FAIRBANKS — The Fairbanks City Council again rejected a proposal Monday to require a land acknowledgment at the start of every regular meeting.
The ordinance would have recognized the area as the ancestral home of Alaska Native peoples. It was pulled from the consent agenda and voted down before a public hearing could be held.
Supporters on the council called it a symbolic act of respect, while opponents expressed concerns about division and potential demands from other groups.
The 3-3 vote was broken by Mayor David Pruhs, who sided with those opposing the measure.
The vote marked the second time in three years that the issue has come before the council.
