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SHAREHOLDER NEWSLETTER JULY 2014 | VOL 39 | ISSUE 7 Wells Fargo Artfully done: Dena’ina donates land 03 Cook Inlet 04 Wellness Center 05 near Eklutna Housing Authority grand opening Presidents message ....................2 Spotlight: Cynthia Darosett.........3 Missing Shareholders .................4 SPC update ..................................2 Sign up for eNewsletters ............4 Achievement announcement ......5 Award nominations .....................3 Stock Will Prize Winner ..............4 Get Out the Native Vote ..............6 VILLAGE OF TYONEK UNITES TO FIGHT AND RECOVER FROM RECENT WILDFIRE On May 27, when a much-needed rain descended upon Southcentral Alaska, residents of Tyonek saw the beginning of an end to a wildfire that had blazed for almost 10 days. The fire burned through 1,906 acres, causing a temporary evacuation of the village and displacing more than 100 residents for several days. In response, several organizations and the community of Tyonek itself came together to fight the fire and help the people affected to get back on their feet. “Since we are a rural community, our families have not only been fighting the fire alongside the firefighters, we have also been preparing meals and Don Wright with President Richard Nixon. Courtesy Doyon Ltd. providing housing,” said Debra Call, Tyonek Native Corporation corporate administration director, in an NATIVE LEADER AND LAND CLAIMS PIONEER email sent to the Tikahtnu Forum before the fire PASSES AWAY AT 84 had been contained. “This is a very stressful time for all of us; however, it is so appreciated to have members of the Tikahtnu Forum stand beside us in A driving force behind the passage of the Alaska “ Don was the right man for our time of need.” Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) and former the challenging time. He was TYONEK FIGHTS WILDFIRE, CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 president of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), a tough negotiator and CIRI shareholder Don Wright passed away peacefully skillful leader.” in his home in Kenai on July 5. He was 84. – CHAIR EMERITUS ROY HUHNDORF Wright was born in Nenana in 1929. His father was of Athabascan descent from the village of Tanana Dedicated to settling Alaska Native land claims, and his mother was from Wyoming. He impacted the Wright spent nights sleeping on the streets in state through his work in construction, air service Washington, D.C., and maxed out his credit card to in the Interior, community organizations and his pay for 20 individuals from Alaska to travel with him immense ability to connect with people from all walks to lobby for the legislation. of life, with which eventually landed him in politics. He will be remembered most for the pivotal role he “He was in a very difficult position because we were played in seeking the fairest settlement possible for desperately trying to hold the [AFN] organization Alaska Native people during a tumultuous era. together,” Willie Hensley told the Alaska Dispatch News. “We had no funding but he was able to work As AFN president from 1970 to 1972, Wright fought with the Nixon administration to get their backing for to secure Alaska Native land rights, meeting with the settlement. We were also able to secure loans from President Nixon in 1971 to encourage the nation’s some tribes – I think we borrowed about $800,000 – leader to pass the bill that would grant 40 million and he was a big factor in securing that funding.” acres to Alaska Native people and create today’s Alaska Native corporations. “The President and the Congress must decide whether this last chapter [of land rights] is to be CIRI Chair Emeritus Roy Huhndorf stated, “Don was written in dignity or dishonor,” Wright had said. On that same day, April 6, 1971, President Nixon sent the right man for the challenging time. He was a Tyonek residents and firefighters preparing to fight the tough negotiator and skillful leader.” wildfire. Courtesy of Tyonek. NATIVE LEADER PASSES AWAY, CONTINUED ON PAGE 5 AN ALASKA NATIVE CORPORATION | CIRI.COM | JULY 2014 01 A WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT Sophie Minich, CIRI president and chief executive officer Every year, federal, state and local governments our belief that repealing the current oil tax structure make decisions or pass laws that affect Alaska Native will be bad for CIRI businesses and hurt the Alaska people. Subsistence rights, educational funding, economy. development of Native-owned land – so many aspects of our lives are impacted by decisions made Regardless of your individual positions on issues at one level of government or another. It’s easy to get and candidates, I encourage every CIRI shareholder frustrated with lawmakers when the regulations they and descendant of voting age to make sure they put in place don’t reflect our Native values. are registered to vote, then put that voting power to work by showing up at the polls on Election Day. “ I encourage every CIRI Participating in primary and general elections is our shareholder and descendant of chance to