Q2 2023 Tribal News Newsletter

Tlingit & Haida

2nd Quarter 2023

88th Annual Tribal Assembly Adjourns

In Land We Trust”

Tlingit & Haida adjourned the 88th Annual Tribal Assembly on April 21, 2023 after three days of Delegates governing and conducting the business of the Tribe. The Tribal Assembly was held at the Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall in Juneau, Alaska with 108 of 117 Delegates present in person and virtually.

It’s been four years since Delegates gathered in person due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and this was the first year Tribal Assembly was held as a hybrid event with a virtual option to accommodate those unable to travel. During the Tribal Assembly, Delegates heard presentations, acted on resolutions, approved the Tribe’s budget, and conducted elections.

Delegates are the governing body of Tlingit & Haida while in session and represent the interest of tribal citizens in 21 recognized communities (18 Southeast Alaska communities; San Francisco, California; Anchorage, Alaska; and Seattle, Washington).

As part of the opening ceremony, Delegates danced in with the Eagle Raven dancers following the posting of the colors by the Southeast Alaska Native Veterans group and were introduced to Tribal Host Willard Jackson Sr. of Ketchikan, Alaska and Tribal Hostess Della Coburn of Kasaan, Alaska.

Continued on page 6

ƒ Alumni Scholarship

ƒ President Emeritus Receives Governor’s Award

ƒ College Student Assistance Program

ƒ U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of ICWA

ƒ Looking for a New & Rewarding Career?

ƒ New Management Team Members Welcomed

ƒ Follow Tlingit & Haida on Social Media

ƒ Tribes Issue Joint Letter Urging Canada to address Growing Crisis of Mining Pollution

ƒ Acting Chief Financial Officer Hired

ƒ Hundreds Welcome Ashore Hōkūle’a

ƒ Mark Your Calendars

ƒ President Receives Honorary Doctor of Laws

ƒ Education Tour Travel Scholarships Available

ƒ Bingo Operations Launched Under Alaska State Gaming Permit

ƒ 2022 Annual Report

ƒ King Salmon Troll Fishery to Open Following Ninth Circuit Ruling

ƒ Men’s Healing Summit

ƒ Janae Franklet Elected President of National Association of Tribal Child Support Directors

ƒ Foster Care Recruitment

ƒ Southeast Alaska Tribal Leaders Meet with Federal Officials

ƒ Southeast Back-to-School Backpack Program

ƒ Congratulations 2023 GraduatesIyadláak! Dáng t’aláng kwáagad!

ƒ New Harvesting Video Series Released

“Sovereignty:

Alumni Scholarship

The Higher Education program will be accepting Alumni Scholarship applications July 1September 15, 2023.

The Alumni Scholarship program provides annual scholarship awards to all tribal citizens who are pursuing a higher education.

The scholarship fund was established over 20 years ago and awarded more than $80,000 in scholarships to students last year.

Award amounts are based on annual donations and fundraising activities.

Apply Online: www.tlingitandhaida.gov/services/ education/higher

For more information on the Alumni Scholarship program, call 907.463.7329 or email highereducation@ccthit-nsn.gov.

President Emeritus Receives Governor’s Award

Congratulations to President Emeritus Edward K. Thomas who received a Governor’s Arts and Humanities award!

The Governor’s Arts and Humanities awards recognize Alaskans for their statewide service, leadership, and impact.

President Emeritus Thomas was presented the Distinguished Service to the Humanities in Community award during an awards ceremony held on May 11, 2023 in Anchorage, Alaska.

A total of eight awardees were honored for their creativity and passion to enrich the lives of other Alaskans; support, teach, and inspire others; unite people within and across communities; and lift up and bring others’ stories to life.

President Emeritus Thomas served as Tlingit & Haida’s President for over 27 years before retiring in 2014.

“Ed’s role as past president of Tlingit & Haida has made a positive, long-lasting impact not only on the Tlingit and Haida people of Southeast Alaska, but also on the entire state. He has been a tireless advocate for Native self-determination and self-governance. He is a true warrior for our people and communities, and deserves this recognition,” shared President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson.

