Podcasts about alaska federation

A coalition of rural Alaska Native villages is launching an initiative to boost veterinary care as a way to improve public health. They aim to cut down on the increasing number of feral dogs that pose a risk to residents by offering better spay and neuter services. They also hope a vaccination program can lower the spread of rabies. Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Inc. and the Alaska Federation of Natives are moving ahead after federal legislation stalled in Congress. We’ll talk with those called to bring veterinary care to rural communities — with or without government support — to keep animals and people safe. Robert Mirabel in the film. “Road to Everywhere.” (Photo: courtesy Driven To Films) We also talk with acclaimed musician and actor Robert Mirabal about his role in the movie, “Road to Everywhere“. Mirabal is performing at a screening of the film in Albuquerque, N.M. GUESTS Mike Williams Sr. (Yupiaq), tribal chief of the Akiak Native Community Adrianna Nicolay (Diné), volunteer with Rez Vet Angie Fitch, executive director and co-founder of Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Inc. Robert Mirabal (Taos Pueblo), musician and actor Break 1 Music: Raising Goats Song [Skip Dance Song] (song) Sweethearts of Navajoland (artist) From the Heart of Diné Nation Traditional Songs of the Navajo (album) Break 2 Music: Show the People (song) Bear Creek (artist) On The Move – Powwow Songs Recorded Live at Apache Gold

A coalition of rural Alaska Native villages is launching an initiative to boost veterinary care as a way to improve public health. They aim to cut down on the increasing number of feral dogs that pose a risk to residents by offering better spay and neuter services. They also hope a vaccination program can lower the spread of rabies. Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Inc. and the Alaska Federation of Natives are moving ahead after federal legislation stalled in Congress. We’ll talk with those called to bring veterinary care to rural communities — with or without government support — to keep animals and people safe. Robert Mirabel in the film. “Road to Everywhere.” (Photo: courtesy Driven To Films) We also talk with acclaimed musician and actor Robert Mirabal about his role in the movie, “Road to Everywhere“. Mirabal is performing at a screening of the film in Albuquerque, N.M. GUESTS Mike Williams Sr. (Yupiaq), tribal chief of the Akiak Native Community Adrianna Nicolay (Diné), volunteer with Rez Vet Angie Fitch, executive director and co-founder of Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Inc. Robert Mirabal (Taos Pueblo), musician and actor Break 1 Music: Raising Goats Song [Skip Dance Song] (song) Sweethearts of Navajoland (artist) From the Heart of Diné Nation Traditional Songs of the Navajo (album) Break 2 Music: Show the People (song) Bear Creek (artist) On The Move – Powwow Songs Recorded Live at Apache Gold

Photo: Salmon prepared for drying at fish camp on Kuskokwim River near Napaskiak on June 21, 2016. (Rhonda McBride / KNBA) The state of Alaska is not ready to give up its fight just yet in the Kuskokwim subsistence lawsuit. It has filed a motion to appeal a federal judge's decision to award $1.8 million in attorney fees to several Native organizations, which joined a federal lawsuit against the state over subsistence fishing rights. The case began four years ago when federal managers sued the state for failing to uphold a rural subsistence priority, required under federal law. The state ultimately lost a series of court battles, which culminated when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Tanner Amdur-Clark works for one of the groups which joined the lawsuit, the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. He says the state's appeal continues a long pattern of delay. “It's yet another blow to Alaska Native organizations that are essentially taking money that they really should be using to be providing services and helping out folks in rural Alaska — and instead they're having to do this, to essentially fight for their lives against the state of Alaska.” The other groups in the lawsuit are the Association of Village Council Presidents, the Alaska Federation of Natives, the Ahtna Native Corporation, and an Ahtna tribal advocacy group. Amdur-Clark says, combined, they spent more on legal costs than the court awarded them. “Eventually at the end of the day, it's the state of Alaska and the taxpayers of the state of Alaska that are going to pay for all of this, so the court got it right the first time. We'll continue the fight.” In a statement, acting Attorney General Cori Mills defended the state's spending. She said it was necessary to get clarity on a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling’s impact on subsistence management. She also said the state should not be on the hook for attorney fees, because the Native groups voluntarily joined the federal lawsuit – and that the state is appealing the award, because it is “both legally impermissible and factually unreasonable.” Briana Murphy, the Chugach Regional Resources Commission mariculture liaison, harvests kelp in a bay near Port Graham, Alaska in 2026. (Courtesy Briana Murphy) A group of tribes in Southcentral Alaska partnered with a federal agency last month, as part of an effort to advance agriculture and mariculture projects. The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA has more. The Chugach Regional Resources Commission is a nonprofit that represents seven tribes. Last month, the consortium signed an agreement to establish the Chugach Region Tribal Conservation District. It's a partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Carolyn Spencer is the environmental director with the tribal consortium. “Partnering with NRCS in this way helps us access funding for mariculture development as well as some of the agricultural streams that we’re trying to work on.” Tribal Conservation Districts are entities across Alaska and the country created to manage natural resources on Native lands with technical or financial assistance from the federal government. Jackie Kragel is the acting state tribal liaison for the program. She says these partnerships foster communication between tribes and help with work on specific projects. “For example, there’s been a couple culvert replacements to support fish passage and salmon habitat. We have different infrastructure opportunities for community gardens for food sovereignty, such as seasonal high tunnels, low tunnels, and the different irrigation systems.” The seven tribes in the Chugach Regional Resources Commission already use innovative approaches when it comes to food sovereignty, for example, through a mariculture operation in Seward that cultivates shellfish and kelp. “They want ways to access healthy food in their backyard, without having to pay the shipping costs because they’re so remote.” One project Spencer says the partnership might make easier is high tunnel construction in Port Graham. That is a covered structure that traps solar heat for growing vegetables. She says that forming a conservation district will also help tribes collaborate with other communities that might be working on similar projects. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Friday, July 17, 2026 – A conversation about law, advocacy, and redemption with Cherokee attorney Courtney Jordan

