By Gale K. Vick, Fairbanks Fish & Game Advisory Committee Member At the January 2024 meeting of the Yukon River Panel in Whitehorse, Canada, the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) unveiled a draft “agreement” that, among other issues, is calling for a seven year stand down of any Chinook …
On December 22nd, 2023, three prominent tribal consortia organizations representing 118 federally-recognized Tribes released a joint letter addressed to Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland. The letter comes in response to the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) recently released ANCSA 17 D-1 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The letter requests Secretary Haaland to retain all protections of the 28 million acres …
Eva Burk, a Dene’ Athabascan from Nenana and Manley Hot Springs, has been appointed to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council’s (NPFMC) Advisory Panel for a three-year term. The appointment comes amid alarmingly low salmon returns in Western Alaska, and increasing calls for Tribes to have a stronger voice in the way fisheries are managed. Burk comes equipped. Before her …
First Traditional Chief Dr. Rev. Trimble Gilbert of Arctic Village was honored on January 5th as one of the 10 recipients of the National Heritage Fellowship by the National Endowment for the Arts. This fellowship stands as the nation’s premier recognition in the field of folk and traditional arts, acknowledging recipients for their artistic excellence and supporting their ongoing contributions …
Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) is pleased to announce its upcoming Annual Convention and Full Board of Directors Meeting, set to take place March 11 to 14 at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks. The theme for this year’s convention is “One People, One Voice,” emphasizing the significance of unity and the collective strength that emerges when we work together. As indigenous …
By Edward Dellamary, Rural Energy Specialist In the chilly month of December, the commissioning of a cutting-edge solar photovoltaic array with a capacity of 207.9 kW DC and a robust Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) boasting 289 kWh took place in the picturesque town of Manley Hot Springs, Alaska. This initiative marks a significant stride towards sustainable energy solutions in …
By Tiffany B. Simmons, Chief Learning and Development Officer We are excited to announce that TCC hosted the first Leadership Development Cohort on December 12-14. Participants from the villages of Healy Lake, Nulato, Hughes, and Ruby and from programs across TCC participated in the first Cohort. Participants created individualized leadership goals and plans. They also developed skills to address issues …
By Linden Stackiokas You might not think of being a health aide as the a family business, but it is for Jordyn James of Dot Lake. Her grandmother, Hazel, and her mother, Sera, were both health aides, so from her earliest years, Jordyn became familiar with the meanings of many medical terms. She also witnessed both the privileges and the …
Interior Alaska made a significant mark at the 3rd Annual White House Tribal Nations Summit, hosted by the Biden administration, which emphasized the region’s commitment to advancing Tribal interests on the national stage. Chief Nancy James of Gwichyaa Zhee contributed to the discussions by participating in a panel titled ‘Protecting Tribal Homelands in the Era of Climate Change.’ Her insights …
On October 25th of this year, Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) assumed management of Gateway to Recovery, formerly operated under Fairbanks Native Association (FNA) as FNA Detox. In order to ensure that the detox program remains accessible for those who need it, TCC expanded operating hours for the inpatient withdrawal management program and it is now accessible 24 hours a day, …