Non-Profi t Organization U.S. Postage PAID Anchorage, AK Permit No. 537 Dena’ Nena’ Henash ––Our Land Speaks Vol. 33, No. 4 A Report to the Member Tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Conference April 2008 President Jerry Isaac’s plans for Tanana Chiefs Conference ongoing problems. the quality services TCC provides. We privately funded. This could be done by 2. We shall concentrate on maintaining know that there is a great deal of need to initial endorsements foundation support our policies of openness, disclosure, and improve our service delivery. Because of investments portfolio, basic annual fund transparency so that you will have as much the stability we had achieved as TCC over raising, and volunteer support. Many of our knowledge about TCC as possible. the last couple of years, we are free to target ethnic American neighbors do this such as 3. We shall continue to foster a spirit of specifi c service improvement goals. the Greek Americans, Italian Americans, cooperation with all groups and strive Though we have taken great steps to and Asian Americans and so on. to work together on issues affecting our improve, there is additional need to readjust We need to become effective strategists villages and our people. This includes some of the methods and means we have and tacticians and use these qualities and continued solidifi cation of partnerships been using. This is due to new factors such capabilities to help us be even more creative with our sister organizations. as, (a) the reduction of available grants, and capable of achieving the dreams of Due to various limiting factors such as the (b) an increase in our population that self-reliance. nationwide reduction of grant and contract generates an increased need for additional In closing, I would like to encourage availability, it is absolutely imperative and services (c) Infl ation versus the unadjusted each of you to begin thinking about how all the more necessary to work together in dollar value-we’re receiving monies based best to help one another, how you may fi t addressing many of our concerns. on formulas that are 10 years old, which into the scheme of efforts underway, how 4. We shall work on our concerns about isn’t adjusted for today’s market and an you may participate in our long term goals justice, so that the civil rights of our people increasing number of benefi ciaries. of addressing such issues like the out- does not become an “alienable” right 10. We shall work harder at fi nding ways migration of people from the villages to the violated at will by the legal system. to work more closely with our schools and cities because of the lack of employment Greetings to our Member Tribes, 5. We shall continue to work on developing school districts in efforts to improve the and how best to forgive so that it will help First of all, I would like to express my alternative energy to help alleviate high quality of education. set you free and allow you to cooperate most heartfelt gratitude for being re-elected cost of energy. One of my dreams is to establish a Native with all around you. by the Tribal Leaders for another three-year 6. We shall continue with pressing our need Institute which will use the immersion Let us continue to freely and of our own term as your president. I shall promise to for recognition at the table-any table at method of teaching Native history, culture, free will try to develop our spirituality do all I can, fi rst—to listen to all of our which the future of Alaska is discussed as folklore, religion and subsistence. This so that it gives us the strength, courage, people, and second, to work hard to try to TCC will always be affected. Native Institute cannot and should not rely and the will to live through any hardship, bring resolution to problems that keep us 7. We shall continue to seek contracting on, or be forced to rely on public dollars any turmoil, any trial and any endeavor. from progressing forward. opportunities as TCC has embarked on for start-up and continuation. As Native Nothing comes without sacrifi ces. If we I now have a solid three years in which a mission of diversifi cation to meet the people, we need to adopt ideas from other band together, work together, support one to do all I can to bring results and comfort unique and complex challenges posed by ethnic groups when dealing with very another and dream together, our unifi ed to you, our people. While I am aware that today’s national and global socio-economic diffi cult endeavors. strength shall carry us through. many of our issues may never be addressed conditions. We all know how challenging it is to adequately due to the unique circumstances, 8. We shall continue to foster and support try to set up a “Natives Only” school and Tsine’ for your time, there are those that we can work on. our efforts of local hire, training, education, how the state and federal governments Jerry Isaac, 1. We shall concentrate heavily on self- and internships for our youth where and prohibit discriminatory procedure as it President and Chairman suffi cient efforts in long range economic when available. relates to public endeavors, because of this development which can bring relief to our 9. We shall work even harder at improving our “Native Only” Institute has got to be ConocoPhillips partnership on AIDEA Board approves proposed gas pipeline project loan participation By Bob Sattler, Director, Realty During the 2008 Tanana Chiefs proposed by COP for the preliminary fi eld Financing provided for Tanana Chiefs Conference Conference (TCC) Convention, President studies is similar to the work conducted by Jerry Isaac announced a new working the TCC Natural and Cultural Resources By Karsten Rodvik, Project Manager, External Affairs agreement with ConocoPhillips Alaska, Programs–Realty, Forestry and Cadastral Incorporated (COP), on their proposed Survey–and TCC Administration. In late March the natural gas pipeline project. TCC will Planned fi eld studies include a review of Alaska Industrial assist in fi eld studies that are conducted Native allotments along the study corridor. in advance of a formal application to the TCC will work with Native allotment owners Development and Export federal government to build the natural gas this year to negotiate access permits, and Authority (AIDEA) pipeline. assist with and monitor COP fi eld studies. Board of Directors COP is one of several companies and As proposed, the study corridor crosses unanimously approved organizations interested in constructing 23 Native allotments in the Upper Tanana a natural gas pipeline from the Alaska area, mostly around Tanacross, Tetlin and an $8,280,000 (90%) loan North Slope to Alaskan communities and Northway. TCC also will assist with public participation to Tanana users in Canada and the Lower 48. 2008 outreach and community awareness of the Chiefs Conference (TCC), fi eld studies, which currently consist of COP fi eld studies and their ongoing project located in Fairbanks. a study corridor from Delta Junction to schedules of activities. the Canadian border, are necessary for COP will have teams of fi eld scientists The $9,200,000 loan understanding the ground conditions and walking the survey corridor. These teams was brought to AIDEA by Alaska Pacifi c Bank, which originated the loan and is the general environment where the pipeline will assess known contaminated sites participating with $920,000 (10%). is planned to be built, and to ensure that (such as WWII military sites), historic and environmental and cultural resources archaeological sites (camps and heritage The purpose of the TCC loan is to refi nance existing debt and provide funds for are protected. These studies will support sites), ground conditions to determine the renovation of TCC’s commercial buildings. planning and environmental review, in this wetlands (wet boggy soil conditions) Borrowers come to AIDEA through a qualifi ed originator. AIDEA can purchase case an Environmental Impact Statement, and soil-temperature measuring at up to 90% of a participating credit to a maximum of $20 million for the purpose of the project. stream crossings (see side-bar for more For the past several years, TCC has information). of acquiring, developing, enhancing or refi nancing commercial real property or engaged in discussions about the project For more information, contact Bob equipment. The project must be in Alaska. AIDEA Board of Directors approval is with COP and state and federal agencies. required for any loan participation that equals or exceeds $3,000,000. COP is the fi rst organization to work directly with TCC. The type of work CONTINUED on page 5... Page 2 • The Council • April 2008 Tanana Chiefs Conference The Council is a monthly report to the Member Tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Conference, in accordance with agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. Letters to the Editor, other written contributions and photos submissions are welcome. However, space is limited and program-oriented news has priority. We reserve the right to edit or reject material. Letters and opinions are not necessarily the opinions of Tanana Chiefs Conference. Material submitted anonymously will not be printed. Contributions and questions may be directed to: Ginger Placeres, Editor Johnson O’Malley Tourney Tanana Chiefs Conference The Fairbanks Native Association’s Johnson O’Malley Program (JOM) would like 122 First Avenue, Suite 600 to thank the many volunteers who helped with our “8th Annual Alaska Native Youth Basketball Tournament” held at Tanana Middle School, March 10-12, 2008. Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 Elementary Coaches Phone: (907) 452-8251 ext.