College Student Assistance Program

Are you planning on pursuing a higher education? The College Student Assistance (CSA) program provides financial aid through a Compact Service Agreement between Tlingit & Haida and Southeast Alaska IRA tribes. Tribal citizens who are attending or plan to attend an accredited college or university in the pursuit of education degree programs, specifically post-secondary education and reside in, originate from or are enrolled with Haines, Juneau, Kasaan, Pelican, Saxman, or Tenakee are encouraged to apply.

Application Requirements

ƒ Official high school transcripts, GED scores or college transcripts indicating an overall 2.0 GPA or better.

ƒ Completed Family of Origin form

ƒ Copy of Letter of Admission from college/university attending indicating degree program.

Apply Online: www.tlingitandhaida.gov/services/education/higher

President Emeritus Edward K. Thomas

U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of ICWA

Tlingit & Haida celebrates the United States (U.S.) Supreme Court’s ruling in Haaland v. Brackeen that upholds the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA). The Brackeen case challenged the constitutionality of ICWA, arguing it violated the U.S. Constitution by discriminating on the basis of race and forcing the states to carry out federal mandates for the foster and adoption placement preference of Native children.

“Today the Supreme Court upheld ICWA and today they upheld tribal sovereignty,” said President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson. “Our sovereignty was tested, and it was ICWA that won the day and was our truest expression of our sovereignty. Our staff are on the frontline, their work preserves our families, and that is indeed our responsibility to protect and defend our citizens.”

Congress enacted ICWA in 1978 in response to the egregious assimilationist policy of public and private removal of Native children from their homes. The law established minimum federal standards for removing Native children from their families and required state courts to notify tribes when an Indian child is removed from his or her home.

“I feel like we can all finally breathe a sigh of relief knowing the constitutionality of this landmark law has been upheld,” said President Peterson. “This is welcomed news for tribes, our children and families, and future generations.”

ICWA provides the general framework for the State’s tribal child welfare system and is a proven, critical tool for ensuring better outcomes for tribal children and for preserving tribal sovereignty, tribal culture, and tribal tradition.

President Peterson said he’s disappointed there wasn’t more support and proactive action from the State of Alaska while the Brackeen case worked its way through the lower courts up to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“Alaska tribes need reassurance from the Office of the Governor that the State of Alaska will honor the intentions of ICWA and reaffirm its commitment to protecting the well-being and best interest of Alaska Native children and families, and recognizing the inherent rights of tribal nations to be involved in child welfare matters involving their citizens,” said President Peterson.

We’re hiring! If you’re interested in joining a great team and receiving competitive wages, as well as educational opportunities to help you achieve your career goals, apply today! Here are just some of the benefits we offer:

New Management Team Members Welcomed

Vicki Soboleff, Cultural Heritage & Education Manager

Vicki joined Tlingit & Haida to help support Southeast Alaska Indigenous languages, arts and cultural education, and preservation initiatives. She is based in Lynnwood, Washington and will strive to increase the Tribe’s capacity to build out classes and activities that support tribal citizens in all Tlingit & Haida communities.

Vicki is Haida, Yak’Laanas, Raven/Double Fin Killerwhale of the Brown Bear House and her Haida names are Hiilunjaat and Tl’aakahlwaas. She was adopted into the Kiks.adi clan (Raven/Frog) of the Tinaa Hít (Copper Shield) House and the Gaagaan Hít (Sun House), and carries the Tlingit names Shxaasti and Kukak. She has an extensive background in finance and accounting, and is also an artist, performer, mentor, and teacher who has founded dance groups and conducted outreach and youth mentorship programs. Vicki has received mentorship from master weavers and language bearers, including Selina Peratrovich and Dolores Churchill in Haida basketry, Julia Fawcett in moccasin making, Beatrice Starkweather in traditional beadwork, and Cheryl Samuel and Kay Parker in Ravenstail weaving.

