Koahnic Broadcast Corporation staff received eight top awards for radio journalism at the 18th annual convention of the Native American Journalists Association, held in June in San Diego, Calif. Included among Koahnic's honors were two of three awards given in the General Excellence in Radio News category - Native America Calling received first place and National Native News received an honorable mention.

Bernadette Chato National Native News Host

National Native News staff also received the following awards: Best News Story: second place to Bernadette Chato for "The Katie John Case" and an honorable mention for "Housing Study." Best Sports Story: honorable mention to Sage Yardley for "Final Four Lumbee Coach."

Individual, Non-Native Radio News Story: first place to Sharon Dempsey for "NIEA Summit Meeting," second place to Neva Reece for "9/11," and an honorable mention to Sharon Dempsey for "Trust Fund Lawsuit."

"It is gratifying to be recognized by peers in the Native journalism community for outstanding work," said Koahnic Broadcast Corporation's President and Chief Executive Officer Jaclyn Sallee. "We take pride in having the highest caliber of journalists in the country bringing Native news and information to our listeners every day."

National Native News is the country's leading daily Native newscast and is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year. Neva Reece is National Native News' program assistant and Sharon Dempsey is the Washington, D.C., correspondent. Sage Yardley, a graduate of the University of Montana, is halfway through her two-year internship with the news service.

For more information or to listen to National Native News, visit www.nativenews.net. .

Cook Inlet Tribal Council's Tribal Higher Education Scholarship Program received a record number of new applications this year. There were 125 students awarded for the 2001-2002 year, and CITC has already received 161 active students for this academic year.

Faced with an increasing need and decreased funding, CITC is adjusting its award guidelines for the December 1st deadline for spring 2003 funding. The Tribal Higher Education Scholarship will transition into a competitive-based scholarship program.

Under the new guidelines, all completed applications turned in on time will receive first priority, while incomplete applications will not be considered. In addition to the documentation previously required, applicants also will need to submit one letter of reference from a non-family member and a 200-word Statement of Purpose. CITC can only award funding for continuing students who meet the payment deadline for their school, otherwise the funding is considered reimbursement and is not allowable under BIA policies. It is the sole responsibility of the student to obtain and provide CITC with grades, a schedule and updated budget forecast with sufficient time to process an
award.

Students will be able to apply for up to $2,000 per academic year, which reflects a reduction from previous years. CITC is unable to fund living expenses. The scholarships are intended for tuition, books, and fees at the school in which the student is enrolled. Any remaining balance must be returned to Cook Inlet Tribal Council.

For more information, contact Jorie D. Zilys, Tribal Grants and Scholarships Coordinator, Cook Inlet Tribal Council, 2600 Cordova Street, Suite 206, Anchorage, AK 99503, 265-5904, (877) 985-5900 toll-free, or at jzilys@citci.com.

If you are Alaska Native or Native American and need assistance with a legal issue, the Alaska Native Justice Center can provide direct advocacy and referral services in these areas: bankruptcy, consumer issues, civil matters, criminal cases, child support, family issues, Indian Child Welfare Act issues, landlord/tenant disputes, Alaska Native law, power of attorney, and probate cases.

The staff of the Alaska Native Justice Center does not include attorneys nor do they offer legal advice. Instead clients are referred to attorneys at their request, and are offered extensive information about referrals to a variety of social and support services. The Justice Center works with Alaska Legal Services and the Alaska Pro Bono Program to provide legal counsel if needed.

The Alaska Native Justice Center has a reference library available for clients to use. It includes the Alaska statutes, the Anchorage Municipal Code, Alaska Rules of Court, the Alaska Court Form Book, pre-printed court forms, and a computer available for client use. Legal advocates are also on staff at the Justice Center to provide assistance, and clients are encouraged to make an appointment by calling (907) 278-1122. The Alaska Native Justice Center, which is located at 121 W. Fireweed Lane in Anchorage, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closed from noon to 1 p.m.

Cook Inlet Housing Authority is adding 53 units of affordable elderly housing to the Anchorage market. The new apartment facility, Kenaitze Pointe, is currently under construction at the Cook Inlet Housing Community off Peck Avenue in Muldoon. Kenaitze Pointe, a $10.6-million project, is scheduled for completion in late February 2003. Cook Inlet Housing Authority anticipates rents to average $500 per month, approximately 37 percent less than the average being paid for comparable apartment rentals in Anchorage.

Cook Inlet Housing Authority's Kenaitze Point

"Elders are such an important asset and an amazing resource for our community," says Carol Gore, president and chief executive officer for Cook Inlet Housing Authority. "We want to play a role in ensuring that, despite living on a fixed income, our elders are able to maintain the quality of life they deserve."

Kenaitze Pointe will be available to adults age 55 and older. Cook Inlet Housing Authority plans to offer 22 of the units to households at or below 50 percent of the area median income. An example would be a family of two who do not make more than $24,200 per year. The remaining 31 units will be available to households with incomes of up to 60 percent of the area median income.

The facility will offer 51,883 square feet of independent living space designed for elders, including six two-bedroom apartments and 47 one-bedroom apartments along with common areas and administrative support spaces. Three units will be fully equipped for persons with disabilities, and all units will be equipped for sight or visually impaired individuals. A common area meeting room and kitchen features panoramic views of the Chugach Mountains.

In conjunction with construction of the new facility, Cook Inlet Housing Authority is renaming all of its elder rentals in honor of the tribes and villages of the Cook Inlet region. In addition to Kenaitze Pointe, existing Anchorage facilities will be named Salamatof Heights (120 units), Chickaloon Landing (75 units) and Knik Corners (20 units). The Kenai property will maintain its existing status as "Chuda House," while the Ninilchik and Seldovia properties will be named Ninilchik House and Seldovia House.

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