Native Corporations Have a Very Dramatic Impact on the Alaska Economy
Twelve of the Alaska Native regional corporations and three village corporations had combined total revenue in 1999 of $2.1 billion and assets of $2.8 billion, according to a new report on the economic impact of Native corporations on the state. The report summarizes economic growth, employment and philanthropy of Native corporations, emphasizing their progress in the last decade.

CIRI President and CEO Carl Marrs unveiled the report at a luncheon meeting in Juneau on March 29. The gathering of business leaders for the Business Roundtable Lunch was jointly sponsored by the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce and the Juneau Chamber of Commerce. Marrs made the presentation on behalf of the Association of ANCSA Regional Corporation Presidents/CEOs, in his capacity as chairman of the organization. His presentation was titled, " Native Corporations: Building a Foundation for Alaska's Economic Destiny." The report includes selected data for the 12 Alaska Native regional corporations within Alaska and the three largest Native village corporations.

The report notes that Native corporations are an integrated and important part of the state's economic health. And it points out that the corporations have become increasingly more profitable over the past 10 years. Since 1990, net income grew 98 percent for the combined 12 Native regional corporations. Shareholders' equity grew 100 percent on a combined basis during the same period.

Among other key findings of the report: there is strong Alaska Native employment, $8.6 million has been donated to charitable organizations, and $5.1 million donated to educational foundations.
In his talk, Marrs stressed that the report only covers 15 of the nearly 200 Native for-profit corporations and that it only touches on the contributions made by the many Native non-profits. The entire impact has yet to be measured, he added. Marrs said the economic information will be compiled annually and that it is hoped the scope of information can be widened in future reports.

Copies of the report, compiled by CIRI Historian Alexandra J. McClanahan, may be obtained from Vicki Otte, executive director of the Association of ANCSA Regional Corporation Presidents/CEOs, by emailing her at votte@ciri.com or calling (907) 265-4515.


APU Hosts Alaska Natives Higher Education Forum
The second annual statewide forum on " Advancing Higher Education for Alaska Natives: Fostering Retention," took place April 24 and 25 at the Alaska Pacific University campus. The forum focused on the causes and potential solutions of the low post-secondary graduation rates among Alaska Natives who attend the University of Alaska system and Alaska Pacific University.

Graduation rates among Alaska Native students are the lowest of any ethnic group in Alaska, according to the figures published by both the University of Alaska and Alaska Pacific University. Of 90 Alaska Native students who began at the University of Alaska system in the fall of 1995, only 2.2 percent graduated within four years. Of 12 students entering APU for the same period, only two of those students went on to wear the cap and gown.

" As higher education institutions, we want to make sure we provide the best possible learning environment for our students" said Annette Zella, assistant director of program operations of APU's distance-learning program, RANA, and the event chair. " Through this open forum we hope to determine what practices currently work and brainstorm new ideas to achieve greater success."

APU hosted the forum with additional support from CIRI and First National Bank of Anchorage

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