Dear Tribes and Tribal Members,
Last month, I had the opportunity to travel to the communities of Hughes and Manley to meet with Tribal Leadership and community members, learn about their priorities and share how TCC can help. I always enjoy traveling out to our tribal communities and visiting with residents. I would like to thank both communities to opening their doors to myself and my staff and for being so hospitable.
Advocacy remains a crucial aspect of our work, and in January, I traveled to Juneau as part of the Alaska Regional Coalition. This coalition, comprised of TCC, Tlingit and Haida, Manilaq, Kawerak, Chugachmiut and Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, allows us to amplify our collective voice on critical issues affecting 109 Tribes and 70,000 Alaskans. During this visit, I had the privilege of testifying at the House Tribal Affairs Special Committee, advocating for increased Alaska Native representation on boards and commissions. Further details on this initiative can be found here: https://www.tananachiefs.org/tcc-chief-brian-ridley-provides-testimony-at-house-tribal-affairs-special-committee/
Last month, we held the Reclaiming Our People Summit in Fairbanks, a significant gathering that focused on Behavioral Health and Wellness in our region. This summit was a direct response to the request made at our Special Convention in November and provided an invaluable platform to bring everyone together to address these crucial issues facing our communities. The discussions and insights shared during the summit are vital steps towards enhancing the well-being of our people.
In addition to these important updates, I am happy to announce Will Mayo as our 2024 Keynote Speaker for our upcoming annual convention. Will has been a long-time advocate for Alaska Natives and has been a valued colleague here at TCC for many years. I always look forward to his leadership, guidance, and I can’t wait to hear his keynote at our Convention. Learn more about our upcoming meeting here: https://www.tananachiefs.org/convention2024/
Mahsi’ Choo,
Brian Ridley, Chief
Tanana Chiefs Conference