Tension over land acknowledgment surfaces in Mat‑Su public comments; speakers clash at joint meeting

At the Matanuska‑Susitna Borough assembly and Mat‑Su School Board joint meeting on March 9, multiple public commenters focused on the school board’s recent removal of a land acknowledgment and on district policies they said affect students’ recognition and safety.

Jackie Go forth told the assembly she supported removing the land acknowledgment and criticized library books she described as obscene. "I am commended the school board for the removal of the land acknowledgment because I felt it was divisive," she said. Jackie also described being followed after a previous meeting and said she would not engage with people "who wish me harm."

Several Indigenous residents responded directly. Naina Soslok King said she felt ignored by the school board and disputed comments she said equated Alaska Natives to disability, asking, "Why aren't any of you willing to listen to us?" Agnes Beanes identified herself as an Indigenous Alaskan, described intergenerational trauma from boarding schools and said the land acknowledgement had brought healing; she said removal of the acknowledgment felt like erasure.

Other speakers urged compromise. Jessica Clayton, who homeschools, urged restoring the acknowledgment and allowing students to wear native regalia at graduation, saying "that's all they want." Several public comments also raised separate concerns: Jason Ortiz, a parent, asked that his son, who attends Mat Su Central and participates in Palmer High athletics, be allowed to walk at Palmer High graduation after principals and a district official told him the school had changed its practice.

School board and assembly members thanked the public for comments and said they would continue dialogue on the issues raised. No board action on the land acknowledgment or library policy was recorded at the meeting; the comments were part of the meeting’s public comment period.