By SUZANNE DOWNING
March 2, 2026 – The Alaska House of Representatives on Monday passed House Concurrent Resolution 9, honoring the upcoming 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and celebrating the 250th birthday of the United States of America.
The measure passed overwhelmingly, with Rep. Nellie Jimmie (D-Toksook Bay) casting the lone “no” vote.
HCR 9 was introduced by Rep. Ashley Carrick (D–Fairbanks) and commemorates the nation’s founding in 1776, recognizing both the historic significance of the Declaration of Independence and the evolution of the country over the past two and a half centuries.
During floor debate, several lawmakers spoke at length about the founding document and the legacy of the United States. Members acknowledged that while the nation’s history includes serious flaws and injustices, it also reflects enduring principles of liberty, self-government, and constitutional rights.
Rep. Jimmie, who frequently begins committee and floor remarks with a Native land acknowledgment, believes Alaska land is being occupied by a foreign power, and occasionally addresses the chamber in halting Yup’ik, spoke in opposition to the resolution. Her remarks were from a passage from the Declaration of Independence.
The passage she read appears in the list of grievances against King George III and reads:
“He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions…”
The language reflects terminology used in the 18th century and has long been cited as one of the most controversial lines in the Declaration due to its characterization of Native peoples.
Jimmie struggled at points while reading her prepared remarks and did not quote the sentence accurately.
The resolution itself does not address specific historical controversies but instead formally recognizes the 250th anniversary, often referred to as the “Semiquincentennial,” which are being observed nationwide in 2026.
HCR 9 is a concurrent resolution, meaning it does not carry the force of law but expresses the Legislature’s sentiment.
Alaska, which became the 49th state in 1959, will join states across the country in recognizing the milestone anniversary next year.
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32 thoughts on “Nellie Jimmie says ‘No’ to celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States”
While exercising her constitutional rights to free speech, living in a country that provides her (and her constituents) with great wealth and opportunity, her bloviating exemplifies the height of shameful arrogance and ungratefulness.
Agree 100 % and add also she took an oath of office to uphold the Alaska and US constitutions. She is a hypocrite and fraud.
I would like to see her immediately reject all benefits from the federal government including subsidies and medical care.
I have been reading a book about the Yupik “bow and arrow” wars and they were freaking savage toward each other! There is zero moral high ground there.
Well said. If she is so interested in NOT celebrating maybe she would like to go ALL the way back to her ancestory. No, snow machines, no aircraft travel, no delivered groceries, no fuel oil for heat, no heat except wood fires, no stick built home, no one coming to help when there are weather catastrophies. Hmmmm.
“………Rep. Jimmie, who frequently begins committee and floor remarks with a Native land acknowledgment, believes Alaska land is being occupied by a foreign power………”
The United States recognized Alaska Native rights of sovereign land ownership and negotiated 10% of Alaska, or 44 million acres, as fee-simple, untaxed lands ownership to fewer than 100,000 Alaska Natives in 1972, along with a $900 million settlement payment (equivalent to $7 billion today), full American citizenship and Alaska residency with all rights and privileges, and special benefits to include full, free, and exclusive medical benefits. The negotiations are finished, all mantras to the contrary otherwise meaningless, and that’s why the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act includes the word “settlement”.
Yes, but it is fairly clear to me that many in the Native community want to pretend that ANCSA did not happen. The interest is to re-litigate the whole issue and make vastly expanded claims and demands over what was agreed to in 1971. There are many on the Left that support this approach as it gives rise to never-ending, never-satisfied grievance and status claims. Plus, under this plan, development of Alaska can be permanently stopped.
Why settle for one-fifth of Alaska when you can have it all?
“……… There are many on the Left that support this approach as it gives rise to never-ending, never-satisfied grievance and status claims……….”
Precisely. It’s a Leftist movement using Alaska Natives just like all other victimhood groups involved in their Long March.
The left use it all for power and control leverage. Votes. It is pretty sickening and only hurts our ‘first settler’ neighbors as buying into it is as you stated, victimhood. That is 100% defeating to a rich and productive life and only plays into the leftist control and power.
