto: If the second verse is almost impossible to sing because nobody can reach the soprano levels that make it beautiful, then the first verse is just as impossible because both verses follow the same melody. Furthermore, the lyrics sing smoothly with the melody, as has been demonstrated over and over in performances of the song, and is in no way “clunky.”
As you stated and as I can reaffirm, there are no copyright issues to be resolved. You are not holding it for reasons of race-based sentiment. Why has it not moved out of your committee? It does not seem fair for a bill over which so many voices have been raised, to be killed by the inaction of one individual who is in a position to control forward motion. This is something that should be decided by the legislature as a whole in its representation of the people of the entire state, not a single legislator who has not given a viable reason for inaction.
If you say that this is not a good way to honor Native people, then what would you propose is a good way? I would think that the Native people themselves should be the ones to decide, and most of the Native community is calling for the passage of this bill. Furthermore, it would be my understanding that an outright honoring of Native people would go against many of the arguments made for opposing this bill in the first place; that such an act would elevate one group of people above others on the basis of race. In reality, the Second Verse of the Alaska Flag Song does not honor Native people. There are no words of honor or praise in the lyrics of this song directed at Alaska’s Native people. It acknowledges their presence in Alaska’s rich history and expresses a hope for harmony among all cultures. If it honors anyone, it honors Benny Benson, which is entirely fitting, as he is the designer of the Alaska State Flag itself.