Myrna Gardner, Procurement Officer

Myrna was promoted to Procurement Officer and will oversee all operations of the Tribe’s T&H Logistics business enterprise and Procurement Department which includes warehouse inventory control, fixed asset inventory and disposition, contract administration and management, vendor sourcing and pricing research, and processing of incoming and outgoing mail.

Myrna brings over 20 years of management experience in business management, development, logistics, customer service, and operations. She is Tlingit and Haida. Her Tlingit name is Xíeishxí, and she is Yéil naax xat sitee, Duk’tool, Wéix’ naax xat sitee, Taakwaaneidi Hít (Raven/Skulpin House) from the village of Sxwaan of the Heinyaa Kwaan (Klawock) people and is Chankweidi Yadi (a child of the Haida people on her father’s side). She has three children and a grandson she adores. In her spare time, she enjoys fishing, beading and spending time with family.

Follow Tlingit & Haida on Social Media

Tlingit & Haida’s social media presence is growing! We are pleased to share that the Tribe’s official Facebook page has over 35,000 followers, Instagram has surpassed 7,000 followers and Twitter is approaching 2,000 followers. Social Media has proven to be a valuable tool for sharing current information on Tlingit & Haida’s programs, services and activities with tribal citizens and friends. Please help us continue to grow and expand the Tribe’s social media reach by “liking” and “sharing” our posts!

Vicki Soboleff

Myrna Gardner

Tribes Issue Joint Letter Urging Canada to Address Growing Crisis of Mining Pollution

Acting Chief Financial Officer Hired

Tlingit & Haida issued a joint letter on April 19 with 11 First Nations and Indigenous tribes of Canada and the United States (U.S.) calling for the governments of Canada and British Columbia (B.C.) to honor their legal and ethical obligations and act immediately to protect our recognized traditional territories from legacy, operational and proposed mining in B.C.

For more than a decade, many First Nations and Indigenous tribes have sought Canadian and provincial action to reduce contamination from B.C.’s abandoned, developing and operating mines in the headwaters of shared transboundary rivers.

“Tlingit & Haida has long advocated for the U.S. government to uphold its trust responsibility to tribes and to utilize any and all powers under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to ensure our cultural existence and community health are not harmed by upstream development in B.C.,” said Tlingit & Haida President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson.

Under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909, Canada agreed that “waters flowing across the [U.S.-Canadian] boundary shall not be polluted on either side to the injury of property or health of the other country.”

The U.S. Department of State has the authority under the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 to pursue protections by referring a boundary waters matter to the International Joint Commission (IJC) for thorough review.

The joint letter released requests the governments of Canada and B.C. to take seven (7) specific actions to begin to fulfill their obligations to protect human health, honor Aboriginal and Indigenous nations, and preserve our shared transboundary ecosystems for future generations.

In addition to the 11 First Nations and Indigenous tribes that have issued the joint letter, nine (9) Southeast Alaska municipalities have adopted resolutions supporting the requests made by tribes.

Karen Taug

Karen Taug has accepted the position of Acting Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She temporarily replaces former CFO Theresa Belton who retired after more than 20 years of dedicated service to the Tribe.

Karen retired as finance controller for Bartlett Regional Hospital. Prior to that, she was a finance controller for SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, senior account for Sealaska, and Goldbelt Heritage Foundation board member.

She has spent most of her career supporting Native organizations and the success of Southeast Alaska villages. She currently serves as President of the Deishu Tlingit & Haida Community Council, Tlingit & Haida Delegate for the community of Haines, Sealaska board member, Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority board of commissioner member, and member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 5.

88th Annual Tribal Assembly Adjourns

President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson’s State of the Tribe address underscored this year’s theme, “Sovereignty: In Land We Trust”. Over the past two years, the Tribe has acquired property and businesses under its strategic “Land Back” initiative to build a centralized campus in downtown Juneau and generate unrestricted revenue to expand services to tribal citizens outside of the region.

“What was illegally and unlawfully taken from us was legally and lawfully bought back,” said President Peterson. “Self-governance and determination go back to economic sovereignty.”