You’ve spoke reality with so few words in one short well stated/written paragraph JMARK. I find the whole situation sad that many Alaskans have accepted the lefts victimhood agenda/race politics that will keep Alaskans separated for generations to come for no good reason other than power, greed and maybe some ill intentioned retribution for far passed history. This leftist ideology leaves ZERO chance for healing, is harmful to all and accomplishes nothing good for all. What a waste of one’s life being consumed with politically manufactured anger of this type.
BS to the native land acknowledgements.
Natives would be living in igloos and spruce bow huts ……struggling to survive without White man’s technical skills and exploration of the wilderness. Natives should be celebrating inventions which include snowmobiles, rifles, 4 wheelers, cellphones, toilet paper, trucks, currency for exchange, computers, winter construction materials, combustible oil and gas for heating, and just about everything else that they rely on, including travel to warm climates on jets, free education, and free medical via Medicaid. But instead, the Natives gripe about not getting a large PFD, more government freebies, and then complain about STD’s, abundance of alcohol and drugs, and sex abuse by their own kind.
Yes, the White man has given them so many things all they have left is to gripe about not getting more. This is what happens to a culture that can’t stand on its own and is continually appraised with more of the same by the Liberals that coddle them. Just say NO to land acknowledgements. They need to grow up. And be thankful for what they have received without any of their own sweat equity. Quit spoiling the baby.
This comment is told truthfully. Natives
have been pampered by liberal Democrats to the point that they can’t function on their own without handouts.
Thomas, that’s a classical formula for enslavement. A Democrat formulaic approach to getting more votes. Make them slaves of the system. And apparently……
It works!
Should we deny the history of Native Americans while simultaneously highlighting only the worst parts of the history of our country?
First the state needs to make sure they catch up today’s children’s reading skills and make sure today’s children 6 and under all know how to read well by third grade. So they can learn about other cultures and appreciate them.
Because a child who grows up not knowing how to read well, they will not read nor appreciate the cultures and differences of others.
Literacy comes first.
You know the Loussac Library before and after the relocation of its Alaska section. People have always had opportunity to read and learn more about the indigenous groups of Alaska. There has never been a race to the library of hundreds of people checking out and holding books on Alaska Native peoples because few people on Alaska know how to read and read well enough beyond reading grocery labels and business names, logos.
To be honest I think non natives don’t know how to read well enough to not be able romanticize or reading the Native people like a primitive hippie they are reading when they do pick up a book about Native people. The white and black person they have the problem romanticizing the Native person they are reading about instead of seeing them as a man, a woman, child, or a people. To be honest the formations of Native Corporations, federal government. IHS, BIA, Indian gambling companies don’t help with making people see us as people instead of seeing us as an economic Commodity because of those organizations existence.
That’s the confusing part with these millennial political Natives is they want all the benefits of being an American but they are terribly resentful being an American
You can’t change what others did to your grandparents before you were born. Holding grudges and unforgiveness holds any person, people, or state back. Its weight that needs to be let go so you can Run fast fast and free into the future.
It’s a good thing Jimmie is child-less. Her unforgiving spirit would had made life difficult on a child who didn’t care and doesn’t care what happen over half a century ago because the child wasn’t yet born. You know lots of parents harbor unforgiveness and they make their children carry its weight.
You should really learn to consult sources before you make statements that can be easily refuted. In her OEP candidate statement, she lists her occupation as “AVEC Representative for Toksook Bay, mother” and lists the names of two daughters. FWIW, the daughters have surnames that are different from each other and from her surname.
Natives have to reflect on the same grandparents who faced the racism are the same ones Who gladly volunteered to serve the US Military in the WW1 and WW2 and Korean and Vietnam wars. They took the high road despite the racism they had experienced in order to serve this country like any other man.
It’s Grace and Love and Forgiveness that today’s Natives under 70 could reflect on and learn it. Before their Unforgiving spirit kills any more of our Native children because bearing their parents unforgiving spirit is too much for the Native youth today.
I suppose she would like the US to apologize for dragging her culture out of the stone age. I notice she wears manufactured clothes…
And also an appropriated Athabaskan Chief necklace worn out of context. It’s not to be worn as Jewelry as she is wearing it. She is not a Chief to be wearing such a necklace. Native tribes in our past never had a woman promoted to “chief” our spokesman was always a man however that didn’t diminish a wife’s role and influence and family positions and childrens marriage partnerships.
