2024 Proposed Resolutions

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors calls upon Tribal Chiefs, Tribal Leaders, and Tribal Communities to end the rape culture in our tribal communities, prioritize the protection of Tribal citizen survivors’ of rape, child rape, and sexual violence, and hold sexual predators in our communities accountable regardless of their status and/or relationship; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board encourages all tribal leaders and communities to join the global ‘start by believing’ campaign to transform the way we all respond to sexual assaults happening in our communities. TCC staff shall offer resources and information on the campaign to each Tribal Community that requests; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC Staff to research the feasibility for both the Fairbanks and rural clinics to have access to sexual assault forensic nurses to assist in the timely and effective preservation of evidence in a sexual assault investigation of rural victims; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC staff to train local paraprofessionals, i.e. Village Public Safety Officers and/or Tribal Peace Officers, to support victims and preserving evidence, such as tape recording statements, preserving crime scenes, interviewing suspects within three days, and building community and victim cooperation.

Submitted by: Louden Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors call upon Tribal Leaders and Tribal Communities to break the cycle of generational sexual violence, and to restore and promote tribal pride, health family structures, and traditional gender roles. Tribes shall fulfill their responsibility to raise successful and healthy children for our Tribes’ future and continued existence; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors, Tribal Leaders and Tribal communities shall prioritize expanded violence education for children, teens and adults, increased awareness about the risks of rape and sex abuse, i.e. good touch/bad touch and sexual consent, understanding victim rights, how and where to report an incident, and how and where to seek counseling if they are raped or abused; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC staff to ensure that tribal citizens in the TCC Region have access to victim centered services, including legal advocacy, social services, and reliable, timely, and consistent access to both medical and mental health services. TCC shall offer support to tribes with capacity building of victim services in rural communities, as well as increasing awareness of TCC Tribal Protective Services program through village outreach and visits; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board directs TCC staff to develop culturally relevant and age appropriate outreach and education material and toolkits on sexual assault, domestic violence, rape and child rape for tribal citizens, including teens and children. Educational materials and toolkits should be provided to each Tribal Community that requests; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC staff to offer prevention programs for at-risk children and families on sexual violence and intimate partner violence to reduce the risks of rape and sexual violence in rural tribal communities, including offering trainings for rural staff on topics sexual and intimate partner violence, dependent on the availability of funding.

Submitted by: Louden Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors supports increased restrictions and lower harvest levels for non-local, non-subsistence sport hunters to protect the moose populations and prioritize subsistence uses of the moose populations in Interior Alaska, specifically Game Management Units 12, 19, 20, 21, 24 and 25 pursuant to Alaska Statute 16.05.258 (the State subsistence priority law) and Sections of 804 and 815 of Alaska Native Interest Lands Claim Act.

Submitted by: Yukon Koyukuk Subregion

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors sets a goal to generate at least 50% of the energy consumed in our rural village microgrids with renewable energy by the year 2035.

Submitted by: Louden Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors requires that any negotiations between the State of Alaska and the United States of America to resolve conflict associated with dual state and federal subsistence management in Alaska to include the Tribes of Interior Alaska to achieve co-management authority within our traditional tribal territories on federal public lands, ANCSA corporation lands, and Alaska Native allotments; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors supports increased management authority of the local moose populations of Interior Alaska on federal public lands, ANCSA corporation lands, and Alaska Native allotments through co-stewardship and co-management and tribal self-governance agreements guided by comprehensive cooperative moose management plans that incorporate Tribal moose management plans; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors supports development of Moose Management Plans for the Game Management Units of Interior Alaska to provide a meaningful voice and role in moose management to ensure continued tribal subsistence uses for present and future generations, especially in light of the extreme dependence tribal communities have on moose due to the collapse of salmon and caribou populations in our traditional tribal territories, dependent on the availability of funding; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs that Tribal Moose Management Plan(s) to be developed through Inter-Tribal cooperative efforts of the Alaska Native people utilizing a collaborative, consensus decision-making process with the following planning process steps: (1) conduct a thorough information review to develop common understanding of the current management situation; (2) identify major issues of concern that need to be addressed; (3) establish goals and objectives to address those issues; (4) evaluate alternative actions to identify the most effective, feasible, and acceptable actions to our people; and (5) seek consensus on recommendations for management goals, objectives, and actions, dependent of the availability of funding; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors affirms the Tribal Moose