President Peterson also provided an update on Tlingit & Haida’s first parcel of land approved by the United States Department of Interior for federal trust status.

“There is one simple reason we are putting this land into trust. It is to protect this land, which was an original Indian town site, and to protect it in perpetuity, that is it,” he said. “Why do we have to do it? Because they stole it the first time. That’s why we are putting it into trust.”

Other reports provided by Tlingit & Haida’s administration provided further information on the progress and future of the Tribe.

Della Coburn Tribal Hostess

Phil Baker-Shenk Keynote Address

Willard Jackson Sr. Tribal Host

This year’s keynote address was delivered by Holland & Knight attorney Phil Baker-Shenk, who has served as Tlingit & Haida’s Washington D.C. attorney for more than 30 years.

“I want to speak about the resilience I’ve seen at Tlingit & Haida. The Tlingit & Haida people have survived colonization, exploitation, land and resource theft, decimation of fish and wildlife, cultural misappropriation, language loss, kidnappings, and prejudicial discrimination, and you are still here,” Baker-Shenk shared. He also talked about Tlingit & Haida’s first land into trust parcel. “For a tribal government, regaining landownership and jurisdiction is key to restoring the full measure of sovereignty it once had,” Baker-Shenk said.

During elections, the nomination of Cindy Pederson of Washington was unchallenged for Delegate/Citizen of the Year. Aurora Lehr of Washington was reelected to another term as a Tribal Court Associate Justice and Lauryn Framke of Juneau was elected Emerging Leader.

A total of 28 resolutions were considered by Delegates – 23 were adopted under the consent calendar, 4 were ruled out of order and 1 was adopted with committee recommendation. A list of all resolutions is available on Tlingit & Haida’s website. After a passionate discussion on proposed amendments to Tlingit & Haida’s Rules of Election, Delegates voted to establish a maximum of 25 and minimum of 2 Delegates elected per community and to hold a Constitutional Convention in 2025 to examine the Tribe’s governance structure.

Cindy Pederson Delegate/Citizen of the Year

Aurora Lehr Associate Justice

Lauryn Framke Emerging Leader

Hundreds Welcome Ashore Hōkūle’a

Tlingit & Haida joined Áak’w Kwáan leaders, First Alaskans Institute, Goldbelt, Sealaska and hundreds of tribal citizens and friends in welcoming the Polynesian Voyaging Society as the Hōkūle’a crew came ashore at Auke Rec in Juneau, Alaska on June 15. President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson was one of several tribal leaders who thanked the crew for beginning their four-year Moananuiākea voyage in Alaska.

“It’s really us kind of reigniting ties and building on old relationships that have gone back since time immemorial. Our people have circumnavigated the Pacific and the world, not just the Hawaiians, but Tlingits and Haidas as well,” President Peterson shared during the ceremony.

The monumental voyage launched with the iconic Hōkūle’a and will circumnavigate the entire Pacific Ocean in four years. During the voyage, they will visit 36 countries and archipelagos and almost 100 Indigenous territories to ignite a movement for a better future for our earth and amplify the vital importance of our oceans, nature, science and Indigenous wisdom.

Tlingit & Haida holds up this voyage as a global educational campaign that expresses our Indigenous values and stewardship and the vital importance of oceans and Indigenous knowledge.

“When I look at our Hawaiian ohana, my heart is filled to see you,” said President Peterson. “I’m so honored to be here and be a small part of your journey.”

