TCC Weekly Episode 47

Welcome to TCC Weekly, where each week we bring you the latest news from Tanana Chiefs Conference. Welcome to TCC Weekly. I'm Shauna Hildebrand, the Tribal Development Director at Tanana Chiefs Conference. Thank you for taking the time to join us as we share important updates, highlight community events, and recognize the people and moments that continue to shape our region. Tana Chiefs Conference is pleased to announce that Karen Sitton has been selected as our new Chief Financial Officer.

Karen brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in accounting, finance, and organizational management. Throughout her career, she has worked with organizations including Tana Chiefs Conference, Fairbanks Native Association, Doyon Limited, Fairbanks Resource Agency, and Chalista Corporation. Karen is a Koyukon Athabascan and a tribal member from Loudoun. She brings a strong understanding of Alaska Native organizations and commitment to service that reflects TCC's mission, vision, and values. Please join us in welcoming Karen to this important leadership role as we continue working toward healthy, strong, unified tribes.

In related news, TCC is proud to announce that Fitch Ratings has upgraded TCC's bond rating to a AA-, an increase from the A+ rating the organization has maintained over the past several years. This means that TCC is in a strong financial position to continue investing in healthcare programs, infrastructure, and services across the region for years to come. The upgraded rating also helps TCC secure funding and financing at better rates, helping stretch resources further for the communities we serve. Now, turning to national news, TCC is raising concerns after the U.S. Department of Interior announced the transfer of significant acreage within the Dalton Utility Corridor to the state of Alaska. TCC says the decision could place important subsistence lands, wildlife habitat, and culturally significant areas at greater risk as development pressures increase across the region.

For decades, these lands were protected under federal public land orders that helped safeguard important subsistence and wildlife areas. TCC warns that future management decisions could directly impact Alaska Native communities throughout the interior. Chief and Chairman Sharon Hildebrand emphasized the importance of these lands, saying, "These are our ancestral homelands. They are places where our people have hunted, fished, gathered, traveled, and passed down our way of life for generations." TCC is also expressing concern about expanded oil, gas, mining and infrastructure development in the corridor and is calling on the state and federal agencies to ensure tribes are meaningfully involved in future decisions affecting these lands. Looking ahead, we want to share an exciting summer opportunity for Alaska Native youth in our region.

The Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitor Center is hiring youth ages 14 to 21 who are enrolled in a TCC region tribe for paid summer positions. Openings include 2 tour guide positions for youth interested in sharing stories and representing their culture, as well as 1 groundskeeper position for applicants who enjoy working outdoors. These positions offer hands-on work experience and the chance to work in a space that celebrates Alaska Native culture every day. To learn more and apply, visit tananachiefs.org/careers. Now, an important reminder about spring flooding.

With breakup underway and flooding already occurring in some communities, now is the time to make sure your home and family are prepared in case of evacuation. If your home or belongings are damaged by flooding caused by a natural disaster, TCC's Emergency Assistance Program may be able to help. Check with your tribe to see if funding is available, then complete an application through the TCC website. You can also contact the Emergency Assistance Team at 907- 452-8251, extension 6812, for help during the process. As we continue through the month of May, we also want to recognize Mental Health Awareness Month.

TCC's Systems of Care program helps connect families with mental health services and works closely with schools, providers, and community partners to ensure support is family-driven, youth-guided, and culturally responsive. Together, we can continue supporting mental wellness throughout May and beyond. I'm Shawna Hildebrand, and this has been TCC Weekly. Tune in every Monday morning at 9:30 on KRFF 89.1 FM, or listen anytime on Spotify and YouTube.