let our elected officials know what issues voting age to make sure they are important to us. are registered to vote, then put Maybe you’re thinking, “But I’m just one person. that voting power to work What difference can a single vote possibly make?” by showing up at the polls on You might be surprised to discover that, more than Election Day.” once, one vote has made all the difference in an – SOPHIE MINICH election. For instance, in 1960, less than one vote per precinct elected John F. Kennedy president of Whether you live in Alaska, where Alaska Native the United States. In 1994, 1.1 votes per precinct LLC. OF YUIT, COURTESY issues are frequently debated, or in the Lower 48, elected Tony Knowles as governor of Alaska. it’s important to remember that you have a say in HIGHLIGHTS PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE whether and how laws get made. When you cast When you cast your vote, though, you also have the potential to become part of a larger voice. your vote in primary and general elections, you • Every vote counts! Make sure you’re registered to vote. help determine the future not only for Alaska Native According to the Get Out the Native Vote movement, • In Alaska, the primary election is August 19. people, but for your community, as well. the Alaska Native people constitute about 14 percent of the adult population in Alaska. If all Native • You can also submit a nomination for the CIRI Shareholder, Elder Shareholder and Youth Recognition In Alaska, the primary is coming up on August 19, people voted during a normal turnout year, roughly awards at www.ciri.com. followed by the nationwide general election in 25 percent of the electorate at the polls would be November. Alaskans face a lot of big voting decisions. Alaska Native. This voting bloc has the potential to be Two of our congressmen, Senator Mark Begich and more powerful than the Republican, Democratic and traditions and knowledge on to others. Let’s celebrate Congressman Don Young, are up for reelection. non-partisan vote. their work! Three Republican candidates will compete in the primary election for a chance to represent Alaska in For those shareholders who live in Alaska, you can In addition to the Shareholder and Elder of the Year the U.S. Senate. All 40 members of the Alaska House find more information, including how to register, at Awards, we’re also taking nominations for the Youth of Representatives, as well as 14 of Alaska’s Senate http://www.elections.alaska.gov/. For those living Recognition Award. There’s an entire generation of seats, will be up for reelection. Not to mention the outside Alaska, I encourage you to inquire with CIRI shareholders and descendants who are already gubernatorial race, in which Alaskans will select from your appropriate state agency to ensure your vote making strides toward becoming tomorrow’s Alaska seven candidates to determine who will govern our can be counted. Native leaders, and we want to honor them. state for the next four years. In the meantime, you can cast a vote of a different The criteria and the nomination form for each award Additionally, primary voters in Alaska will be asked kind by submitting a nomination for the CIRI is on the CIRI website. I encourage you to nominate to approve or reject Ballot Measure 1, which makes Shareholder and Elder Shareholder of the Year a shareholder or descendant who you feel deserves significant changes to the oil and gas production tax. Awards. Every year, we honor shareholders who have recognition this year. CIRI, along with five other Alaska Native corporations, shown dedication to Alaska Native culture, heritage formed a coalition to advocate against Ballot Measure 1. and communities. So many CIRI shareholders have As I stated in last month’s newsletter, CIRI’s made incredible contributions to Alaska Native involvement in the No One on One effort is based on people, worked to preserve our culture and passed Sophie Minich SHAREHOLDER PARTICIPATION COMMITTEE UPDATE CIRI welcomes the following new Shareholder Participation Committee (SPC) members: Which of the following statements are true? (Check all that apply) Alaska SPC Committee Teresa Alexie, Kalskag Non-Native CIRI shareholders do not Whether a shareholder owns 100 shares of Herbert Butler, Fairbanks have voting rights associated with their stock or only 2 shares, as long as he or she Georgia Mario, Nikolaevsk CIRI stock. has provided appropriate documentation Anchorage SPC Committee (This was the most-often missed question this year.) to CIRI to substantiate his or her Native descent, the shares will carry voting rights. Arnold Hague When CIRI stock owned by a non-Native Debbie Jacobson shareholder is inherited by a descendant An individual may demonstrate Native Luanne Pelagio of a Native who furnishes adequate descent by submitting a birth certificate Lower 48 and Hawaii SPC Committee documentation to CIRI to prove his or her showing that he or she is descended from someone identified on CIRI’s records as a Hope Hagan, Michigan Native descent, the inherited shares carry voting rights.

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