Management Plans to be designed to influence state local fish

and game advisory committees and federal regional advisory councils as well as the Alaska Board of Game and Federal Subsistence Board directly by including at least four categories of information in the plan: (1) Identification of discrete management zones consistent with local moose populations and land use management opportunities and constraints in each designated zone, including the possibility of controlled use area designations; (2) Identification of moose management goals, objectives, and actions to achieve designated management purposes in each zone; (3) Identification of annual and seasonal harvest objectives and sustainable harvest rates for each management zone; and (4) Identification and use of, local traditional resource use patterns and sound biological and ecological decision-making.

Submitted By:  Yukon Koyukuk Subregion

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC staff and programs to collaborate with Denakkanaaga Inc. to create places of healing from sexual violence and generational trauma with guidance and participation from Elders in TCC region; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors makes the reduction of sexual violence an organization and Executive Board priority, including establishing a working group to generate data, track root causes and current trends. The working group shall have a standing report to the Executive Board and report out annually during sub regional/convention on outcomes and progress made  towards ending sexual violence in our tribal communities; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC staff to identify funding and resources to support and participate in traditional gatherings in our villages that bring Elders, Tribal Leaders, adults, youth and children together to reclaim our people from sexual violence and generational trauma.

Submitted by: Louden Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs staff, subject to available funding, to assist the tribal members in coordinating burials and funeral services.

Submitted by: Louden Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct TCC staff to purchase caskets wholesale and/or work with local native carpenters to build caskets, subject to available funding, and sell them at cost to tribal members making burial arrangements.

Submitted by: Louden Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs staff to organize a volunteer network of individuals willing to assist in SAR operations, dependent on the availability of funding; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs staff to organize and offer SAR Training both in Fairbanks and in our villages, set up a stockpile of SAR gear that can be accessed at a moment’s notice, and stand up a communication plan for team contact and dispatch, dependent on the availability of funding.

Submitted by: Louden Tribal Council;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs staff to ensure access to an “End of Life Care Room” at Bertha Moses Patient Hostel with appropriate accommodations for family; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs staff to work with Fairbanks Memorial Hospital Hospice Services to facilitate ease of access to hospice staff and culturally appropriate care methodologies provided by FMH hospice staff for patients who are in Fairbanks for “End of Life Care.”

Submitted by: Louden Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors asks Tribes to help each other identify the best locations for safety cabins; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs staff to help identify potential funding sources to purchase and construct safety cabins in the identified locations, utilizing sawmills if available, including purchasing the necessary safety equipment for each cabin.

Submitted by: Tanana Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors fully supports the restoration of the Yukon River salmon species through scientific and Indigenous knowledge-backed methods, including the reduction of ocean bycatch and trawling, harvest conservation with appropriate cultural allocations, and habitat restoration; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors has considered the various factors and opposes hatcheries and all artificial salmon enhancement and fisheries in the Yukon River Watershed and directs staff to use appropriate resources to advocate the opposition.

Submitted by: Tanana Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct the Tanana Chiefs Conference Executive Board and staff to research the potential of obtaining a Lotto program where the proceeds would be used to create a benevolence fund that would be used to support families with funeral expenses; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct TCC to provide a report to the Tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Conference region by the next full board of directors meeting.

Submitted by: Tanana Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors honors Andy’s lifelong commitment to the health and wellness of our people by and submit this proposal to the Executive Board in accordance with TCC Policy 50-5005 to rename the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center Building B to the Andrew Jimmie Building; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct staff to work with both the Jimmie and Isaac families to ensure that the final proposals receive their blessings and input before decisions are made with the naming of these buildings.

