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Senate panel holds further hearing on proposal to create commission to review Alaska state seal
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Summary
Senate President Gary Stevens’ resolution to form a commission to review the Alaska state seal drew historical background from staff and calls for a public, inclusive process from witnesses; the committee held the measure for a later hearing and invited more testimony.
Senate President Gary Stevens asked the Senate State Affairs Committee on April 21 to authorize a commission to study whether Alaska’s official state seal should be reconsidered, saying the current design ‘‘was never adopted...it was adopted administrative, never adopted by a legislature.’’ Stevens introduced Senate Concurrent Resolution 11 and said the commission would explore whether the seal ‘‘casts a wider net that captures a more modern emblem of Alaska and represents our values and all of the people of Alaska.’’
Tim Lampkin, staff to Stevens, presented historical slides tracing seals used in Alaska from the 1867 transfer through the 20th century, noting shifts in imagery from Indigenous figures and kayaks to later industrial symbols such as smelters, railroads and wheat harvesters. Lampkin told the committee the seal’s evolution has largely been administrative and added that the proposed commission ‘‘is not changing the state seal. It's not putting money toward the change of any such seal’’ but would convene stakeholders to discuss options and encourage philanthropic support for any work.
Cordelia Kelly, representing the Alaska Humanities Forum, told the committee the current seal ‘‘does not currently see’’ Alaska Native representation and urged a public, deliberative process. "There really was never a public process for the creation of the state seal," Kelly said, adding past versions included Indigenous figures that were later removed. She recommended extended public engagement—months to a year—to avoid abrupt disputes and to broaden who is represented.
Chad Hutchison, Director of State Relations for the University of Alaska, said the university supports a seat at the table if a commission is established, stressing the system’s statewide reach and expertise in workforce development and Indigenous studies.
Committee members asked how to avoid divisive debate around symbols; Kelly advised longer lead time and open opportunities for community input. The committee closed in-room public testimony for the session but left the record open for written comments at senatestateaffairs@akleg.gov and held SCR 11 for a further hearing. No funding or redesign was approved at the hearing; the resolution would only form a commission to study the issue.
