Dear Tribal Leaders and Tribal Members,
March is here, and with it comes one of my favorite times of the year — our Annual Convention and Full Board of Directors Meeting. I am really looking forward to seeing everyone in Fairbanks and spending time visiting with our communities.
This year is also personal for me, as my position is up for re-election. I want to sincerely thank you for allowing me to serve our Tribes over these past years. It has truly been one of the greatest honors of my life. I never take that responsibility lightly, and I remain committed to continuing this work together on behalf of our people.
Convention is always a time to come together, learn from one another, and talk about where we are headed as a region. I am especially excited to share that Second Traditional Chief Andy Jimmie and Dr. Jessica Black will be our keynote speakers this year. Both bring incredible knowledge and experience, particularly in healthcare and community wellness. I am grateful they agreed to join us, and I know our attendees will really value what they have to share.
In February, I spent much of my time in Anchorage attending meetings of the North Pacific Fishery Management Council and the Alaska Board of Fisheries. I stood alongside many Tribal leaders, fishermen, Elders, and advocates from across the state as we continued speaking up for Yukon River salmon. Our families have gone through years of closures and empty smokehouses, so it was important that our voices were heard.
I am happy to share that both meetings resulted in positive steps forward. The Council adopted new federal measures to reduce Western Alaska chum salmon bycatch and improve reporting to Tribes. The Board of Fisheries also placed new limits on the Area M commercial fishery and returned management responsibility to the Department of Fish and Game.
These actions will not fix everything overnight, but they are steps toward better conservation and more balanced management of our salmon. I want to thank everyone who traveled, testified, wrote comments, and stood with us throughout this process. Your voices mattered and helped move this work forward.
I look forward to gathering together at Convention to continue these conversations, share updates, and set our priorities for the coming year. Our strength has always come from working together — across communities and across generations — to protect our people, our culture, and our way of life.
Mahsi’ Choo,
Chief Brian Ridley
Tanana Chiefs Conference