Dena’ Nena’ Henash • Our Land Speaks Vol. 43, No. 1 A REPORT TO THE MEMBER TRIBES OF TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE January 2019 Gathering By Amber Vaska Tribal Unity TCS Executive Assistant Alaska Tribal Unity (ATU) held towards collaboration and unity updates on a number of national cases their 3rd Annual Gathering in with tribes during his tenure. Videos that affect Alaska tribes. The Census Anchorage on November 26, 2018. from the congressional delegation presented on a letter sent out to tribes There was 161 in attendance, which highlighted their commitment to tribes, regarding Participant Statistical Areas includes representatives from 52 tribes working together and taking action. Program. A Transportation panel and 13 organizations. The theme was, The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) discussed the opportunities of the “Opportunities All Around: Advancing Region Director Eugene Peltola Jr. new congressional transportation bill, the Tribal Agenda.” ATU’s purpose is reported out. Chief Joseph questioned partnership opportunities with 202(a) to develop a unified voice for all tribes how Alaska’s Tribal Interior Budget (9) and being proactive in addressing in Alaska and advocate on issues that Council (TIBC) representatives are Alaska tribal infrastructure. affect Alaska tribes. Throughout the elected and how are our priorities The gathering than caucused to meeting, tribal leaders went to the mic brought forward. elect members of the ATU Executive to voice their opinions, making it an The Alaska TIBC member reported Committee and discussed resolutions. active forum. on the importance of tribal priorities The tribal leaders passed 13 resolutions Chairman Richard Peterson, and the Alaska TIBC group. A legal and referred one resolution to the President of Tlingit & Haida, called panel spoke on DOI Reorganization, Executive Committee. The resolutions the meeting to order and Executive Alaska IRA, Lands into Trust and the will be used to guide advocacy efforts Director Will Mayo gave opening Mashpee Tribe Decision. throughout the year, representing the comments. Governor Bill Walker The meeting moved to focus on tribal leaders in attendance at the ATU spoke, noting the effort of working national priorities that included legal gathering. Continued on page 11. Resolution Deadline TCC’s Annual Convention resolution process has been improved to provide for more tribal notice and dialogue. Resolutions will be due on February 8th, 2019. Please submit resolutions to Keith Rueben, [email protected]. If you’d like assistance in writing resolutions please contact the relevant department: Health: [email protected], ext 3141 Tribal Client Services: [email protected], ext 3110 Administration/Other: [email protected], ext 3178 In This Huslia Culture & Legacy of our Year in 2019 Convention Wellness Camp Elders Highlight Review Election Process Issue: Pages 4 & 5 Page 6 Pages 8 & 9 Pages 14-15 CHIEF’S REPORT MISSION STATEMENT Tanana Chiefs Conference provides a Dear Tribes and Tribal Members, unified voice in advancing sovereign tribal governments through the promotion Happy New Year! As we begin another year, I want of physical and mental wellness, to share with you some exciting new initiatives TCC education, socioeconomic development, is launching to improve our services and business and culture of the Interior Alaska Native practices. The full Board of Directors authorized these people. five initiatives during TCC’s special Full Board of Director’s meeting in November 2018. • Ch’eghwtsen’— Our late Traditional Chief Peter John spoke about the VISION importance of Ch’eghwtsen’, which means “true love” in the Lower Tanana Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes dialect. TCC will adopt and embrace the spirit of Ch’eghwtsen’ throughout our organization. • Adopt the following guiding principle throughout our organization: “Accessible and trusted world-class services provided with unconditional love, compassion, dignity and respect. “HEAR ME” • Malcolm Baldrige Framework—The Malcolm Baldrige Framework provides a set of criteria to promote excellence. TCC will use this framework to assess the implementation of our new initiatives and to continuously improve the quality of our services and our business practices. TCC EXECUTIVE Once these three initiative are incorporated throughout our organization, our BOARD MEMBERS business practices and quality of services will greatly improve and come from a Donald Honea Sr./Ruby place of love, compassion, and understanding. 