Cook Inlet Tribal Council Recognizes 20th Anniversary

On Sept. 19, 2003, Cook Inlet Tribal Council observed its 20th anniversary in Anchorage at the Egan Civic and Convention Center. Current and former employees, board members and representatives of the Native non-profit community, as well as city and state leaders, joined in a celebration to recognize the work of Cook Inlet Tribal Council on behalf of the Native people of the Cook Inlet region.

The celebration began with CIRI shareholder Bunny Swan performing her song “We are One,” followed by three stories of achievement by program participants. Cook Inlet Tribal Council President and CEO Gloria O’Neill recognized several outstanding community partners and presented a special award to Patrick Marrs for his 15 years of service on the Tribal Council Board as chairman and a director.

A highlight of the celebration was a special recognition of CIRI President and CEO Carl Marrs with a Cook Inlet Tribal Council resolution contributing $25,000 to The CIRI Foundation’s Carl Marrs scholarship fund, in recognition of Marrs’ hard work, dedication, and commitment.

O’Neill also cited the CIRI non-profit organizations and villages for their key contributions to the Tribal Council during the last two decades. With a crowd of more than 400 attendees, Cook Inlet Tribal Council Board Chair Clare Swan recognized the organization’s longest serving employees, Katie Lee (16 years), Shirley Tuzroyluke (15 years), Rebecca Hansen (11 years), Gloria O’Neill (11 years), and Glo Schetzle (10 years).

CIRI President and CEO Carl Marrs and Cook Inlet Tribal Council Chair Clare Swan at the Tribal Council’s 20th anniversary event.

KNBA 90.3 FM Recognized for Journalism Excellence

The Alaska Broadcasters Association awarded KNBA 90.3 FM News Director Dixie Hutchinson with two 2003 Goldie Awards. She took home First Place for Best Radio Newscast for “KNBA News” and First Place for Best Radio News Story for “Berries for Pot.” Koahnic Broadcast Corporation Training Center Intern Steve Johnson won a First Place Goldie for Best Uniquely Alaskan Radio Program for “Hometown Alaska.”

Alaska’s People Makes a Move

Alaska’s People, the employment referral and placement service of Cook Inlet Tribal Council, has moved its office to the Cook Inlet Tribal Council building, located at 670 W. Fireweed Lane in Anchorage. The main phone number for Alaska’s People also changed to (907) 265-5964.

Alaska’s People
670 W. Fireweed Lane
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone number (907) 265-5964
Toll free (888) 553-1213
Fax number (907) 265-5963

Nilavena Subregional Clinic in Iliamna Opens

The Nilavena Subregional Clinic opened for business on July 15, and a grand opening was held Aug. 18.
The 9,000-square-foot medical clinic includes an emergency room with two fully loaded stations, four exam rooms, laboratory, pharmacy (connected to the telepharmancy system), dental suite with two examination chairs and necessary equipment, and X-ray capability connected to the teleradiology system.

In addition, the clinic has a patient receiving and waiting area, conference room, a telecommunications room, health and office supply rooms, maintenance office, utility room, a mechanical room, electrical room, morgue unit room, billing room, hazardous-material room, and two offices to house Bristol Bay Area Health Corp. personnel.

Two physician’s assistants, medical assistant, maintenance technician, administrative support and systems administrator staff the clinic.

In 1999, the communities of Iliamna, Newhalen, Kokhanok, Nondalton and Pedro Bay recognized the need for a higher level of healthcare in the region and enlisted the help of Southcentral Foundation to plan, develop and build a facility that could offer comprehensive services. The Nilavena Subregional Clinic is the result of a project working together to build the facility. Each village has a clinic staffed by one or two health aides. The clinics offer limited service, especially in the areas of trauma and emergency medicine.

The Denali Commission provided a grant for construction of the Nilavena Subregional Clinic. In 2002, Southcentral Foundation applied for a Bureau of Primary Care Health Resource Service Administration’s Division Community Health Center grant to cover operational costs. Grants used to build the clinic require it to have an “open door” policy, which means anyone – whether Alaska Native or non-Native – can be seen at the clinic.

The Nilavena Subregional Clinic is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with physician assistants on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week for the clinic and the surrounding communities of Iliamna, Nondalton, Port Alsworth, Pedro Bay, Kokhanok, Newhalen and Igiugig. The clinic will operate with a discount fee schedule, which ensures all members of the community can receive healthcare without barriers.

For more information about the clinic, contact:
Nilavena Subregional Clinic
P.O. Box 290
Iliamna, Alaska 99606
(907) 571-1818 phone
(907) 571-1815 fax
ganelon@scf.cc

Cook Inlet Housing Authority Promotes The Giving Tree

‘Tis the season, as they say, for merry times with friends and family. It’s a time of remembering loved ones and offering thanks. For many, it's the time of year to go out of one's way to perform random acts of kindness, donate money or volunteer.

While Cook Inlet Housing Authority has a definitive year-round mission, the organization is also providing a program over the holidays for those who need a way to begin contributing. It’s a program called The Giving Tree in which participants provide a toy for a child in need.

“Our goal is to bring Christmas joy to every one of the more than 400 children in our CIHA homes,” Cook Inlet Housing Authority President and CEO Carol Gore said. Giving Trees are located in the Cook Inlet Housing Authority main office lobby on the corner of 36th and Spenard, in Anchorage, as well as in the lobby of First National Bank Alaska's South Center Branch. Cook Inlet Housing Authority is inviting community members to collect an ornament with a child's name and age on it from one of the trees and return with an appropriate gift for that child.

The Housing Authority is also collaborating with KNBA 90.3 FM, in Anchorage, to help spread the word about the holiday program. KNBA is providing information on how many gifts still need to be collected, and how to get additional information about where toys may be dropped off. Interested givers are welcome to provide a toy for a specific child or simply buy a gift and mark it for a child of an appropriate age.

“CIHA’s mission to provide quality housing that promotes healthy communities, economic development, independence and partnering seems daunting at times, but with our community’s support, we can take steps to get there. Give what you can, whenever you can,” says Gore.

Ramy Brooks and Drummer Visit Anchorage Schools

Iditarod musher Ramy Brooks and his dog Drummer visited with Anchorage students at Muldoon Elementary School in November. Brooks shared his dream of becoming an Iditarod musher and encouraged students to live a healthy lifestyle with no drugs or alcohol. This year, Brooks was selected by Gov. Murkowski to raise awareness for the No Child Left Behind federal legislation because of his commitment to youth and education causes. For more information on Ramy Brooks and the upcoming 2004 Iditarod, visit his website at www.ramybrooks.com.