Mark Your Calendars

July Events

1: Alumni Scholarship Application Period Opens

4: Independence Day Holiday (Offices Closed)

7: Southeast Alaska Back-to-School Backpack Application Period Closes

15: Washington Tlingit & Haida Chapter Picnic – Edmonds, WA

20-21: Executive Council Meeting – Craig, AK

22: Anchorage Tlingit & Haida Chapter Picnic – Anchorage, AK

22: Back-to-School Backpack Celebration – Juneau, AK

28-30: Haa Kusteeyí Celebration 2023 – Atlin, British Columbia

August Events

9-11: Enrollment Committee Meeting – Juneau, AK

14-18: Co-Stewardship Symposium – Anchorage, AK

16-18: Men’s Healing Summit – Juneau, AK

18: Executive Council Meeting (Held via Zoom)

28-1: Southeast Tribal Environmental Forum – Juneau, AK

September Events

4: Labor Day Holiday (Offices Closed)

15: Alumni Scholarship Application Period Closes

15: Executive Council Meeting (Held via Zoom)

21-23: Aak’w Rock Indigenous Music Festival – Juneau, AK

October Events

4-7: 111th Alaska Native Brotherhood & Sisterhood Grand Camp Convention (Held Virtually)

9: Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Offices Closed)

18: Alaska Day (Offices Closed)

Save the Date

President Receives Honorary Doctor of Laws

Congratulations to President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson who received an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) for his distinguished service to the State of Alaska, learning and humankind!

An honorary doctorate recognizes a recipient’s lasting contributions and significant achievements in their respective disciplines.

President Peterson was one of two people selected by UAF Board of Regents to receive the honorary Doctor of Laws degree. In UAF’s announcement, they noted his “innovative approach to supporting Southeast Alaska communities through the COVID-19 pandemic has been adopted and recognized as a template for best practices in tribal disaster response by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.”

Surrounded by family and close friends, President Peterson was conferred with an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at a hooding ceremony on May 5 in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Education Tour Travel Scholarships Available

Have you been looking at schools you are interested in attending after you graduate from high school? Perhaps you are wondering if the school is the right fit for you, what the campus is like or how you would fit into the space.

Tlingit & Haida’s Navigators program is here to help high school students with their postsecondary education exploration. Travel scholarships are available to provide an opportunity for students to visit a school of their choice with one parent or caregiver.

Travel Scholarship

Requirements:

ƒ Must be a high school student (grade 9-12)

ƒ Must be a student in one of the following school districts:

» Juneau School District,

» Southeast Island School District,

» Hydaburg City Schools,

» Klawock City Schools, or

» Craig City Schools

Deadline to Apply: Monday, August 7, 2023

For more information on the travel scholarship, contact the Navigators program at 907.463.7752 or Navigators@ ccthita-nsn.gov.

Bingo Operations Launched Under Alaska State Gaming Permit

Tlingit & Haida launched bingo operations on May 9, 2023 under its gaming permit with the State of Alaska’s Department of Revenue.

“We’re excited to bring bingo back to the hall in our Andrew Hope Building, shared Business & Economic Development Director Janice Hotch. “You don’t have to spend a lot of money to play and it’s a hoot, especially for our Elders. Bingo isn’t just about winning, it’s about having a place to meet, have fun and see friends.”

Equipped with the latest bingo technology, players have the option to choose between traditional paper and electronic bingo. Pull tabs are also be available for purchase along with food and beverage options at Sacred Grounds Café.

Bingo is held every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with $5,000 in cash prize payouts each night. Doors open at 5:00 PM and games will run from 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

The bingo operations are part of Tlingit & Haida’s effort to generate unrestricted revenue under the Tribe’s economic sovereignty initiative. Profits from the bingo operations will help support tribal programs like Elderly Emergency Assistance and Alumni Scholarship Assistance.

2022 Annual Report Published

Tlingit & Haida is pleased to share the 2022 Annual Report is now available online! To learn about Tlingit & Haida’s recent accomplishments and goals, please visit our website to download the report at: www.tlingitandhaida.gov/services/overview/documents.

Annual Report Contents:

» President’s Message

» Executive Council

» Delegates by Community

» Chief Reports

» Tribal Court Report

» Division & Department Reports

» Tribal Enterprise Reports

» Statistics by Community

» 2022 Timeline

King Salmon Troll Fishery to Open Following

Ninth Circuit Ruling

Tlingit & Haida is thrilled the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Ninth Circuit) issued an expedited ruling in the Wild Fish Conservancy vs. Jennifer Quan, et al case which will allow the Chinook (king) salmon trolling season to open on July 1 as scheduled.

