AFN delegates back Alaska Pacific University's new Native governance model

Alaska Federation of Natives delegates passed a resolution Oct. 24 backing Alaska Pacific University's new governance model, which invites Tribes, Native corporations and allies onto the Anchorage university's leadership. The measure asks AFN to support the model and encourages delegates and member organizations to take part. It does not make APU a federally recognized Tribal university.

APU is putting the model in place beginning in 2026. It invites Tribes, Tribal organizations, Alaska Native corporations and allies to provide guidance and support at the board level, with Tribes and Tribal organizations remaining central to decision-making and leadership, according to the resolution. AFN's membership includes 192 federally recognized tribes, 152 village corporations, 11 regional corporations and 11 regional nonprofit and tribal consortiums.

APU announced the model Dec. 11, 2025. It has three tiers, Stewardship, Associate and Allied, with leadership roles at APU tied to each member's level of financial involvement. APU first became Tribally governed in 2016 through a membership structure with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, and the university said ANTHC is moving away from higher education to focus on expanding statewide health services. "These members are core to our Alaska Native University vision," APU President Janelle Vanasse said in the announcement.

The resolution says APU is becoming a self-determined Alaska Native University now instead of waiting to meet federal requirements. APU can apply for Federal Tribal University status once more than 50% of its students are Indigenous. The resolution says Alaska Native students now make up 33% to 38% of enrollment.

The resolution says APU is designated an "Alaska Native-Serving Institution," a term Elder Lucy Sparck objected to as reflecting federal patriarchy rather than true self-determination. APU's announcement gives its federal designation as Native American-Serving Nontribal Institution and says it chose to identify as an Alaska Native University after discussion with its Elders Council.

The resolution also cites APU's founder, Peter Gordon Gould, an Unangax̂ man, and a 2017 restructuring in which the university renewed its focus on Alaska Native students.

AFN's Council for the Advancement of Alaska Natives committee submitted the measure. Delegates passed it on the final day of AFN's 60th convention, held Oct. 22 to 24 at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage. Delegates passed 49 resolutions in all, AFN said.

Under AFN's resolution policies, the AFN president or a designee will report on what happened with this year's adopted resolutions at next year's convention.