Newsletter - July, Page 02

The future of our nation's youth is a major priority for national, statewide, and local programs. Similarly our young people are a major priority for CIRI and our family of non-profit organizations. We believe that it is important to invest in our own CIRI descendants and Native youth, as they hold the ties to our cultural and fiscal future.

Nationally, it has been recognized that healthy families are the building blocks of healthy communities, and a healthy family is critical to the future success of children. Many programs are now being designed to foster the family as whole, which in turn directly benefits the children.

Cook Inlet Tribal Council has initiated several new programs to address and strengthen families, and provide support for Native children. New Beginnings focuses on families with young children, Healthy Homes addresses child abuse and neglect prevention, and Family Preservation is designed to reunify families and prevent out-of-home placement of children. An additional program is being developed to provide Home School Coordinators as a link between parents and teachers and to help students successfully participate in school.

CITC's Youth Services Department continues to offer several academic programs for youth, including high school summer school classes and Camp Chantech Nach'Edeh/Academic Enrichment Camp. There is also the At Risk Academic Referral Service which helps academically at-risk youth identify options for continued studies and high school graduation.

Southcentral Foundation provides a wealth of programs from outpatient counseling to adolescent healing and chemical dependency services. The Dena A Coy program is a residential treatment program for pregnant women that incorporates educational support, counseling, and therapy to help patients lead a healthier, productive and better adapted life.

Southcentral Foundation also offers a Head Start program for Alaska Native and American Indian children between the ages of three and five and their families. This early childhood development program provides culturally appropriate education, special

needs assessment, health, nutrition services, family services, family involvement, and transportation. In addition, an Early Head Start expansion program is being devised to serve children younger than the age of three.

For adolescents, Southcentral Foundation offers an adolescent intern project, and is currently researching and developing a collaborative multi-phase program addressing the many needs of Native youths. This program is a long-term venture of Southcentral Foundation and other CIRI non-profit organizations to provide a multitude of health, education, and vocational services for between the ages of 14 and 18 years of age.

And as you will discover in this issue of the Shareholder Update, Cook Inlet Tribal Council and Southcentral Foundation are working in conjunction with CIRI to offer a new Summer Youth Camp, designed to empower Native youth through traditional learning and participation.

Another important summer program is the Alaska Native Youth Media Institute offered by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation. This one week summer program recently completed its eighth year of training in broadcast, print, and photo journalism.

In addition to programs supporting children and families, there is nothing more valuable in promoting self-sufficiency then the opportunity to pursue an education. The CIRI Foundation, which CIRI has endowed generously, provides many CIRI shareholders and descendants by awarding a selection of scholarships and grants.

Aside from our own programs, there are many local and national agencies addressing the needs of families and Native youth. Many of these organizations are continually seeking volunteers to successfully serve their clients. The Anchorage Chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for adults to pair up with Alaska Native youth, while CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers are needed to work with abused and neglected children. And there is a tremendous need for Native foster and adoptive parents to open their homes to Native children.

Whether we are on the giving or receiving end, remember that our Native youth hold the key to our future and are worthy of our continued investment.

Alaska Heritage Tours Purchases Seward Windsong Lodge

Alaska Heritage Tours, the tourism subsidiary of CIRI, has purchased the Seward Windsong Lodge.

The Seward Windsong Lodge has been in operation since 1996 and is located two miles north of Seward on Exit Glacier Road. The 72-room Lodge and Resurrection Roadhouse, a casual dining restaurant added in 1998, are conveniently located along the road to Kenai Fjords National Park and Exit Glacier.

"Seward is increasingly becoming a standard stop on many Alaskan visitor itineraries. Acquisition of the Seward Windsong Lodge complements Alaska Heritage Tours' operation of Kenai Fjords Tours and rail service to Seward aboard the Wilderness Express, especially since the Lodge has been a cooperative marketing partner of ours since its opening," said Dennis Brandon, CIRI vice president of tourism.

After CIRI's acquisition of Kenai Fjords Tours and Stan Stephens Cruises, which has been renamed Prince William Sound Cruises and Tours, Alaska Heritage Tours was formed to consolidate the marketing and reservations of the various CIRI tourism products. Additionally, Alaska Heritage Tours specializes in offering Alaska visitors custom one- to seven-day packages to several of the state's most spectacular destinations, including Kenai Fjords National Park, Prince William Sound, and Denali National Park. Another recent addition to the Alaska Heritage Tours offerings

is the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, which opened in May.

"Alaska Heritage Tours is designed to attract and accommodate the independent and soft-adventure travelers. We're catering to visitors wanting to experience both the beauty and adventure of the destinations they are visiting in Southcentral Alaska. The Seward Windsong Lodge is a perfect addition to our current offerings," said Brandon.

CIRI shareholders are eligible for a 30 percent discount at the Seward Windsong Lodge. For information or to make reservations, call Alaska Heritage Tours at 1-877-AK-TOURS (258-6877) or visit www.ahtours.com.