The 42 member Tribes of Tanana Chiefs Conference elected Sharon Hildebrand of Nulato to serve a three-year term as Chief/Chairman during the 2026 Annual Convention and Full Board of Directors Meeting, held March 9–12.
Following the announcement of the election results, Chief Hildebrand invited incumbent Brian Ridley of Eagle to address the delegates, asking those in attendance to recognize his leadership and service.
“He stepped in during a hard time for our people. He stepped forward with grace and dignity, and I just want to ask each of you to honor him,” she said.
Chief Ridley expressed his appreciation to the delegates for the past four years, reflecting on his time in leadership.
“Sometimes life takes us down paths we don’t expect. I hope that I can serve our region in some other way,” he shared.
Standing with her family gathered beside her, Chief Hildebrand spoke to the strength of the Interior Tribes and the shared culture that unites the region. Her message centered on coming together, moving forward in a good way, and recognizing the power of the people.
“You are Tanana Chiefs. You are our people. You make us stronger. All of you—together. We can do this.”
She also reflected on the personal experiences that have shaped her journey and her commitment to serve with humility and respect.
Chief Hildebrand is committed to leading with humility, transparency, and respect, grounding her approach in listening to the people and honoring the knowledge within each community. Guided by the principle of Ch’eghwtsen’, she emphasized that “Hear me” is a responsibility to truly listen to Tribes, Tribal members, Elders, and leaders with compassion and empathy. She shared that the strongest solutions come from the Tribes themselves, and that her role is to support and uplift those voices.
Her election marks a meaningful moment for Tanana Chiefs Conference—one that reflects the strength of the region and a shared commitment to move forward together, in a good way.
