North Pacific Fishery Management Council Meeting – The Time for Action is Now!

The North Pacific Fishery Management Council (NPFMC) meeting was held in October where the NPFMC reviewed a preliminary analysis on the Bering Sea Chum Bycatch Management. Chief/Chairman Brian Ridley provided testimony, as did Secretary/Treasurer Charlie Wright and Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission Chair Karma Ulvi. During Chief Ridley’s testimony, he asked the NPFMC to take immediate regulatory action and define …

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Chief’s Report: November 2023

Dear Tribes and Tribal Members, As we head into the holiday season, I hope that you are all able to spend quality time surrounded by friends and family. The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) Annual Convention is scheduled to take place in New Orleans from November 12th to 17th. Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) encourages all Tribes who are able …

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Looking For Money for College or Vocational Training?

Applications Due November 15th, 2023! Eligible full-time Higher Education students may qualify for $2,000 a semester, while part-time (6 or more credits) may qualify for $1,000. Adult Vocational Training (AVT) students must be full-time and the scholarship amounts vary based on program, need and amount of time in the program.  The 2024-2025 FAFSA will not open in October this year due …

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TCC Broadband Service Map

By Dave Messier, Infrastructure Division Director Poor telecommunication options have been the reality for many years across the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) region. As the TCC infrastructure division looked into the reasons for these challenges, we realized that many of the statewide telecommunication firms were not investing in the region due to the poor return on investment. To them, the …

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2023 Special Full Board of Directors Meeting

The Tanana Chiefs Conference Special Full Board of Directors Meeting will take place November 1st, 2023 at the Westmark Hotel in Fairbanks. Out of respect for the recent losses in our region, TCC has decided to make significant changes to our Special Convention and Full Board of Directors Meeting this week. We will be reducing the agenda to one day. …

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BLM’s Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement Reinforces Tanana Chiefs Conference’s Longstanding Claims in Ambler Road Opposition

The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) final draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) released earlier today reinforces the Tanana Chiefs Conference’s (TCC) opposition to the proposed Ambler industrial mining road. The 37 Tribes of Interior Alaska have lived on and with the lands being threatened by the proposed industrial mining road for millennia. Our ancestors recognized in forming TCC that …

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Take Action Now to Protect Our Salmon

In September, the Alaska Board of Fish collected public comment on commercial fishing practices that are contributing to the Salmon Crisis, including chum chucking, lack of law enforcement and the need to readdress the Shumigan Islands June Salmon Management Plan. These comments will be used at the October 12th and 13th Work Session to inform policies and regulations. The Hatchery …

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Region Mourns the Passing of First TCC President Al Ketzler Sr.

Last month, the Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) region mourned the loss of respected elder, Alaska Native advocate and TCC’s first President, Alfred “Al” Ketzler Sr. of Nenana. Born on April 16, 1933, in Nenana, Alaska, Al Ketzler Sr. was a devoted advocate and a humble servant of his people who left an indelible mark on the Alaska Native community. Al …

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Looking for More Ways to Use Rhubarb? Try These!

By Heidi Rader, Professor of Extension, Alaska Tribes Extension Program Director Rhubarb has been a staple in my life as a Fairbanksan. I grew up making rhubarb pie and rhubarb crisp, which are perfectly delicious ways to use rhubarb. Incidentally, one nickname for rhubarb is “pie plant.” Once established, rhubarb generally thrives with little attention in many Alaska locations. It …

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