Original CIRI enrollee and former CIRI Board Director Penny L. Carty (Aleut) passed away April 14 in Anchorage. She was 72.
From 2005 to 2017, Carty served on the CIRI Board of Directors. During this time CIRI’s Board and staff executed many exciting projects, including the Fire Island Wind Project; the Tikahtnu Commons shopping and entertainment center; and the Fireweed Business Center, CIRI’s corporate headquarters in midtown Anchorage.
In addition to her service on the CIRI Board, Carty was a long-time board member of Cook Inlet Housing Authority (2004-2021), most recently serving as its vice chair. Over the years she served on many other boards and committees, including Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Kenaitze/ Salamatof Housing Authority, Salamatof Tribal Council and The CIRI Foundation (TCF). Carty served on the board of Salamatof Native Association (SNA) prior to her tenure as its president and CEO where she worked to ensure that the mission, vision and values of the original SNA board were the basis for operations. She was instrumental in ensuring that Salamatof became a federally recognized Tribe and that all 129 original Salamatof shareholders were allotted land selections.
Carty is survived by her brother, Gary Wirz; sisters, Charmaine Lundy and Connie Wirz; daughter, Heather (Jason) Daniels; son, Eric (Cari-Ann) Carty; and granddaughter, Alexandrea Carty. In her honor, CIRI and other organizations and individuals have donated funds to establish a scholarship fund at TCF for young women with an interest in business.