A new mobile app created by a Navajo man is offering travelers in both New Mexico and Arizona an opportunity to learn about historic routes and insight on Native American cultures. KUNM's Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné) has more. Whether you are driving from Gallup, N.M. to Flagstaff, Ariz. or Flagstaff to Phoenix, a new app called Tribal Trailz, created by former Navajo educator George R. Joe, serves as your audio tour guide while you are on the road. “Are you driving over the bridge yet? It is known as Canyon Diablo, and Two Guns is right on the rim of Canyon Diablo. Many years ago, Route 66 entrepreneurs once had a roadside gas station, trading post, even a tiny zoo, where lions and bobcats were behind chicken wire.” That is one sample of the self-guided tour. Joe says the app includes information about Navajo and Acoma territories because a lot of tourists on the road are very uninformed about Native Americans. “The education world hasn’t done a good job of letting Americans know about tribal people, so they have these crazy ideas and misconceptions about us. So, I thought, ‘Here’s my chance to try to correct some of that information about housing, about how we live, about how we make money, things we do.'” Tribal Trailz is GPS-activated so all drivers need to do is open the app and start a tour. During your drive, the app will detect where you are at and point out different monuments, houses, or landmarks. “You don’t have to look at your app, you just put it right there on your dashboard. It doesn’t have to be visible, because I don’t show pictures, because I think you know you’re driving. You don’t have time to be looking at pictures and things like that. You just want to hear.” Joe says the app is meant to be a bridge for curious travelers wanting to know more about Native American communities and the Southwest. “More like bringing down that barrier, and then inviting them to go eventually visit the tribe.” Joe is currently working on including more tours in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, N.M. The F/V Loretta Ann in Sitka Channel in 2023. (Photo: Berett Wilber / KCAW) The commercial king salmon fishery opened July 1 for trollers in Southeast Alaska. In the first king opener of the season, trollers can catch just over 81,000 Chinook salmon, roughly 70% of the allocated summer kings, as KCAW's Katherine Rose reports. The allocation is set by the Pacific Salmon Commission, under the terms of the Pacific Salmon Treaty between the U.S. and Canada. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game said, based on summer harvest rates in previous years with a similar amount of fish, state fisheries biologists anticipate it will take trollers anywhere from seven to 10 days to catch the 81,000 Chinook. The fishery typically opens a second time in August for trollers to target the remaining treaty kings. The U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Gabriel Pietrorazio) The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) is urging Tribal Nations to remain vigilant in protecting Native voting rights following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision on mail-in ballots. The organization issued the statement after the high court upheld a Mississippi law allowing ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted if they arrive afterward. NCAI says the ruling is especially important for many Tribal communities, where mail service delays and long distances can make it difficult for ballots to reach election offices on time. NCAI joined the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) and the Native American Rights Fund (NARF) in filing a friend-of-the-court brief, arguing that rural and remote Native voters face unique barriers to casting ballots. While welcoming the decision, the organization says threats to Native voting rights remain and is encouraging Tribal governments and citizens to continue monitoring election policies and preparing to ensure Native voices are heard in future elections. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, July 6, 2026 — Two Native artists making waves in the arts world

