Dear Tribal Leaders and Tribal Members,
Happy New Year. I hope this season finds you well and surrounded by family and community. As we welcome 2026, I look forward to a year filled with progress, partnership, and continued strength for all of our Tribes. Together, we will keep moving forward on the issues that matter most to our people.
Last month was an especially active one for advocacy—both here at home and at the federal level. Early in December, I testified before the Fairbanks City Council on the importance of adopting a Native land acknowledgement at their meetings. Fairbanks sits on the ancestral lands of the Lower Tanana people, where our ancestors lived, governed, traded, raised families, and cared for this place for thousands of years. A land acknowledgement is a small but meaningful act of respect—one that helps bridge longstanding divides, honors our role as the original stewards of this land, and sets a tone of understanding and inclusion for everyone who calls Fairbanks home.
I also traveled to Washington, D.C., to meet with federal officials and advocate on several critical issues. We pushed for an extension of the Veteran’s Allotment Act, recognizing how important this effort is for our veterans and their families. We met with legislators and federal agencies to restore Huslia’s $20 million EPA grant and the $62 million Solar for All grant—both of which are essential investments in community health and energy security. Additionally, we continued our strong advocacy for salmon, urging federal partners to advance legislation that helps more of our fish make it through the Bering Sea and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council so they can return to our rivers and sustain our communities.
Later in the month, we welcomed members of the Alaska State Legislature to meet with TCC leadership and staff. Together, we discussed several key priorities, including securing reliable SNAP benefits, advancing land transfers for our villages, strengthening rural healthcare, protecting public safety, expanding broadband access, and lowering energy costs for our communities. We were grateful for their willingness to engage, ask questions, and work collaboratively on these issues.
As we look ahead, TCC’s Annual Convention is quickly approaching this March. This is always an important time for us to come together, reflect on the past year, and plan for the road ahead. Several seats on the Board—including my own—will be up for election this year. I look forward to a productive and meaningful convention!
Mahsi’ Choo,
Chief Brian Ridley
Tanana Chiefs Conference