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From where I sit, the future of Alaska's Native regional corporations looks very bright. Native corporations are becoming driving forces in Alaska's economy, and I believe we now have the economic muscle to continue to grow and thrive.
There will be many changes as time goes on. You will see more and more partnerships between corporations in areas that make economic sense. You will see more resource development on Native lands. Tourism will become one of the mainstays for corporations for some time to come. As the Native corporations continue to grow and our investments in the rest of the country and the world increase you will see more and more of the money coming back into Alaska in the form of dividends and re-investments. We will be the entities to open the eyes of the rest of the world's investment community to Alaska's vast opportunities. We will bring our partners from throughout the world to invest with us in Alaska.
Let me stress, however, that while we can't predict the future, I am cautiously optimistic. And I am aware that there are challenges out there that are good and not so good.
In looking to the future, we have to take a moment to review the past, as well as take stock of where we currently are. To set the stage, we need to consider what Congress may have intended these entities to become. In reviewing the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, it is very clear we have at least two intended goals to address the economic and social needs of Alaska Natives. Now those are two very lofty and sometimes conflicting goals, and each of the regional corporations has viewed them in different ways.
I can say without question that all the regional corporations and most of the village corporations have come a long way in all respects since the passage of ANCSA in 1971. We have all grown to better understand what the
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political and
economic systems mean to us collectively and individually.
 More importantly, we are learning how to use the system to better ourselves. We also openly express our pride in who we are and know how important it is to understand our past. We have learned through experience that our elders were right education is critical in today's economic society. Our elders, who are steeped in the traditions of our Native cultures, know first-hand that knowledge means survival.
We have come a very long way from where we were 30 years ago, but we still have a tremendous distance to go. I look around today and see a lot of very positive signs as to the health of the corporations. Sadly, though, I still see a lot of jealousy, misunderstanding and division problems that continue to pull us down.
Quite frankly, among non-Natives in Alaska, there are still some who feel that Natives have too much. Even within the Native community, there are divisions between those who feel that there are "haves" and "have-nots." This continues to cause dissension. It leads to serious problems such as the perception that there is a gap between rural and urban Alaska. In fact, these undercurrents have the potential to unravel what has been achieved over the past 30 years. But I believe we will overcome these difficulties. The process has started, and there are many citizens of our great state working together to solve these problems. Native corporations continue to increase communication with their shareholders through newsletters, the Internet and other venues so they better understand the roles corporations play. And the majority of the regional corporations are working hard to build bridges to non-profit entities and tribal members.
Yes, this writer is very proud of what Alaska's Native regional corporations are doing for our shareholders and Alaska. I have a very positive outlook for Alaska as our corporations and subsidiaries continue to expand worldwide. And this can
only bring more
success to our people and to the people of Alaska.
 This month's president's message appeared in the June issue of Alaska Business Monthly. |