Submitted by: Tanana Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs Tanana Chiefs Conference staff and programs to develop an internal, TCC crisis response procedures for the various crisis in coordination with Health Services, Behavioral Health, Tribal Government & Justice and Wellness and Prevention, and publish the procedures and appropriate points of contact on the TCC public website. Additionally, TCC should provide training and technical assistance to Tribal Governments that would like to develop their own local crisis response teams and protocols; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC Behavioral Health division to coordinate with Tribal Governments and rural clinics to offer ‘behavioral health walk-in services’, ensuring that same day services and hours offered, are posted at both the village clinic and the local Tribal Office; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC to establish a mobile crisis response team, which includes medical, behavioral, social services, public safety and cultural responsiveness for rural community crisis. Deployment of the mobile crisis response team should be requested by the Tribal Government, and request shall be responded to within 24 hours; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC Behavioral Health division to conduct a feasibility study on the ‘Crisis Now Framework’ and the establishment of a crisis stabilization center services at Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center. The research including the pros and cons of the model and the financial costs shall be reported out during the 2025 Reclaiming Our People annual meeting; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC to require all TCC employees that serve in positions as first responders, i.e. Health Aides, Behavioral Health Aides, Tribal Family Youth Specialist, Village Public Safety Officers, and Tribal Peace Officers, are trained in mental health first aide and suicide prevention training.

Submitted by: Nenana Native Association

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC staff to investigate current accessibility of medical alert devices for all communities in the TCC region, and collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure access to these devices in all TCC communities, subject to the availability of funding.

Submitted by: Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs staff to advocate for the State of Alaska Department of Health to respond in a timely manner to funding requests for deceased people, when they are the responsible party to get the deceased person back home; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors calls on all health entities involved in sending a patient out of state for services in life threatening situations, to make every effort possible, to talk to the patient and family before the patient is transferred out of state; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC staff to, subject to available funding and separate from Burial Assistance funding, arrange for transportation of the deceased family member back to their home community when no other resources are available to do so.

Submitted by: Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct staff to develop a compensation plan for households that rely upon subsistence resources and do not successfully hunt a moose, caribou or salmon to be compensated at the current village market rate for replacement meat and food supplies to ensure food security each year; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct staff to advocate the compensation plan to the State of Alaska.

Submitted By: Anvik Traditional Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct TCC staff to develop a client-focused master plan. The plan shall incorporate both planning for staffing and spacing region-wide, integrate any existing space planning initiatives, ensuring a plan that maps out all TCC properties, programs, and employees, and accounts for growth of both the serving population and the organization; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct TCC staff to include the developed Client-Focused Master Plan as an integral part of TCC Strategic Plan, which outlines the planning process and identifies key metrics that demonstrates improvements to client service accessibility. The Master Plan will be reported on by Chief/Chairman as part of the strategic plan; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct TCC staff to seek input and feedback during the strategic planning process including Tribes, clients and patients.

Submitted By: Anvik Traditional Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors agrees that the dates of Tanana Chiefs Conference’s March Annual Convention and the Fall Special Convention’s dates should not challenge or impose the traditional values, morals and cultural activities of our people; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors shall support holding the Tanana Chiefs Conference’s Annual Convention on dates that do not conflict with so many important cultural events and student breaks, and shall support holding the Fall Special Convention at a time that does not conflict with Halloween Holiday and subsequent Holy Days in order to support traditional values, morals and cultural activities of our people; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors recognizes this resolution to supersede any prior resolutions and provide guidance before dates of any Full Board of Directors meeting is scheduled in the fall or spring.  

