Indigenous Affairs

Forest Service adds Kake hearing on how roadless repeal could affect subsistence

The Forest Service added a Nov. 4 hearing in Kake on how lifting the Roadless Rule's limits on roads and logging could affect subsistence in Alaska.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

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

AFN closed its 60th convention by naming Tanana's Victor Joseph, a former TCC chief, as its next co-chair. He replaces Joe Nelson, who didn't run again.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

AFN honors a Kiana flying family, a Kotlik Yup'ik teacher and a new trooper

AFN gave its President's Awards to 10 people, from a Kiana flying family whose kids are all pilots to a Kotlik teacher who taught Yup'ik for decades.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

AFN presents subsistence listening-session findings that will guide its 2026-2030 plan

AFN shared subsistence listening-session findings at its Anchorage convention to shape a 2026-2030 strategic plan.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Fairbanks advisory committee to elect seven, with Ambler no-hunting corridor on agenda

Fairbanks' fish and game advisory committee elects seven members Nov. 11, then turns to the Ambler Road no-hunting corridor it already voted 13-0 against.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago3 min read

Kuskokwim Corporation hosts Zoom craft night Oct. 29 through its TKC ROOTS program

The Kuskokwim Corporation is hosting a Zoom craft night Oct. 29 through its TKC ROOTS program. Bring beading, sewing, knitting, drawing or whatever else.

by Maggie AlaskaNews2w ago1 min read

AFN weighs late resolutions on permitting bill's historic review title and census plan

Southeast delegates asked AFN to oppose a Senate bill's historic review rewrite and a census plan. Delegates first had to agree to take the resolutions up.

by Walter AlaskaNews2w ago2 min read

Park Service drops permit for subsistence users gathering antlers and bones for crafts

Rural subsistence users won't need a permit to collect antlers and bones for handicrafts in Alaska park areas after Nov. 18, dropping a 2017 requirement.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom Oct 19

Energy official says Alaska tribal projects draw about half of $125 million federal selection

The U.S. Energy Department picked 20 Alaska tribal projects for about half of a $125 million funding round, covering power plants from Noatak to Port Graham.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Justice Pate tells AFN he knows of no Alaska Native judge since Roy Madsen

Justice Jude Pate told AFN that, to his knowledge, Alaska hasn't had an Alaska Native judge since Roy Madsen, and laid out how the courts hope to change that.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago3 min read

Listening sessions tell AFN tribes want real authority over fish, wildlife and land

At 13 AFN listening sessions, participants said tribes need real authority over fish, wildlife and land. AFN presents the findings at its convention Friday.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago3 min readFrom Oct 16

Tlingit & Haida brings its Juneau early learning programs under one roof

Tlingit & Haida put Head Start, Early Head Start, child care and its Lingít immersion nest under one roof in Juneau. The kids call each other "nesty besties."

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Craig council weighs putting back topics it cut from Shaan-Seet agreement

Craig's council weighed putting back two topics it cut from a working agreement with Shaan-Seet, after the village corporation said it won't sign without them.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom Oct 15

Missing Indigenous list grows to 359; 16 new Anchorage cases labeled 'unknown'

Alaska's list of missing Alaska Native and American Indian people grew to 359 this quarter. Sixteen new Anchorage police cases carry one label: unknown.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Sealaska Heritage sets Celebration 2028 for June 7-10, names Kake dance group to lead

Sealaska Heritage set Celebration 2028 for June 7 to 10 in Juneau, with Kake's Ḵéex̱' Ḵwáan dance group leading. The biennial festival pumps about $2 million into Juneau's economy.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Chugachmiut offers Native Youth Olympics travel and coaching aid in seven communities

Chugachmiut will help cover Native Youth Olympics travel, coaching and event costs for students in seven Chugach region communities through 2030.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago1 min read

BBNC says a third party could help vet board candidates but the board keeps final say

BBNC says a third party could help vet board candidates, but the board keeps final say on nominations. Shareholders had flagged the current process as limiting their choice.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Iḷisaġvik College wins approval for distance-learning Unangax̂ Studies certificate

Students on St. Paul Island and in other remote towns can now earn an accredited certificate in Unangam Tunuu, the Unangan language, without leaving home.

by Maggie AlaskaNews3w ago2 min readFrom Sep 8

Anchorage Assembly to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day and welcome AFN delegates Tuesday

The Anchorage Assembly will consider resolutions Tuesday recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day and welcoming delegates to AFN's 60th convention Thursday.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Aleut Corporation shareholders return all three incumbent directors over six challengers

Aleut Corporation shareholders reelected all three incumbent directors Saturday over six challengers at the annual meeting in Bellevue, Washington.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Follows: Nine candidates are running for three Aleut Corporation board seats

Bill to give Southcentral Foundation downtown Anchorage clubhouse land reaches president

