Newsletter - March 1999 Page 4

ANJC Instrumental in Anchorage Becoming a Weed and Seed Site

A year-long effort spearheaded by the United States Attorney's Office and the Alaska Native Justice Center (ANJC) has won Anchorage a coveted designation by the U.S. Department of Justice as an official "Weed and Seed" site. Anchorage is only one of 22 cities chosen for this designation out of 65 U.S. cities that applied in 1998.

Weed and Seed is a key component of the Justice Department's anti-violence efforts as well as part of the Clinton Administration's comprehensive community revitalization strategy. Weed and Seed guidelines require that local programs combine vigorous law enforcement and community policing efforts - hence weeding - with equally vigorous crime prevention and community revitalization efforts - or seeding - in a targeted neighborhood. The Anchorage program targets the East Anchorage neighborhood of Muldoon.

Weed and Seed designation benefits Anchorage and the 26 Weed and Seed partners in several ways. The project is now eligible to apply for up to three years of federal funding to help carry out the Weed and Seed plan for Muldoon. In addition, Anchorage organizations applying for a wide variety of federal grant funds can receive preference in the form of extra application credit if they have been part of a Weed and Seed initiative. The designation also enables Anchorage to receive technical assistance from the Department of Justice and to join an active network of more than 175 other U.S. communities that have received Weed and Seed designation since the program began nearly 12 years ago.

Native Youth Art Contest Underway

Cook Inlet Tribal Council's Cultural Education Department is reviving the Native Youth Art Contest for youth enrolled in pre-school through high school. Art entries with an accompanying entry form must be submitted between April 25 and April 29, 1999. Judging by local artists will be held May 3, and winners announced May 4.

Entries are judged in two separate divisions: grades 1-6 and grades 7-12. The grand prize winners of each of division will receive a $100 savings bond. A special plaque will be awarded to the winner of the Head Start to Kindergarten division, and additional prizes and ribbons will be awarded to winners of each division and category.

The traditional arts categories include skin sewing, traditional garments, basket making, traditional beading and carving of soapstone, wood, and ivory, while contemporary arts categories include painting, watercolor, drawing, paper crafts, poetry, creative writing and story telling, and ceramics. For more information, contact Ben Snowball at (907) 265-5986.

ANHC Athabascan Cultural Advisory Committee Seeks New Members

The Alaska Native Heritage Center is seeking individuals who are knowledgeable about Athabascan culture to serve on its Athabascan Cultural Advisory Committee to help complete the Welcome House, Cultural Gallery, and Athabascan Village Exhibit of the Center, scheduled to open in May 1999.

Responsibilities of committee members include developing the Athabascan Cultural Gallery master plan, monitoring the development of the Athabascan Cultural Gallery, advising and making recommendations on the content of the informational materials relating to Athabascan culture, and developing a master plan for the Athabascan village exhibitry.

This is a volunteer advisory committee that meets an average of six times per year. Members outside the Anchorage area can participate by telephone. Interested individuals are encouraged to send a letter of interest and resume to the Alaska Native Heritage Center, attention Pat Petrivelli, 8800 Heritage Center Drive, Anchorage, Alaska 99506. For more information, call 1-800-315-6608 or locally at 330-8000.

Radio Training Boosts Media Skills for Native Americans

Koahnic Broadcast Corporation's Training Center has conducted its second successful round of training for Anchorage-area Alaska Natives and Native Americans who want to get a foot in the door in radio. Through the KNBA apprenticeship, participants get hands-on experience using equipment at KNBA 90.3 FM, Alaska's Native Voice. The three-phase course covers radio theory and production, digital editing, interviewing, writing, and announcing. KBC Training Center Director D'Anne Hamilton says the goal is "to develop a pool of Natives with the skills to volunteer or potentially fill paying jobs in radio."

CIRI shareholder Charlene Koutchak entered phase two of the KNBA Apprenticeship. As KNBA's community affairs producer, Koutchak says she wanted to bring her radio skills to the next level. "It's continually challenging," she says, but well worth the effort. "For a long time Native Americans in books were depicted in such a way, it's time for us to be the ones who represent ourselves - to break down stereotypes and images."

For more information about the KNBA Apprenticeship program, call D'Anne Hamilton, KBC Training Center, (907) 258-8886. To hear KNBA apprentice and CIRI shareholder Koutchak, tune to KNBA 90.3 FM in Anchorage Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. at 2 p.m.

Scholarship and Grant Program Announced

At the regular December meeting of The CIRI Foundation Board of Directors, a few changes were made to several scholarship and grant programs offered to CIRI enrollees and descendants. These changes were made possible by continued contributions to the Foundation's nine endowment programs and steady growth in the Foundation's endowment investment portfolio.

These changes include the annual excellence scholarships increasing from $5,000 to $7,000, and achievement scholarships increasing from $3,000 to $5,000. This board action was the first time these two awards have increased since they began in 1986. In addition, the annual "cap" for educational grants (vocational training and career upgrade categories) was increased from $1,500 to $2,000, bringing the educational grant awards to the same level as academic scholarships on an annual basis.

While the majority of scholarships and educational grants offered by the Foundation are designated for Alaska Native enrollees and their descendants of CIRI, two Foundation scholarship programs have a broader eligibility requirement. These programs are intended to expand the range of student financial aid options for the Foundation's scholarship applicants as well as those of other regions. The Cap Lathrop Telecommunications and Broadcast Scholarship Program offers an annual $3,500 scholarship to an eligible and qualified Native student. This program began in 1997 with a major contribution from A.E. Hiebert, an important pioneer in Alaska's broadcast industry, to encourage careers in the broadcast and telecommunications industry. The contributions for the Cap Lathrop Scholarship Program have been placed into an endowment from which a portion of the earnings are allocated for the scholarship awards. The next deadline for the Cap Lathrop scholarship applications is July 1, 1999.

The Howard Rock Scholarship Program offers annual $2,500 undergraduate scholarships and $5,000 graduate scholarships. Funds for this program come from contributions to the Foundation by Alaska Village Initiatives (AVI), located in Anchorage. The CIRI Foundation began administration of the Howard Rock scholarships January 1, 1999 through an agreement with AVI. Eligible applicants must be Alaska Native enrollees and descendants of regional and/or village corporations that are AVI member organizations. The next deadline for Howard Rock scholarship applications is March 31, 1999.

Information and requests for scholarship and grant guidelines may be directed to: The CIRI Foundation, 2600 Cordova Street, Suite 206, Anchorage, Alaska 99503, tel. (907) 263-5582, toll free 1 (800) 764-3382, fax (907) 263-5588.