Photo: Angie Fitch, executive irector of Alaska Native Rural Veterinary, with two Koyuk residents and their pets during a recent visit. (Courtesy Angie Fitch) A group of Alaska Native organizations is launching a new rural veterinary public health program this month to provide care for animals in dozens of tribes across the state. As the Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA reports, that includes rabies vaccinations, testing for infectious diseases, as well as spaying and neutering. Mike Williams is a musher and the chief of the village of Akiak. He says he and other Alaska Native leaders for years have been advocating for more veterinary care in villages like his. “In Akiak, there were two rabid foxes shot this past winter, and there are many loose dogs. I think the main need is vaccinations with rabies and parvo … that kills a lot of our animals.” The Alaska Federation of Natives' new program is in partnership with a nonprofit, Alaska Native Rural Veterinary. The two-year initiative will bring veterinary services to 80 villages. Arleigh Reynolds is a former musher and the medical director for Alaska Native Rural Veterinary. He says rabies is endemic in northern and western Alaska, and up to 25 people are exposed to the virus each year. The exposure usually happens when rabid wildlife, like foxes, bite village dogs. “Dogs have been part of life in rural Alaska since people have been in rural Alaska. When something that has always been a huge benefit to a society becomes a potential threat, it’s really a problem, right? It disrupts the whole foundations of that society or culture.” Reynolds says it is difficult to access veterinary care in villages off-the road system, and traveling to get care is costly. Additionally, some parts of Alaska experience seven times the national average of reported cases of children bitten by dogs. He says he hopes the new initiative can help address both of these issues. “Most importantly, it’ll save trauma on people and dogs, but it’ll also save communities and health-providing organizations an incredible amount of money.” Taking care of pets in villages can also help protect subsistence resources, Reynolds says. One example is vaccinating against distemper that is contagious and fatal to wildlife, like seals that many Alaska Native communities hunt. The authors of the new program say they hope it will act as a bridge on the path towards permanent and sustainable veterinary care for tribes. As communities across the country mark America’s 250th anniversary, a new augmented reality experience in Boston is highlighting Indigenous history that is often missing from the nation’s founding story. White Snake Projects, in partnership with the North American Indian Center of Boston, has launched Indigenous Stories, a free, self-guided walking tour along Boston’s historic Freedom Trail. Available through December 31, the smartphone experience guides visitors to six locations where they can view virtual performances by Native artists and learn about significant events in the city’s Indigenous past. The tour explores the forced removal and imprisonment of Indigenous people on Deer Island during King Philip’s War, Native enslavement in colonial Boston, the life of African and Indigenous patriot Crispus Attucks, the 1755 scalp bounty proclamation targeting the Penobscot Nation, and the execution of Nipmuc leader Tantamous on Boston Common. Organizers say the project is meant to ensure Indigenous voices are part of the conversation surrounding the nation’s semiquincentennial and to give visitors a more complete understanding of Native peoples’ role in Boston’s history. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Wednesday, July 1, 2026 — Native historians elevate overlooked history in the wake of America250 celebrations

