Elliott, who is a Gwichyaa Zhee Gwich’in Tribal Government tribal member, is a recent graduate of Effie Kokrine Charter School; he participated in TCC GO from his sophomore year until he graduated. Elliott grew up in Dillingham, Virginia and Tennessee before moving to Fort Yukon at the beginning of 5th grade. During the spring semester of his sophomore year in …
You know you’ve found the career that was meant for you when you feel driven to follow it not once, but twice. So it is with Joanne Beck, who was the Eagle Village Health Aide from 1990 to 1999, and then again from 2021 to now. For Joanne, born in Tanana but raised in Eagle Village, health care could be …
On Friday, August 19th, two TCC Health Aides graduated the Session IV training program, putting them one step closer to full Community Health Aide Practitioner certification. Cheyanne Esmailka of Nenana and Nicole Cleaver of Ruby have been working towards full CHAP certification – and serving as Health Aides in their home villages – for the past 4 years. “All the …
The 38th Annual Alaska Tribal Court Conference returned to an in-person gathering for the first time since the COVID-19 Pandemic this year, with attendees from Alaska and beyond. This year’s theme was, “Traditional Values & Strong Tribes: Leading Our Justice System,” and immersed the audience in the noble purpose of Tribal Courts. Elders and Culture bearers led the conference in …
Tanana Chiefs Conference is excited to announce alongside Doyon, Alaska Communications Systems, and Alan Davidson, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, a $50.6 million grant to deliver accessible, affordable broadband internet service to several Interior rural villages. The infrastructure is expected to take two seasons to reach full implementation, in addition to planning and environmental reviews. The …
Tanana Chiefs Conference recently comprised a video series on food sovereignty in collaboration with the First Nations Development Institute, and we are excited to begin circulating them. Each of the videos focuses on different facets of the importance of food sovereignty in Alaska’s rural villages; with common themes of cultural identity and the need to preserve the habitats of wildlife …
On July 19th, Tanana Chiefs Conference held a Ceremonial Blessing to commemorate the opening of the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center expansion, which opened its doors to the expanded services of Radiology, Laboratory, Specialty Services and Urgent Care last month. The event kicked off with an opening prayer from Dr. Rev. Anna Frank, “Open the doors of this building, let …
On June 21st-24th, Tanana Chiefs Conference hosted a partner’s boat trip, visiting the villages of Ruby, Galena, Koyukuk, Nulato and Kaltag. TCC invited representatives from several different entities to experience rural Alaska, meet tribes and develop an understanding for priorities our region faces. “TCC has been hosting these boat trips for the last several years – which originally started with …
On June 8th, Andy Jimmie of Minto was elected as the new Second Traditional Chief of the Tanana Chiefs Conference region at the Denakkanaaga Elders & Youth Conference in Fairbanks. The role of a Traditional Chief is a life-long role that serves as an ambassador of traditional knowledge and the Athabascan culture. TCC’s previous Second Traditional Chief, Trimble Gilbert assumed …
Alaska Native elders in rural Alaska are often times required to travel long distances to receive essential healthcare services. Many are required to travel from their village to Fairbanks and to Anchorage to receive basic and specialty health services. However, in July, much of this will change when Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) opens its doors to the newly expanded portion …