1st Traditional Chief • Clinic Construction—The Full Board of Directors also authorized construction of the Upper Tanana sub-regional clinic located in Tok and expansion of the Trimble Gilbert/Arctic Village Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center expansion, which will significantly improve 2nd Traditional Chief health care services for all of our tribal members. • In addition, the Full Board of Directors also authorized two additional Victor Joseph/ Tanana initiatives. These will remain confidential and will be shared at a later date. Chief/Chairman We are excited to implement these new initiatives and will continue to keep you informed about our progress. Julie Roberts-Hyslop/Tanana In other news, TCC staff is busy preparing for our 2019 annual convention in Vice President March. This year’s convention is particularly important because TCC will hold Jerry Isaac/Tanacross elections for four seats on the Executive Board of Directors: Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer Yukon Flats Representative, Yukon Tanana Representative, and Youth Advisor. For more information on TCC’s election process, see pages 14 and 15. William “Chaaiy” Albert/Northway I would like to congratulate all those who were elected to federal, state, Upper Tanana and local offices in November. I look forward to creating a positive working relationship with Governor Mike Dunleavy and his administration. Positive Nick Alexia Sr./Nikolai relationships with our elected officials are essential to achieving TCC’s vision Upper Kuskokwim of Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes. Although Ballot Measure 1 did not pass, we will continue to strive and advocate Nancy James/Fort Yukon for clean and protected salmon habitats. It is important that we continue these Yukon Flats efforts and keep voting for our voices to be heard. Change takes time, and we will get there. Eugene Paul/Holy Cross Lower Yukon I am looking forward to another successful year here at TCC as we work toward our vision of Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes. Frank Thompson/ Evansville Yukon Tanana Norman ‘Carl’ Burgett/ Huslia Ana Bassee, Yukon Koyukuk Victor Joseph Chief/Chairman Peter Demoski/Nulato Elder Advisor Jolie Murray/Beaver Youth Advisor 2 TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE • THE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER 2019general election official results US Representative House District 6 House District 23 House District 40 Don Young, REP David Talerico, REP Chris Tuck, DEM John Lincoln, DEM Governor/Lt. Governor House District 7 House District 24 Ballot Measure No. 1 Dunleavy/Meyer, REP Co Sullivan-Leonard, REP Charles Kopp No Senate District A House District 8 House District 25 Sup Court JD1 Carey Scott Kawasaki, DEM Mark Neuman, REP Josh Revak, REP Yes Senate District C House District 9 House District 26 Sup Court JD3 Corey Click Bishop, REP George Rauscher, REP Laddie Shaw, REP No Senate District E House District 10 House District 27 Sup Court JD3 Morse Michael Shower, REP David Eastman, REP Lance Pruitt, REP Yes Senate District G House District 11 House District 28 Sup Court JD3 Walker Jr. Lora Reinbold, REP DeLena Johnson, REP Jennifer Johnston, REP Yes Senate District I House District 12 House District 29 Sup Court JD3 Wolverton Elvi Gray-Jackson, DEM Cathy Tiltlon, REP Benjamin Carpenter, REP Yes Senate District K House District 13 House District 30 Sup Court JD4 Lyle Mia Costello, REP Nancy Dahlstrom, REP Gary Knopp, REP Yes Senate District M House District 14 House District 31 Sup Court JD4 McConahy Chris Birch, REP Kelly Merrick, REP Sarah Vance, REP Yes Senate District O House District 15 House District 32 Sup Court JD1 Miller Peter Micciche, REP Gabrielle LeDoux, REP Louise Stutes, REP Yes Senate District Q House District 16 House District 33 Sup Court JD1 Swanson Jesse Kiehl, DEM Ivy Spohnholz, DEM Sara Hannan, DEM Yes Senate District S House District 17 House District 34 Sup Court JD3 Chung Lyman Hoffman, DEM Andrew Josephson, DEM Andrea Story, DEM Yes House District 1 House District 18 House District 35 Sup Court JD3 Clark Barton LeBon, REP Harriet Drummond, DEM Jona Kreiss-Tomkins, DEM Yes House District 2 House District 19 House District 36 Sup Court JD3 Estelle Steve Thompson, REP Geran Tarr, DEM Daniel Ortiz, NA Yes House District 3 House District 20 House District 37 Sup Court JD3 Illsley Tammie Wilson, REP Williams Fields, DEM Bryce Edgmon, DEM Yes House District 4 House District 21 House District 38 Sup Court JD3 Wolfe Grier Hopkins, DEM Matt Claman, DEM Tiffany Zulkosky, DEM Yes House District 5 House District 22 House District 39 Sup Court JD4 Seekins Adam Wool, DEM Sara Rasmussen Neal Foster, DEM Yes TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE • THE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER 3 huslia Huslia’sCulture Culture and Wellness The& camp’s culturalWellness focus was to strengthen Camp their self-identity. Camp was held August 13-17, a 3 on native signing, language, Tribes throughout the region mile boat ride downriver from the storytelling, berry picking and continue to host Culture and village, along the Koyukuk River. hunting. A special permit allowed Wellness Camps funded through Land has been dedicated for the them to get a moose, and the youth Tanana Chiefs Conference and Culture Camp and this years the were part of the hunt, skinning and the Administration for Native youth named the camp: “Soo-al butchering of the moose. Everyone Americans. As we enter the Is’i nokkunhodaadineegh”. There went home with some meat and final year of the grant- 12 more were 94 participants ranging from 2 jerky! camps will be hosted; two in years old to Elders from the Huslia The importance of sled dogs in each subregion; with the hope and Fairbanks.