U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola receives standing ovation from delegates at the 2025 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention. She is expected to be one of the candidates to appear at this year’s convention in October. (Photo: Matt Faubion / Alaska Public Media) The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) will celebrate the anniversary of its 60th convention this October. Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA has more on plans for this milestone gathering. “Rooted in Land and Tradition, Rising in Our Voices.” That's theme for this year's AFN Convention. AFN President Ben Mallott says it reflects six decades of advocacy and the power of collective voices. “We have taken our convention, over 60 years, and have made it in, I think, the state's largest meeting, with a broadcast of over 100,000 viewers. That's a powerful tool for our community.” In 1966, about 400 Native leaders from across the state gathered above an Anchorage storefront on Fourth Avenue to fight for their ancestral lands. This first gathering laid out the groundwork for the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971 — still the largest lands settlement in U.S. History. Today, the convention draws thousands of people, along with state and national leaders. Mallott says this year's keynote speaker is Dr. Rosita Worl, president of the Sealaska Heritage Institute and a longtime AFN board member. Mallott says Worl has dedicated her life to advancing Native causes. “It's Rosita. Dr. Worl, she's an icon. She's a legend. She has built Sealaska Heritage Institute into the institution it is now in Juneau, and she's also one of our strongest advocates for subsistence.” Mallott says this fall's convention will also feature candidate debates for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House, and Governor's races — and will be part of an extensive Get-Out-The-Native-Vote campaign. AFN will be held for three days at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage, Alaska starting on October 22. On January 9, 2007, members of the Navajo Nation, faced with the devastating health and environmental effects of yet another coal-burning power plant, staged a peaceful demonstration in Window Rock, Ariz., on the day that returning Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley was sworn in. Peaceful demonstrators were forcibly stopped and blocked from attending the inauguration by the Navajo Nation Police. (Photo: Carlan Tapp / Palace of the Governors Photo Archives) An exhibit at the New Mexico History Museum in Santa Fe, N.M. highlights the successful campaign by three Diné women to stop a coal-fired power plant on the Navajo Nation. KUNM's Jeanette DeDios (Jicarilla Apache and Diné) talked with one – Sarah Jane White – and photographer Carlan Tapp (Wacomico/Anglo). “A Question of Power” features 40 black and white photographs by Tapp as well as video and audio interviews with residents on the Navajo Nation between 2004 and 2011. They include tense confrontations between tribal members and authorities over plans by the Dine' Power Authority to build the Desert Rock plant on the Navajo Nation near Farmington, N.M. Robin Jackson is the executive director for Diné Citizens Against Ruining the Environment (C.A.R.E.), a nonprofit that works with Navajo communities on energy and environmental issues. “President (Richard) Nixon had declared that certain parts of the U.S. would be sacrificed for energy production in order to meet energy needs for some of the bigger cities like Los Angeles or Phoenix and others.” In the wake of the 1973 oil crisis, Nixon announced Project Independence that included expanding nuclear development, including lands inhabited by Native Americans. A 2010 research article identified 37 Navajo communities with high rates of certain diseases and conditions associated with coal power plants. The growing number of children with asthma was one of the reasons Sarah Jane White became involved. “So I went around the schools too, and I found out just how many children were having respiratory issues.” She says the majority of the Navajo people opposed Desert Rock and wrote letters to then Navajo President Joe Shirley Jr. She says plant owners tried to get her to stop protesting against Desert Rock by offering her sons jobs. White was joined in her fight by Lucy Willie and Molly Hogue. Tapp was drawn to their compelling story. “The thing I thought, I have got to keep really good notes on this for some reason. I don’t know why.” Tapp traveled with White, Willie, and Hogue to different communities on the reservation, and he says that it was eye opening. “I could not believe it. People without electricity, people without running water.” Tapp’s photographs and interviews also helped in the fight against Desert Rock. Ultimately, the Desert Rock Energy project was officially canceled in 2011 due to the continued opposition. With the closure of another plant, the San Juan Generating Station in 2022, Jackson says you can see the difference in the air. There is still one active power plant on the Navajo Nation scheduled for decommissioning in 2031. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Monday, June 29, 2026 — First Nations group works to reclaim thousands of sacred items from Swiss collector

The State of Alaska is moving forward with a program to kill brown bears across a 40,000-square-mile swath of land in southwest Alaska. The plan to shoot bears from helicopters aims to improve declining numbers of the Mulchatna Caribou Herd. Several local tribes and the Alaska Federation of Natives support the plan. Caribou are a subsistence food source. The herd peaked at over 200,000 in the 1990s, but plummeted to 12,000 by 2022. Conservationists oppose the bear control measures, arguing it lacks scientific evidence that it achieves what officials say it goes. We’ll explore the complexities of predator management in Alaska. GUESTS Janet Bavilla (Yup'ik), subsistence hunter and Platinum Traditional Village council member Doug Vincent-Lang, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Break 1 Music: Bear Beats (song) Cheevers Toppah (artist) True Melodies (album) Break 2 Music: Trick Song (song) Battle River (artist) Hard Times (album)

