Dear Tribes & Tribal Members,
Last month, we held our 2024 Annual Convention and Full Board of Directors Meeting in Fairbanks. The theme for this year’s convention was ‘One People, One Voice,’ and it was truly inspiring to witness the unity and solidarity among all attendees.
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to our keynote speakers, Will Mayo and Mackenzie Englishoe, for their remarkable speeches that set the tone for the event. Their words resonated deeply with all of us and helped us kick off the week on a positive note.
Furthermore, I am pleased to welcome our newly elected leaders to the Executive Board. Secretary/Treasurer Charlie Wright of Rampart, Upper Kuskokwim Representative Claude ‘Joe’ Petruska of Nikolai, Lower Yukon Representative Ivan Demientieff of Holy Cross, and Youth Advisor Mackenzie Englishoe of Gwichyaa Zhee bring a wealth of experience and dedication to their respective roles. You can find a full list of the elected members on page 6 of this newsletter.
As we welcome new faces, it’s also important to bid farewell to those who have dedicated years of service. I want to recognize outgoing Executive Board member Eugene Paul of Holy Cross, who has served 14 years as the Lower Yukon Representative. Eugene’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping our organization, and we wish him the best as he embarks on a new journey as the Chief Executive Officer of the Interior Regional Housing Authority. I am confident that Eugene will continue to excel in his new role and make meaningful contributions to our community.
I also want to take a moment to express our appreciation for Second Traditional Chief Andy Jimmie, who is retiring after dedicating over 30 years of service to our Health Advisory Board. Andy’s commitment to advocating for the health and well-being of our people has been invaluable. His leadership and expertise has guided our healthcare initiatives and helped us navigate various challenges faced by our communities. We hope that Chief Jimmie gets to spend his time focusing on his family, friends and spending time out on the land.
Additionally, I want to extend a special thank you to outgoing Youth Advisor Alex Hanna of Minto for his years of service to the Executive Board and as Chair of the Emerging Leaders. Alex has been a true leader and we are excited to see where his future takes him.
In closing, I want to express my gratitude to each and every one of you for your unwavering support and dedication to our Tribes. Together, we will continue to strive for the betterment of our communities and our vision of Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes.
Mahsi’ Choo,
Brian Ridley
Chief/Chairman