Congress voted to give Southcentral Foundation the land under its downtown Anchorage mental health clubhouse for free. Now it's up to the president.

by Walter AlaskaNews3w ago2 min read

Chugach shareholders return former CEO Kompkoff to the board and reelect two directors

Chugach Alaska shareholders returned former CEO Gabriel Kompkoff to the board and reelected Violet Yeaton and Connie Hedrick at Saturday's annual meeting.

by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago2 min read

AFN's 60th convention brings candidates, subsistence and resolutions

AFN marks 60 years at its Oct. 22-24 convention in Anchorage, with Alaska's congressional delegation, a candidates forum and resolutions on the agenda.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Kiana Traditional Council and three partners to receive 2026 Eileen Devinney Award

Kiana Traditional Council and three partners will get the Park Service's 2026 Eileen Devinney Award for documenting Kiana's ties to Kobuk Valley National Park.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

NovaGold sets Nov. 3 vote on owning all of Donlin; filing details a dropped three-way deal

Shareholders vote Nov. 3 on putting all of Donlin Gold under one company, nearly 40% owned by Paulson's firm. The filing details a 3-way deal that fell apart.

by Walter AlaskaNews4w ago4 min readFrom Oct 5

Doyon takes applications to fill board seat Geri Simon left to lead the Doyon Foundation

Doyon is taking applications through Nov. 9 from voting shareholders who want the board seat Geri Simon left in September to lead the Doyon Foundation.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Follows: A Doyon director steps off the board to lead its scholarship foundation

Native languages council to decide if state education employees can serve

The Council of Alaska Native Languages meets Oct. 21 to decide whether state education employees can serve on it and to approve its report to the governor.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

University of Oregon seeks proposals for reading screeners in two more Alaska Native languages

Two more Alaska Native languages could get reading screeners for students learning to read in them. The University of Oregon wants proposals by Oct. 30.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Chugach backed USS Ted Stevens commissioning and worked on its cybersecurity

Chugach Alaska Corporation sponsored the USS Ted Stevens commissioning and its federal services arm helped modernize the destroyer's cybersecurity before the Navy commissioned it in October.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Connecticut museum plans to return Klukwan-woven Chilkat robe to Tlingit & Haida

A Connecticut museum plans to return a Chilkat robe woven by a Klukwan weaver to Tlingit & Haida. The transfer could happen as soon as Nov. 9.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Goldbelt earns Pentagon cyber certification as Pentagon pauses its next phase

Juneau's Goldbelt earned a Pentagon cybersecurity certification for defense contractors, just as the Pentagon put the program's next phase on hold.

by Melinda Communities.News1mo ago2 min read

Bering Straits Native Corporation shareholders elect three directors, reelect two

Bering Straits Native Corporation shareholders elected three directors and reelected the board chair and vice chair. The board will fill a fourth seat.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

BBNC shareholders reelect two directors, add two new board members

Bristol Bay Native Corporation shareholders reelected Russell Nelson and DeeDee Bennis and added Eric Shade and Raina Thiele to the board Oct. 3.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Golovin elder who helped bring ancestors home from the Smithsonian named Elder of the Year

Jack P. Fagerstrom of Golovin was named Elder of the Year for helping bring ancestral remains and cultural artifacts home from the Smithsonian Institution and organizing their reburial.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Bering Straits Native Corporation honors 14 Elders of the Year from across the region

BSNC named 14 Elders of the Year, from a 90-year-old Little Diomede postal pioneer to a Golovin man who brought ancestors home from the Smithsonian.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago3 min read

Doctoral student from Wales and Nome wins BSNC's Tim Towarak Memorial Scholarship

Aapiaq Cheryl Ongtowasruk, who grew up in Wales and Nome, won BSNC's $10,000 Tim Towarak scholarship for her doctoral work on intergenerational learning.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read

Alaska proposes Medicaid coverage of traditional healing through Tribal health programs

Alaska seeks federal approval to cover traditional healing through Tribal health programs under Medicaid starting in 2028, with public comment due Nov. 4.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min read

Bering Sea Interior Tribal Commission tribes sign agreement forming a USDA conservation district

Tribes of the Bering Sea Interior Tribal Commission signed an agreement Oct. 1 forming a USDA tribal conservation district to set local conservation priorities.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Oct 1

Eklutna begins clearing five acres it bought beside Chin'an gaming hall

Eklutna is clearing five acres it bought next to Chin'an gaming hall, outside the approved gaming site. Public records don't say what's planned there.

by Walter AlaskaNews1mo ago2 min readFrom Jul 8

Koniag shareholders to meet in Anchorage with three board seats up

Koniag shareholders vote on three board seats Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Dena'ina Civic Center in Anchorage, with livestream available online.

by Maggie AlaskaNews1mo ago1 min read