Posts specifically from or for the Council Newsletter
Dear Tribal Leaders and Tribal Members, Last month, we welcomed Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., to the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center. During this visit, I, along with the Executive Board, had the opportunity to share issues that are critically important to Interior Alaska. We spoke about the importance of food security and subsistence access …
By Samantha Hoskins, Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor/Case Manager My name is Samantha Hoskins, and I am originally from the lower forty-eight states. I moved to Fairbanks in 2021 and have been proud to call Interior Alaska my home ever since. I graduated magna cum laude from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in Fisheries, …
Each summer, Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) hosts its Annual Partners Boat Trip—a unique opportunity to bring state and federal decision-makers directly into the heart of Interior Alaska. This year’s trip, held from July 8–10, included visits to the villages of Evansville, Allakaket, Alatna, Hughes, and Huslia. The trip builds meaningful connections between Tribal leaders, community members, and influential policymakers and …
By Michael Gho, TCC Tribal Protection & Safety Division Director For generations, Alaska Native and Native American communities have experienced the heartbreaking and persistent crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP)—an issue that, for far too long, was overlooked by mainstream institutions. Thankfully, in recent years, this crisis has begun to receive the attention it deserves, with more agencies …
By Elena Larranga, Physician Assistant/Urgent Care & Float Providers Team Lead Given the evolving and high-demand nature of Urgent Care, continuing education is not just a professional responsibility, it is a critical component of delivering high quality, evidence-based care. Clinical skills workshops, held regularly for Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center (CAIHC) Urgent Care staff, serve as a vital platform for …
By David Atteberry, TCC Public Safety Manager Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) Public Safety is committed to bringing justice and closure to the families affected by Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) cases. Our department is actively reviewing outstanding MMIP cases throughout the region, looking for opportunities to move these investigations forward. These efforts reflect our ongoing dedication to accountability, transparency, …
David Atteberry, Tanana Chiefs Conference’s (TCC) Public Safety Manager, has been appointed by Governor Dunleavy to the administration’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons (MMIP) Review Commission. Formed earlier this year, the nine-member commission reviews unsolved MMIP cases and reports findings to the Alaska Department of Public Safety (DPS) and the Alaska State Legislature. Additionally, the MMIP Review Commission analyzes trends …
Please welcome Sean Patrick Rice, who started as the new Employment and Training Coordinator on March 24, 2025. Sean was born in Kotzebue, Alaska. His mother is Isabel M. Field, who later became Isabel M. Rice after marrying Sean’s stepdad, Jerry Rice. Sean’s Inupiaq name is Ipiiliq, and his aanaa (grandmother) is Iren Schene, while his taata (grandfather) is James …
TCC has partnered with Turbo Tags & Titles to ensure that our Tribal members have their REAL IDs by May 7,2025. Turbo Tags and Titles hosted a booth at the 2025 Annual Convention, and 187 Tribal members received their REAL IDs during the four day event. This successful event assisted Tribal members with becoming compliant with approaching regulations and removing …
The theme of the 2025 Tanana Chiefs Conference Annual Convention, “Guided by Culture, Focused on Tomorrow,” resonated powerfully during this year’s keynote address. The speech was delivered by Taa’ąįį Ch’igiiontà of Arctic Village, along with his daughters, Na’ni’eezh and Ch’eelil, and First Traditional Chief Trimble Gilbert. Much of the address was spoken in Dinjii Zhuh K’yàa, the Gwich’in language, and …