The Alaska State Commission for Human Rights has scheduled a public hearing to hear an issue with how tribal IDs are used in an Juneau supermarket.
The controversy is related to an incident in 2020 in which a notice displayed in Juniau’s Fred Meyer stated that tribal IDs will not be used to purchase tobacco. Another sign, allegedly placed at the same time stated that customers must present “valid ID” when buying either tobacco or alcohol. .”
Jamiann S’eiltin Hasselquist made the complaint after an elderly person called her and advised her about the warning signs.
It’s a span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”He was genuinely shaken up and stated that it made him think of the days where signs were displayed,” Hasselquist said.
She claimed that the older was referring back to the time prior to when Alaska adopted an Anti-Discrimination Act of 1945, at the time Juneau businesses were required to display notices which read “No Natives allowed,” “No dogs”, no Natives” along with “We provide services to the white traders solely.”
The City and Borough of Juneau Assemby member ‘Waahlaal Gidaak Barbara Blake said that tribal IDs must be acceptable for all purposes that any other ID issued by the government is able to be employed to serve.
The span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”People don’t realize how the tribal nations are sovereign entity, and that they actually have the power to govern,” Blake said. “Their sovereign authority is predated by even the United States of America, prior to Alaska, the State of Alaska as well as other Constitution that applies to the State, or for that matter, the United States of America .”
Fred Meyer staff eventually removed the signs.
However, Hasselquist claims that the store’s decision has caused damage to the community, and she made a complaint to the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights. She wants to ensure Fred Meyer will be able to provide Fred Meyer will offer education and training to ensure the same thing doesn’t happen in the future.
It is a good idea to use a span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”They need to incorporate discrimination and civil rights into their policies in order to educate their employees that it’s not acceptable to display such signs,” she said. “That it’s discrimination.”
She would like education to include Elizabeth Peratrovich, as well as the historical background of Alaska’s own anti-discrimination efforts.
The Central Council of Tlingit and Haida issues IDs to tribe members. Their website details the purposes for which ID cards are able to be used for, and provides suggestions on what one should take if their IDs are rejected.
State Office of Administrative Hearings has scheduled the hearing for October. 9. There was no response from Fred Meyer and its company parent, Kroger, responded to inquiries for comments.