She can say whatever she wants to but, she should reserve her indigenous commentary as it relates to Alaska. With that said, would she rather have had her ancestors subjected to Russian rule had the sale of Alaska not taken place? In addition, I doubt that Nellie Jimmie would be weighing in at two-fiddy as a result of subsisting on “native foods.” It’s apparent that she has a hankering for some good ole all-American grub. Being born here, I’ve never known a single Alaskan native who espouses Jimmie’s attitudes. Thank God.
If she did not paddle to Juneau in a sealskin kayak wearing a seal-gut parka, I demand reparations from Jimmie Best-of-Two-Worlds for her cultural appropriations from MY culture!
Sure beats living in a teepee with a squat hole in the bushes. Land acknowledgement ……..yep, that’s how they lived before we arrived.
How is she a legislator? She was required to take the oath of office to abide by, and uphold, the Alaska State Constitution and the US Constitution. Yet there she is essentially speaking against both. She is bitter, and will accomplish nothing except clinging to her bitterness. That in itself is very sad. In reality though she should be removed from office for her hypocrisy and dishonesty.
total lack of understanding, a simple read of cultural history would inform.
she is part yu’pic but every other tribe plus every other human version there is.
native americans, here before us battled for land because the land could only produce so much food.
tibe against tribe, tribe against all others no matter what color.
many tribes took slaves, mostly women and killed all others.
so to say its your land, well who did you take it from?
the settlement was wrong from the beginning.
Let us get advice from Melania Trump on how to address the public in the year 2026.
Heading west would have her in the Russian motherland if she so chose. She needs to go look at the living conditions there. Ask the locals how much “free stuff “ the government gives them.
Instead of the ” land acknowledgement” how about a ” taxpayer acknowledgement ” honoring all those working and paying to keep the legislature operating and paying for their largesse in funding their cronies and pet projects ” we pause to thank those whose money we took by force,that allow us to throw around cash like drunken sellers on shore leave at Subic”
Well, God bless Rep. Jimmie. I feel better knowing that she is getting enough to eat.
The 250th anniversary of the United States is June 21, 2038. The 250th anniversary that we will be celebrating in 2026 is the July 4, 1776 signing of the Declaration of Independence. The Confederate States of America and the Continental Congress existed from 1777 until 1788 under the Articles of Confederation. However, when the US Constitution was ratified, abolishing the confederation and establishing a federation on June 21, 1788, the United States of America was born.
Alaska legislators are embarrassing themselves with their historical ignorance.
ALOHA from Hawaii , The 250th anniversary being recognized in 2026 is historically correct.
On July 4, 1776, the United States Declaration of Independence announced to the world that the American colonies were free and independent states. That declaration is widely recognized as the birth of the United States as a sovereign nation.
Yes, our government structure evolved afterward. The Articles of Confederation governed the early republic, and the United States Constitution later created the stronger federal framework that began operating in 1789.
But the nation itself began when Americans declared independence and asserted the revolutionary principle that all men are created equal and are endowed with unalienable rights.
Those ideals were not perfectly realized in 1776 — and they still challenge every generation today. Yet that is precisely the point: the Declaration established the moral standard by which Americans continue to measure their government and demand greater liberty and justice.
Celebrating America’s 250th anniversary does not require ignoring the flaws of history. It means recognizing the principles that make reform, reconciliation, and self-government possible.
The Declaration of Independence is not a claim of perfection.
It is a promise of liberty — one that each generation of Americans is called to fulfill.
— Edward D. Martin Jr.
“Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” — 2 Corinthians 3:17
I appreciate Edward Martin Jr.’s point about the Declaration being a promise of liberty rather than a claim of perfection. However, many of the comments here focus on the legal obligations of the oath of office and the “settlement” aspect of ANCSA. Since the article mentions Rep. Jimmie believes the land is occupied by a foreign power, does anyone know how that legal perspective affects practical things like residency or international documentation? For instance, if an Alaskan resident wanted to apply for a European tax ID or a Spanish NIE via a service like https: //e-residence.com/de/nie-spain-online/madrid/, would the U.S. federal status of Alaska be the only thing that matters, or do these sovereign land claims ever create actual complications for citizens trying to get official paperwork done abroad?