Dear Tribal Leaders and Tribal Members,
Last month, I had the privilege of participating in our Annual Partners Boat Trip alongside several State and Federal representatives, as well as leaders from key granting agencies. This trip took us to the communities of Evansville, Allakaket, Alatna, Hughes, and Huslia—at a time when our Tribes are facing growing uncertainties around our fiscal future. I want to sincerely thank each community for your hospitality, generosity, and for opening your doors to important conversations about the future of our lands, health, and sovereignty.
At the national level, we continue to monitor developments in the federal budget process. TCC remains actively engaged in advocating for our Tribes and working to protect funding streams that support our people. I also want to assure you that we are continuing to push for long-term solutions to ensure greater stability and self-determination for our Tribes.
Here in Alaska, Governor Dunleavy has called a Special Session of the State Legislature to focus on education funding. TCC will continue monitoring for any developments that may influence budgets or legislation important to our region. As always, we encourage Tribal leaders to stay engaged with their legislators and continue advocating for equitable and sustainable funding for our rural communities.
Another issue that requires our collective voice is the proposed revocation of land protections on over 2 million acres north of the Yukon River. This action would remove federal safeguards and open the area to mining, oil and gas development, and other industrial activity under public land and mining laws. It would also allow the State of Alaska to proceed with long-standing land selections in this region. Once those selections are activated, these lands would no longer be subject to rural subsistence protections under ANILCA. I strongly encourage Tribes and community members to speak up during the public comment period. You can learn more on page 3 of this newsletter.
Recently, Senator Lisa Murkowski included funding for a Mobile Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) in the federal appropriations bill—an important step forward in addressing a critical gap in services across rural Alaska. Too many survivors in our communities go without the care, support, and justice they deserve. The Mobile SART will ensure that no matter where someone lives, they have access to immediate, compassionate, and trauma-informed care. Just last year, TCC Tribes passed two resolutions—24-01 and 24-02—calling for victim-centered services and demanding greater accountability for perpetrators of sexual violence. This mobile team directly responds to those calls, helping us uphold our commitment to survivors, reduce barriers to care, and break the cycle of violence. We are deeply grateful to Senator Murkowski for recognizing the need and helping make this life-saving resource a reality.
As always, I am proud to serve our communities. These are challenging times, but they also bring opportunities for us to rise together toward our vision of Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes.
Mahsi’ Choo,
Chief Brian Ridley
Tanana Chiefs Conference