The ruling overturns the Western District of Washington’s order that would have shut down the Southeast Alaska king salmon fishery due to concerns about the Southern Resident killer whales in Puget Sound.

Tlingit & Haida, along with 21 other Southeast Alaska tribes and Native corporations filed an amicus brief on June 16 in support of the State of Alaska’s request to stay the Western District of Washington’s order to close the fishery while the appeal of the order is pending before the Ninth Circuit.

The Ninth Circuit granted a stay in the case which means the lower court’s ruling does not go into effect while the appeal process goes forward. This is a temporary decision that allows fishermen to begin trolling for king salmon on schedule.

“This ruling means fishermen can feed their families and contribute to their communities,” said President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson. While we hope the court will ultimately dismiss this lawsuit, for now this is good news so our fishermen don’t have to wait for a lengthy legal process to determine if they will be able to pay their bills this winter.”

The summer and winter king harvests can make up to half or more of troller’s annual fishing income. A 2019 study found the Southeast Alaska troll fleet provides an $85 million economic impact for the Southeast Alaska economy. This is why our Southeast Alaska communities and many others have long been committed to addressing the very real challenges facing Pacific salmon. Our people successfully stewarded salmon populations for generations and it is a victory to have our voices and traditional knowledge valued and heard in this lawsuit.

Men’s Healing Summit

Join the Community & Behavioral Services (CBS) Healing Center in August for a Men’s Healing Summit focused on creating space to address unique issues faced by men, such as expressing emotions in a healthy way, understanding mental health and substance use issues, how to ask for support, and recognizing you are not alone. Men sharing lived experiences can make a lasting difference in our communities. We hope you will join us!

Dates:

August 16 - 18, 2023

Location:

Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall

Juneau, Alaska

Highlights:

ƒ Special Guest Speakers

ƒ Stories of Lived Experience

ƒ Workshop on How to Set Up a Men’s Group

ƒ Networking

ƒ Cultural Values Discussion

Scan QR code to register or visit

www.tlingitandhaida.gov

For more information on the summit, contact the CBS Healing Center at 907.463.7305.

Janae Franklet Elected President of National Association of Tribal Child Support Directors

Please help Tlingit & Haida congratulate Tribal Child Support Unit (TCSU) Manager Janae Franklet, who was elected President of the National Association of Tribal Child Support Directors (NATCSD)!

NATCSD serves to bring tribal child support program directors together to build relationships and share resources on best practices to ultimately improve child support programs and services provided to tribal children and their families.

As the President of NATCSD, Janae will work diligently and closely with the Executive Board and other NATCSD members to continue to strengthen the relationships between the federal, state, and other tribal agencies. It is important to continue to have conversations regarding federal regulatory requirements as it effects tribal program performance, and continued program improvements and development.

Janae will serve a two-year term and is set take office during NATCSD’s Fall meeting scheduled to be held on October 5, 2023.

“I am very honored to have been elected to this position. I look forward to working in this new capacity,” Janae shared.

Janae first joined Tlingit & Haida’s Tribal Child Support Unit in 2010 and was promoted to manager in 2019.

Janae’s Tlingit name is Keilteen and she is Eagle/Wolf from the Yanyeidi Taku tribe. She was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, and is the daughter of Judy (Gooxkuwadzee) Franklet and George (Gunaaneisti) Franklet and granddaughter of Alice (Koneil) Nelson and Chris (Gunaaneisti) Nelson. She graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School and the University of Alaska Southeast with Associate and Bachelor degrees in Business Management.

Foster Care Recruitment

All children deserve a safe and stable home. That’s why Tlingit & Haida’s Foster Care Licensing program is recruiting Alaska Natives and American Indians to become foster parents.

Our children need nurturing adults in their lives, especially during times when their families experience a time of crisis or hardship. You can be a very important and vital resource for our tribal children. If you are interested in making a difference in a child’s life and would like to ensure our children are engaged and connected with their culture and traditional values, please consider becoming a foster parent.