Submitted by: McGrath Traditional Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors advocates for the establishment of a cultural education program in the State of Alaska, Department of Education & Early Development to support school district development of school terms and calendars that accommodate local cultural traditions and lifestyles; assist school districts with creating orientation materials, training materials, and professional development for school district employees that communicate what can be expected in a cross-cultural environment using culturally based standards, and implementation of culturally responsive education practices; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors urges the Alaska Legislature to provide the necessary resources to effectively fund and implement a cultural education program and promote the well-being of the Interior Alaska Native people

Submitted by: Northway Traditional Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors request that TCC change Article Eighteen of the TCC Bylaws to provide that only those members of the Board of Directors of TCC who are enrolled to or associated with a Village Tribal organization which has designated IRHA as its housing authority under NAHASDA be able to vote on appointments to the Board of Commissioners of IRHA; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors requests that TCC change Article Eighteen of the TCC Bylaws to provide that only persons who are enrolled to or associated with a Village Tribal organization which has designated IRHA as its housing authority under NAHASDA are eligible to serve on the Board of Commissioners of IRHA.

Submitted by: Healy Lake Traditional Council & Ruby Tribal Council & Yukon Koyukuk Subregion 

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs Tanana Chiefs Conference Tribal Government and Client Services department to coordinate with each sub region to identify and create a Public Safety Housing plan for each sub region, subject to the availability of funding; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC, subject to availability of funding, to assist each sub region in identifying and assisting the sub region in applying and/or requesting funding for sub regional public safety housing.

Submitted by: Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs Tribal Leaders and TCC to research and identify all options Tribal Governments have to advocate and demand their tribal citizens’ rights to justice and protection under both the State and U.S. Constitution; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC to present to the Executive Board the recommended options, and subject to funding availability, assist Tribes in advocacy and/or legal action for Tribes to consider.

Submitted by: Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors directs TCC staff/programs to work with the Emerging Leaders Youth Council to develop and deliver youth-driven and culturally relevant drug prevention programming, subject to available funding.

Submitted by: Emerging Leaders

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct staff to launch a culturally appropriate health, wellness, and prevention media campaign using multiple methods of communication.

Submitted by: Tanana Tribal Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors opposes the release of wood bison into the Lower Tanana area and calls upon ADF&G to cease any further actions on this effort until ADF&G has:

1. Conduct proper government-to-government consultation with Tribes in alignment with the Tribal Consultation Policy signed in 2002 regarding the determination of the release, allocation, and traditional and ceremonial use of the wood bison, and provides a report with how the Tribal consultation will be incorporated; and
2. Conduct an updated Environmental Assessment that evaluates the potential environmental and cultural effects in the three areas where wood bison are targeted for reintroduction and includes legacy data over the past decade on the Innoko wood bison herd and integrate that data into the development of alternatives, and invite Tribes to be cooperative agencies; and

3. Completes thorough assessments of potential and long term impacts of wood bison on the ecosystem, and that data is shared with Tribes; and
4. It has been proved through the Innoko herd that wood bison herds can be successfully reestablished and there are successful hunts that benefit the food security of local Tribes; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors agrees that ADF&G should allocate more resources toward addressing the decline in the moose population over the past four years, and stands in unity with Doyon, Limited’s position that a more efficient use of state resources would be to focus on existing fish and wildlife within the state rather than continuing ADF&G’s project to import an animal that has historically failed.  

Submitted by: Nenana Native Association & Manley Traditional Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors request that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) work with the Office of Management and Budget to provide a permanent exemption to Build America Buy America for Tribes and Tribally Determined Housing Entities (TDHEs) that are providing affordable housing development and services, and that the exemption cover all of HUD program funding that Tribes and TDHEs are recipients of.

Submitted by: Healy Lake Traditional Council

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct its staff to pursue legal action to address the Yukon River salmon crisis, which may include addressing the systemic barriers and failures in the current management system, and/or accountability for the impacts of commercial fishing on tribal subsistence rights; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct staff to continue to work towards the establishment of a management framework that respects tribal sovereignty, incorporates traditional ecological knowledge, and ensures meaningful tribal participation in decision-making processes related to salmon management; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that Tanana Chiefs Conference Full Board of Directors direct staff to report on the progress made in pursuing legal action and advocating for effective salmon management measures at the next Full Board of Directors meeting.

Submitted by: Yukon Koyukuk Subregion