Two hours of testimony Friday from leaders of Alaska's 12 Native regions brought different stories with the same theme: communities from Barrow to Adak, Shishmaref to Kodiak, are suffering under the weight of high energy prices and frustrated they can't make use of the state's rich resources to lower costs, provide security and protect the environment.

"Alaska is one of the richest states in the nation," said Tony Weyiouanna of Shishmaref, an eroding island community in the oil-rich Chukchi Sea. "We're here with an abundance of natural resources ... and we're in an energy crisis."

Rural representatives testified before state lawmakers at a joint committee hearing -- the first ever scheduled in conjunction with the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention, a gathering that draws thousands from across the state and is broadcast to villages far from roads and big cities.

In the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta of Western Alaska, people were faced with tough choices last year - pay for food, or pay for fuel, said Myron Naneng, president of the Association of Village Council Presidents, a consortium of 56 villages. Alaska is an oil-rich state, and former Gov. Sarah Palin gained a high national profile by touting the state's potential to bring energy security to the nation, he said.

"I think that is fine," said Naneng before his voice grew hard. "But it would be imperative we deal with Alaska first before we take on the world."

The paradox that is Alaska's relationship with energy reverberated at the hearing. The 49th state has the richest resources in oil, gas, hydro power and wind, and is the largest domestic oil producer in the country. Yet, Alaska is unable to conquer the distances and expense of maintaining a reliable, affordable supply of basic fuels to people within its own borders.

Robert Keith, chairman of the Native nonprofit, Kawerak Inc., in Nome, urged lawmakers to come through on a proposal to create a state energy department to carry out a mission of delivering state oil and gas to Alaskans first, and outsiders second.

Bruce Wright talked about the problems he finds in his work with the Aleutian Pribilof Island Association. Remote St. Paul is an island community that's home to 450 people and hundreds of thousands of fur seals. They're testing turbines in the world-class winds, but the costs are high without ways to sell the excess power.

"We have these stranded resources," he said. "We don't have a way to get these to market."

Legislators have been collecting input on energy issues, including the need for a statewide energy policy. The feedback became part of a draft energy policy statement by a House committee, as well as a lengthy draft of goals and recommendations released earlier this week by two Senate committees.

Lawmakers expect the drafts to come together as a proposed energy bill in advance of the next session, which starts Jan. 19. Some have suggested the plans could expand into an omnibus energy bill, encompassing a number of proposals already before legislative committees.

Contact Rena Delbridge at rena_alaskadispatch.com.