For more information, contact the Foster Care Licensing program at fostercare@ccthita-nsn.gov.

Gunalchéesh, Háw’aa to those who provide safe and loving homes to our children!

Janae Franklet

Southeast

Alaska Tribal Leaders Meet with Federal Officials Southeast Back to School Backpack Program

Southeast Alaska tribal leaders met on April 24, 2023 in Juneau, Alaska with federal officials from the Department of Interior (DOI) –Assistant Secretary Bryan Newland, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Wizipan Garriott, Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Alaska Affairs & Strategic Priorities Raina Thiele, and Alaska Regional Bureau of Indian Affairs Director Anthony Rousseau.

During the visit, the DOI federal officials had a chance to sit down for coffee with President Peterson at the Tribe’s Sacred Grounds Café and take a short site tour of the Tribe’s first parcel of land which was approved for federal trust status in November 2022.

Some of the areas of priorities shared by Southeast Alaska tribal leaders included:

ƒ Opening the Tongass National Forest for parcels for the Alaska Native Vietnam-Era Veterans land allotment

ƒ Improving the land into trust process for Alaska Native tribes

ƒ Public safety and infrastructure improvements

ƒ Working on transboundary issues like water quality and wildlife protection

ƒ Amending Public Law (P.L.) 102-477 to expand services to tribal citizens outside of Southeast Alaska

Tlingit & Haida First Vice President Jackie Pata urged creating a multi-national agreement to come together on the transboundary concerns to document changes to the water and wildlife. “These issues are important, but we feel if we come together, we’ll have a stronger voice, a tribal voice,” she said.

Tlingit & Haida Fifth Vice President Clinton Cook Sr., who also serves as President of Craig Tribal Association, shared that he wants to see more trust applications approved. “Only two tribes getting land into trust is not okay. These two small parcels are not enough. We see the positive economic impacts when we have land into trust. When we are the governing bodies of that land, we do good things,” he shared.

Tlingit & Haida is gearing up for its annual Southeast Alaska Back to School Backpack distributions to help ensure a great start to the school year for our tribal youth. If your family meets the eligibility requirements, make sure to sign up!

Juneau Back to School Backpack Celebration

Saturday, August 5, 2023

Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall

Juneau, Alaska

Southeast Alaska Backpack Distribution

Southeast Alaska Service Area

August 2023

Eligibility Requirements:

ƒ Child(ren) must be Alaska Native and/or American Indian.

ƒ Child(ren) must be preschool age to grade 12.

ƒ Child(ren) must reside in one of the communities in Tlingit & Haida’s service area.

Application Deadline: July 7, 2023

Apply Online: www.tinyurl.com/2023B2SApp

For more information, contact our program coordinator at 1.800.344.1432 ext. 7158 or 477B2S@ccthita-nsn.gov.

DOI officials tour Tlingit & Haida’s parcel of land in Juneau, Alaska, which was approved for federal trust status in November 2022.

CONGRATULATIONS 2023 GRADUATES

New Harvesting Video Series Released

Tlingit & Haida is excited to announce a new educational harvest series is now available on YouTube. The video series highlights 10 traditional hunting and foraging practices of tribal citizens on Prince of Wales Island in Southeast Alaska and is the product of a community collaboration with Cedar Group.

“Our traditional foods are core to who we are and our way of life,” shared President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson. “This project is truly an example of what we can do when we work together to ensure knowledge is passed down to the next generation. It’s also about community sustainability and food sovereignty. These videos not only show our traditional knowledge, they capture our community and the generosity of our people.”

The video series was developed under a United States Department of Education, Alaska Native Education Program grant as a classroom resource for students and teachers. Each episode includes instructions and a list of all ingredients to replicate the food processing methods.

Watch Now: www.tinyurl.com/POWHarvestingSeries

Preserve our sovereignty, enhance our economic and cultural resources, and promote self-sufficiency and self-governance for our citizens.