[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 165 (Thursday, November 17, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6451-S6452]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        REMEMBERING EDWARD ITTA

  Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, it is following these sad and difficult 
comments that I continue my remarks this afternoon to pay tribute to a 
truly great Alaskan leader who lived a full and strong life.
  Today I rise to honor the life of Edward Itta of Utqiagvik, AK, 
formerly known as Barrow. Mr. Itta passed away on November 6 after a 
very courageous battle with cancer.
  It is hard for me to even share comments about Mr. Itta's life--
Edward's life--because he lived a life that was so remarkably full. As 
I look to the comments that I have prepared, it just doesn't seem 
appropriate to recognize Edward, using the formality we have here in 
the Senate, with just words.
  Edward Itta was a visionary leader in our State. In many ways, like 
many Alaska Natives, he lived in two worlds--the traditional world of 
an Inupiaq whaling captain, as well as the past president of the 
association and vice chairman of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission. 
I came to know Edward through his life as a whaling captain and how he 
helped to translate that into this modern world because he was very 
much a part of the modern world of business, government, and politics.
  Edward Itta is probably best known for the two terms he served as 
mayor of the North Slope Borough, which is where many of us in 
Washington, DC, our Nation's Capital, came to know of and learn about 
Edward Itta and his leadership. He, as mayor, created the Healthy 
Communities Initiative to promote community-based activities. He also 
created the mayor's Youth Advisory Council, recognizing the need to 
encourage student leadership for our Next Generations, always focused 
on, again, a forward vision. He was deeply involved in policy 
discussions over how to balance oil and gas development in the Arctic 
with traditional values and the impact of climate change on his 
communities.
  He came to Congress to testify before our committees. He was viewed 
as the Arctic expert, if you will, one who certainly had a Ph.D. in 
Arctic living. He spoke at just about every Arctic conference that I 
have participated in, as one, again, who could speak to his life as a 
whaling captain, as an Inupiaq, as a leader, as a father and husband 
but also a very strong businessman who was committed to leading his 
people into a modern-day world, while at the same time retaining ties 
to the land, to the waters that feed and sustain them.
  Our former colleague Ken Salazar, who went on to serve as Secretary 
of the Interior, referred to Edward Itta as a giant of Alaska who 
opened his eyes to the wonders of the Arctic and its people.
  There is a great book that is authored by Bob Reiss, entitled ``The 
Eskimo and the Oil Man.'' It tells the story of how, as Shell was first 
seeking to explore opportunities in the Beaufort and the Chukchi Seas--
some of the resistance that this oil company met as it dealt with the 
Native people in trying to gain consent and support for their 
activities in the Arctic and how this Eskimo, this Inupiaq visionary, 
helped to bring together the world of the traditional subsistence 
lifestyle and how it could be compatible with oil exploration and 
development in the Arctic. It is a book that once I had completed, I 
didn't put away on a bookshelf to not read again. I keep it out because 
I continue to refer to it.
  Edward was appointed in 2012 to the U.S. Arctic Research Commission 
by President Obama and did wonderful work within the Commission. In the 
business world, Mr. Itta was active in his regional corporation--the 
Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. He served on numerous subsidiary 
boards as well as his village corporation, UIC. Also, before taking on 
the role of mayor, Mr. Itta served in numerous management roles on the 
North Slope Bureau, including chief administrative officer and public 
works director. Locally he will be remembered for his leadership in 
building and maintaining community infrastructure, gravel sources, 
sewers, roads, airports and the like which were so essential to the 
survival in the far north.
  Edward Itta played in so many worlds and in all of them successfully. 
Yet he never forgot where he came from or who he was. His family, his 
friends--so many of us who call him friend--recognize what he provided 
for so many. We will remember his great sense of humor, his infectious 
laugh. He loved to tell stories. He would walk around the community 
gathering--a gathering they call Nalukataq, and Edward would walk me 
around to every little family in this semicircle on the beach, 
introducing me to everyone from the elder down to the youngest 
grandchild and telling stories about all in between.
  He was an amazing man. He had a passionate commitment to the values

[[Page S6452]]

and traditions of the Inupiaq people. We will miss Edward Itta.
  I had an opportunity to be there at the hospital in Barrow during the 
last few days Edward was on this Earth and had a chance to give a hug 
to his wife and to share my love and my support for a truly great 
Alaskan.
  With that, Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Delaware.
  Mr. CARPER. Mr. President, I understand that the majority leader is 
going to be coming on the floor, and I will be most happy to yield to 
him.

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