60th Anniversary Alaska Federation of Natives Convention

The Anchorage Assembly and Mayor LaFrance have passed Resolution AR No. 2026-297 to formally welcome delegates and guests to the 60th anniversary of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Convention. The event is scheduled to take place in Anchorage from October 22 to October 24, 2026. The resolution highlights the historical significance of the AFN, which was founded in 1966 and played a pivotal role in the passage of the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The document notes that the AFN represents 192 federally recognized tribes, 152 village corporations, and 11 regional corporations. Anchorage, which identifies as the state's largest Native village and home to over 23,000 Alaska Native residents, emphasizes its ongoing government-to-government relationship with the Native Village of Eklutna. The 2026 convention theme is "Rooted in Land and Tradition: Raising in Our Voices." The event will feature a keynote address by Dr. Rosita Worl, a Tlingit anthropologist and educator. The resolution encourages the Anchorage community to welcome the convention attendees and honors the Dena’ina Athabascans as the traditional stewards of the land where Anchorage is located.