[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 95 (Wednesday, July 19, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Page S7905]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                      TRIBUTE TO JONATHON SOLOMON

 Mr. LIEBERMAN. Mr. President, today in Fort Yukon, people from 
all over the State of Alaska and the country will come together to 
celebrate the life of a remarkable leader of the Gwich'in Nation, 
Jonathon Solomon, who passed away last week at the age of 74.
  As traditional chief of Fort Yukon, and chairman of the Gwich'in 
Steering Committee, Jonathon was a tireless advocate for the Gwich'in 
people. Born in Fort Yukon, he was raised to live a traditional 
subsistence lifestyle, and his upbringing directly influenced his 
passion and work throughout his life. Although Jonathon fought for many 
issues on behalf of the Gwich'in, his life's passion was the protection 
of the porcupine caribou herd and their birthing grounds on the coastal 
plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Jonathon's efforts to 
protect the Arctic Refuge began in 1978, as the Alaska National 
Interest Lands Conservation Act was first being negotiated and he 
continued this work determinedly throughout his entire life. Among his 
many accomplishments, he led the 7-year effort to negotiate the U.S.-
Canada agreement to protect the porcupine caribou herd and its habitat, 
signed July 1987, and was one of the chief organizers of the first 
Gwich'in gathering in 1988, which led to the creation of the Gwich'in 
Steering Committee. It was at this meeting in 1988, that the Gwich'in 
first came together as a nation to pass a resolution calling for 
permanent protection of the caribou calving and nursery grounds as 
congressionally designated wilderness.
  Jonathon's work took him all over the country, including to 
Washington, DC, where on numerous occasions he spoke to Members of 
Congress and their staffs about the importance of protecting the Arctic 
Refuge. Throughout his life, Jonathon was an inspiration to all who 
knew him. He represented the Gwich'in people with dignity, devotion and 
respect. While we mourn his loss, I know that his energy will live on 
in all of us who carry on the fight to protect the Arctic Refuge and 
other places throughout the country that are special to all of 
us.

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