JUNEAU, Alaska- USDA Under Secretary Harris Sherman held a two-hour listening session for Tribal leaders during his day-long visit to the Juneau area, Wednesday, August 18. Leadership from Alaska Native Brotherhood Grand Camp, Angoon Community Association, Eyak Corporation, Sealaska Corporation, Kootznoowoo, Inc., Douglas Indian Association, and Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska participated in the session.

Sherman is the undersecretary for natural resources and the environment, and as such, has the Forest Service under his purview. His visit to Juneau is a part of a week-long visit to the Forest Service Alaska Region and its two national forests, the Chugach and Tongass. Regional Forester Beth Pendleton is accompanying Sherman on his visits.

Each of the Native leaders spoke to many subjects that affect their people, but common themes were subsistence, jobs, economical power, and land entitlements.

Sherman will wrap up his Alaska visit Friday and Saturday with visits to Sitka and Prince of Wales Island.

  Photo Caption: Douglas Indian Association members Evelyn Myers and Annette Ulmer express their Association’s
  concerns to Forest Service Alaska Regional Forester Beth Pendleton and USDA Under Secretary for Natural
  Resources and Environment Harris Sherman during a Tribal Leaders Listening Session in Juneau Wednesday.
   (Please credit: Ray Massey, US Forest Service photo)