Victor Joseph, a former Tanana Chiefs Conference chief, is AFN's next co-chair

Victor Joseph of Tanana will be the next co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives, AFN announced Saturday on the last day of its 60th annual convention in Anchorage.

Joseph replaces Joe Nelson, who didn't run again. He was one of three candidates, according to remarks on the convention broadcast. AFN has said the seat carries a two-year term. "Huge thank you to outgoing AFN Co-Chair Joe Nelson for his years of dedicated service to our people," AFN said in a post Saturday. Nelson and Gayla Hoseth co-chaired this year's convention.

AFN calls itself the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska. Its members include 192 federally recognized tribes, 152 village corporations, 11 regional corporations and 11 regional nonprofits and tribal consortiums, according to a convention resolution.

Joseph has worked for decades at the Tanana Chiefs Conference, the Interior's tribal consortium. He ran its Old Minto program for 13 years and its health services for seven, and served two terms as chief and chairman, from 2014 to 2020. TCC credits his leadership as health director with supporting development of the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center in Fairbanks.

TCC named him its chief administrative officer this year, overseeing health services, tribal government and client services, and human resources. He also chairs the Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee, which advises the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Indian health policy. In August, the National Indian Health Board gave him its Sovereignty in Action Award for advocacy, one of two awards it gave for the first time this year.

AFN was founded in 1966.