Working for North Wind Group is more than a job for CIRI Shareholders and mother-and-son duo Sarah and Patrick Johnson (Athabascan)—it’s an opportunity to broaden their perspectives, uphold their values and contribute to their Corporation. Sarah works as a technical writer in Phoenix, while Patrick is a cloud engineer for North Wind Solutions, a subsidiary of North Wind Group based in Richland, Wash.
Sarah’s connection with CIRI runs deep. Her grandfather, Larry Michael Oskolkoff Sr., was instrumental in the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). He was an original incorporator of CIRI, managed the Land and Resources department, and served on the CIRI Board of Directors from 1971 to 1981. “As a young girl, I will never forget my grandfather pulling out these newspaper articles and showing me pictures of the senators around him—all these people working on ANCSA,” Sarah said. “It always intrigued me.”
While serving on the CIRI Participation Committee (CPC), Sarah learned about North Wind Group. “It really interested me,” she recalled. “(North Wind Group President and CEO) Rich Driggs attended the CPC meeting, and I had an opportunity to speak with him about Shareholder hire. I’m a technical writer, and there weren’t any jobs for me at the time, but I saw they had opportunities that fit Patrick’s background.”
Patrick was the first in his family to join North Wind Group. As a cloud engineer, he helps design, develop and manage cloud-based infrastructure, applications and services. Like his mother, he serves on the CPC.
“I remember that first CPC meeting with Swami,” Patrick recalled. “He told us that he was there to listen to us, to learn from us, and to make CIRI a more profitable company for its Shareholders. It really gave me confidence, not only in my Corporation but in myself, to pursue the job I want.”
Patrick began at North Wind Group at the beginning of the year and had been keeping an eye on the job postings. When he found a technical writer position that matched his mother’s skill set, Sarah applied and began working at the company this spring.
“I absolutely love working here,” Sarah said. “The team is amazing; the people are incredibly smart—just an outstanding group of engineers and project managers.”
Patrick shares that enthusiasm. “I want to be an example of a young Shareholder who has taken advantage of programs like the CPC and educational funding through The CIRI Foundation (TCF) and is now giving back to CIRI by providing them equity through my work,” he said. “The division of North Wind Group I work for, North Wind Solutions, has grown by 43 positions just this year. If you take advantage of TCF’s Career Technical Education Fast Track program, you can earn a certificate in information technology in just a few months. The opportunities are there; you just have to look for them.”
Federal law permits Alaska Native corporations to practice Shareholder hiring preference, allowing companies like CIRI to prioritize employment opportunities for Shareholders and confirmed Descendants. For current CIRI and CIRI subsidiary job openings, visit the CIRI website.
