NA’EDA” Book Updated

The CIRI Foundation has revised “Na’eda,” a comprehensive guide to Alaska Native cultures, corporations, tribal organizations, and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The handbook’s title, “Na’eda,” translated from Dena’ina Athabascan means “our friends.”

The book, by CIRI Historian Alexandra J. McClanahan and CIRI shareholder Hallie Bissett, is aimed at being the most up-to-date and comprehensive listing of Native entities available. CIRI History Assistant Aaron Leggett, also a CIRI shareholder, logged hundreds of phone calls to provide the most up-to-date information in the revised version of the book. Addresses and phone numbers are included for the 13 Native regional corporations, 168 village corporations, 226 traditional/IRA councils, four urban corporations, six former reserves and Alaska’s only reservation, Metlakatla. Also listed are the 13 major regional non-profits and the 13 members of the Alaska Native Education Consortium.

“The purpose of this book is to combine maps, a basic primer on Native issues surrounding ANCSA and a directory to create a handy booklet that’s transportable,” said Susan Anderson, CEO of The CIRI Foundation. “This is more than a directory – “Na’eda” provides historical, geographical, and cultural context. It is a reference that is of value to everyone, whether you’re a life-long resident or a first-time visitor to Alaska.”

“Na’eda” retails for $9.95, with proceeds from the sale of the book benefiting The CIRI Foundation. The book is available at select bookstores, or it may be purchased off the merchandise section of the CIRI web site at www.ciri.com/merchandise, or by contacting The CIRI Foundation directly at (907) 263-5582.

Vote Like your Life Depends on it … Because it Does
A message from the Alaska Native Get Out the Vote Effort

What is most important to you? An Alaska Permanent Fund dividend, elder assistance, fair funding for rural schools, rural energy, resolution of the 20-plus years of subsistence debate, or mending of the rural/urban divide? This is what you must ask yourself. Are the issues mentioned above significant to your way of life? These are important questions as Alaskans face another important election year. Alaska Natives are a powerful minority, and, if united, a force to be reckoned with.
If any of these issues matter to you, it is important for you to go to the polls on November 2. You can vote only if you are registered, and you have to be registered by October 3 in order for your vote to be counted. There are several ways you can register. You can register at CIRI, you can register at the Division of Elections, or you can get the registration form from the Division of Elections web site at: www.gov.state.ak.us/ltgov/elections/homepage.html.

If you registered back home in your village but currently live in Anchorage or Fairbanks, urban Alaska needs your vote, and you are encouraged to register where you currently live. The Alaska State Legislature is currently controlled by urban legislators. In order to elect legislators who are sensitive to Alaska Native and rural Alaska issues, your vote is needed in urban Alaska if that is where you currently reside.

By voting, we will let people know what is important to us we will protect our cultures’ existence, and we will not let others determine the future of our children. Think about what kind of changes you would like to see.

If you would like more information on your polling location or where candidates stand on the issues you care about you can log onto www.aknativevote.com.
Vote on November 2nd!

New Anchorage Museum Display Works Hard to Convey Alaska Native Corporation Complexity

Sakuuktugut: We Are Working Incredibly Hard is a new exhibit opening this fall at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art, which focuses on the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. The exhibit name translation, “we are working incredibly hard,” comes from the Kotzebue dialect of the Inupiaq language. It was selected to give viewers a sense of the difficult task faced by Alaska Native corporation leaders as they seek to participate in financially successful business endeavors, while at the same time nurturing and honoring their many Native cultures and traditions.

The exhibit showcases the sophisticated, complex and dynamic role Alaska Native corporations play in today’s economy. It includes quotations and writings, maps, photographs and a recreated boardroom with a DVD program that allows visitors to experience the decision-making process faced by Native corporation board members. The exhibit will remain a permanent part of the Alaska Gallery.

The exhibit is made possible by grants and in-kind donations from CIRI, Arctic Slope Regional Corp., the Rasmuson Foundation, the Henry M. Jackson Foundation, the Anchorage Museum of History and Art and the Cook Inlet Historical Society.

The sponsoring organization of the exhibit is Cook Inlet Historical Society, one of Alaska's oldest regional historical organizations. Leading the development of the exhibit is CIRI Historian Alexandra J. McClanahan, a board member of the Cook Inlet Historical Society, with assistance from Marilyn Knapp, curator of history for the Anchorage museum and Opal Sidon, an ASRC shareholder and intern.