November is National American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month, and we at CIRI are joining communities all over the country to honor the history and culture of our nation's Native peoples. In Alaska, I commend the local organization that has been working to create, coordinate and publicize events to celebrate the contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives in our state. The Southcentral Native Educators' Association has led this effort by bringing together a number of community groups and agencies. The national and statewide theme for this year's American Indian/Alaska Native Heritage Month is "Honoring Life, Honoring Elders, Honoring Heritage," and local events range from the performance of traditional Native ceremonies and storytelling, to a Native film festival and a concert by the popular contemporary Native group Medicine Dream. CIRI has taken a leadership role in working with this committee to develop these local events and efforts, and we can all take pride in this celebration.

Carl H. Marrs, President & CEO

Over the last 12 years, this month has become a tradition nationally, and it's fitting that we take an entire month for these important events because we are proud of who we are and what we have accomplished.

CIRI Ethics - Doing The Right Thing

We at CIRI need to pause momentarily to mark our achievements and our success, especially in the face of some of the unexpected criticism that has been leveled at us from within. As you are aware, a mailing has been sent out from the group calling itself the "Alliance," and a response has been sent by the CIRI Board majority. Nobody likes to see their mailbox stuffed with fliers, especially as we in Alaska take a pause from politics now that the election process is over and we have new leaders we want to get behind.

When serious allegations are made, however, there needs to be a response. In fact, whenever the reputation of CIRI and its board is impugned, it would be irresponsible to shove it under the rug. I'm gratified that the board majority has seen fit to send a factual response.

Our job in management is to focus on the business of the corporation in the most ethical manner possible. We at CIRI have always prided ourselves on the fact that we operate under the highest legal and ethical standards possible in our dealings with businesses and our shareholders. This has always been a part of our corporate culture and will continue to be.

As we enter the new arena of the heavily regulated gaming area, there will be even more focus on these high standards. And in order to ensure that we meet the same demanding standards being established by other companies of CIRI's size and stature, I have directed CIRI management to develop a more formalized legal compliance program for the company.

To help in this process, CIRI has selected an outside compliance expert who will assist us in updating a code of conduct and a process of training and internal review which will help ensure that CIRI continues to operate at a high legal and ethical level.

The CIRI Board also recently directed management to adopt its own version of the nation's new ethics rules for public corporations. After several huge financial reporting scandals in the Lower 48, Congress adopted one of the most sweeping corporate reform laws in more than a century. Because Native corporation stock is not publicly traded, the law does not apply to Native corporations. The board, however, has directed that a version of the law be drafted and adapted to Native corporations and presented to the board for adoption at its December 2002 board meeting.

As I review the charges that have been leveled against your company so very recently, I am saddened to remind myself that there are no winners in a family fight. The thing is, we will weather this storm, as we have weathered the storms in the past.

It is our record that we can be proud of. We have established this record through hard work, leadership and teamwork. Shining through this record is a golden and very strong thread. It's the golden thread of the truth.

It's the way we've operated in the past. It's the way we operate now, and it's the way we'll operate in the future. It's the way our Elders have taught us through their example, and it's the way we'll continue to set an example through our leadership in the Alaska Native community and in Alaska. My focus will remain on this shining thread.

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