The State of Alaska is moving forward with a program to kill brown bears across a 40,000-square-mile swath of land in southwest Alaska. The plan to shoot bears from helicopters aims to improve declining numbers of the Mulchatna Caribou Herd. Several local tribes and the Alaska Federation of Natives support the plan. Caribou are a subsistence food source. The herd peaked at over 200,000 in the 1990s, but plummeted to 12,000 by 2022. Conservationists oppose the bear control measures, arguing it lacks scientific evidence that it achieves what officials say it goes. We’ll explore the complexities of predator management in Alaska. GUESTS Janet Bavilla (Yup'ik), subsistence hunter and Platinum Traditional Village council member Doug Vincent-Lang, commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game Break 1 Music: Bear Beats (song) Cheevers Toppah (artist) True Melodies (album) Break 2 Music: Trick Song (song) Battle River (artist) Hard Times (album)

Over the weekend, a Diné pro athlete from the Arizona Ridge Riders ascended to the top ranks of competitive bull riding worldwide. KJZZ's Gabriel Pietrorazio has more. “Keyshawn just crafted his career moment, and he perches above them all and is the master of the Pit.” For the first time, Keyshawn Whitehorse from Kraken Springs, Utah won the Ty Murray Invitational after hanging onto a bucking bull named “Lights Out”. The 28 year old had a perfect weekend, going 4 for 4 on rides, with pretty much everybody in the building was right behind him. “And all you guys, Navajo Nation, the support here in Albuquerque, N.M. – I've dreamed of this moment in my entire life, and now we're on track for a gold buckle. This is a great stepping stone.” With this title win, Whitehorse is among the top 10 riders in the world. Gayle Hoseth (Yup’ik), Alaska Federation of Natives Co-Chair. (Photo: Avery Lill / KDLG) Alaska Native groups have scrambled to make their voices heard on a series of subsistence proposals from Safari Club International, which aims to reshape fish and game management on federal lands. By the time the deadline for public comment passed on Monday, more than 2,000 people had weighed in. Rhonda McBride from our flagship station KNBA reports. The letters are emotional, overwhelmingly from rural hunters and fishers, worried that the Safari Club's proposals to the U.S. Interior Department would threaten their ability to live off the land. Tribal leaders like Gayla Hoseth (Yup'ik), Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Co-Chair, say these battles never seem to end. “We're often times, repeating ourselves, over and over.” This time, Native groups are facing off against one of the most powerful sport-hunting advocacy groups in the nation, which seeks to overturn Biden-era policies that added three tribally nominated seats to the Federal Subsistence Board. The Safari Club also wants to remove three other public seats and return the board to its original make-up, limited to the heads of five federal agencies. “We've said this many times on the record that it's a revolving door of these regional administrators that come through our state – and that are here for a time — and not really knowing and being on the land.” As a senior advisor to Interior Secretary Deb Haaland during the Biden Administration, Raina Thiele shepherded the process of adding the additional tribal seats. Although it took about three and a half years to get them in place, Thiel says it was worth the effort. Along the way, tribal leaders introduced many ideas on how to improve subsistence management on federal lands “Nobody really lives the way we live in Alaska. It's an incredibly unique system so folks just don't have the context or the history with it to really understand it.” The Safari Club has also called on federal managers to defer to the state when overseeing wildlife on federal land, which opponents say conflicts with a 1980 law that gives rural Alaskans priority for hunting and fishing on federal lands. John Sturgeon, a longtime Alaska Safari Club policy maker, says the group does not oppose rural priority for hunting and fishing. “The word deference means consideration. It's not a mandate. So bottom line, Fish and Game does not have the authority to promulgate regulations. We're not asking for that. We're saying that we have to listen to (the Alaska Department of) Fish and Game, and we don't think they've been doing that over the years.” Alaska's dual management system for state and federal lands has spawned many a battle over the right to hunt and fish – and this one could be the start of another long fight. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out today’s Native America Calling episode Thursday, April 2, 2026 – The promise and curse of social media

In this newscast: The Alaska House approved a fast-tracked spending bill totaling nearly half a billion dollars this afternoon. It's intended to cover higher-than-expected costs in the ongoing fiscal year, and it's a combination of several requests from Gov. Mike Dunleavy; Several Juneau boats sank in city harbors during the intense winter storms that started in late December. The city is still dealing with the aftermath; The Alaska Federation of Natives urged state lawmakers to fix Alaska's dual fish and wildlife management system; A state legislator's former chief of staff faces charges of child sexual exploitation and child sex trafficking

The Alaska Federation of Natives urged state lawmakers Thursday to fix Alaska's dual fish and wildlife management system; and the Homer City Council confirmed a new police chief and approved several spending measures at its regular meeting last night.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Alaska saw its 8th hottest year on record last year, with temperatures coming in a degree and a half warmer than the last three decades on average. Some Alaska cyclists bike to work everyday. How? And the Alaska Federation of Natives have urged state lawmakers to fix Alaska's dual fish and wildlife management system.

The Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) is pulling out all the stops to block a Safari Club International proposal to reform the federal subsistence board. As KNBA's Rhonda McBride reports, AFN says it is a direct threat to the Alaska Native subsistence way of life. Last year, Safari Club International, a sport hunting and fishing group, petitioned two Trump cabinet members for the review. It asked Interior Secretary Doug Burgum and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to address what it calls “federal overreach” in subsistence management. In mid-December, the Interior Department granted the request and announced a 60-day review, called a “scoping process”. During this period, it will consider the Safari Club's recommendations, which includes a proposal to limit the size of the federal subsistence board to only the heads of five federal agencies. AFN President Ben Mallott says this would eliminate public seats, including three held by tribal representatives. “We've been working for that for a very long time, so we are concerned that any rollback in public member seats would just weaken our voices. And so for us, that is a major threat.” The petition also seeks to change the make-up of Regional Advisory Councils, the volunteers who recommend policies to the Federal Subsistence Board. The Safari Club says sport and commercial hunters and fishers are not adequately represented on these councils. But beyond changing the leadership structure of subsistence management, the Safari Club calls on federal agency heads, when setting regulations, to defer to state managers – a move that opponents say would undermine the Alaskan National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA), legislation Congress passed 45 years ago to protect Alaska's rural subsistence lifestyle. The Safari Club says it is stepping in to protect the state's rights, because federal managers have repeatedly overstepped the bounds of ANILCA. John Sturgeon, a leading advocate for the Alaska Safari Club says, says this is a fight about fish and game management, not about the rights of rural Alaskans to subsist. “We have no problem with subsistence. We support it, so it's kind of a perceived conflict. We just think the state of Alaska should be in charge of subsistence.” The problem is, the state's constitution does not allow for a rural subsistence priority, which federal law mandates. Public comment on the Safari Club proposals closes on February 13. The campus of Spokane Falls Community College. (Photo: T85cr1ft19m1n / Wikimedia) Indigenous-knowledge focused centers are on their way to Spokane Falls Community College and the Spokane Community College campus on the Spokane reservation in Washington. As Steve Jackson reports, a grant from Avista Utilities is providing the seed money. Indigenous Healing Environments Across Lifeways (I-HEAL) centers will hold workshops on skills and concepts related to sustainability of water, land, animals, and climate. They will also include studies related to using plants for food and medicine. Spokane Colleges Tribal Relations Director Naomi Bender says she will seek out Indigenous presenters from tribes in the region, but she says instructors will be careful in what they present. “Traditional knowledge of plants and medicines, for example, was illegal in the U.S. And to this day, we're very careful about what's shared and what's not because people want to monetize and they want to harm what knowledge they gain at times.” Bender says both Indigenous and non-Native students will be welcome at the I-HEAL centers. She anticipates they will begin holding workshops in about a year. (Courtesy IAIA) Congress recently approved more than $13 million in federal funding for the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, N.M. for Fiscal Year 2026. This comes after the Trump administration's proposal to eliminate IAIA's federal appropriation. The funding maintains the institute's current funding level to support academic programs, student services, and general operations. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Thursday, January 22, 2026 – A tribal mining development agreement: a path forward or a one-time anomaly?

The U.S. Supreme Court has once again declined to take up challenges to a federal law that protects subsistence hunting and fishing in Alaska. The court rejected the state of Alaska's petition to review a federal lawsuit against the state over salmon management on the Kuskokwim River in Southwest Alaska. KNBA's Rhonda McBride has reaction from Native leaders. The state had argued the federal government was misinterpreting a law Congress passed to protect a rural priority for subsistence. Last year, after the 9th Circuit Court of appeals sided with federal fishery managers, the state asked the court to take up the case, but in a docket on Monday, the court denied the state's petition. The Alaska Federation of Natives hailed the decision. Its president, Ben Mallott, says decades of hard-won protections under the landmark Katie John lawsuits were also on the line. “I feel relieved that we don't have to spend our limited resources and efforts, fighting for what we know is right, hopefully our final time protecting what Katie John fought for.” John was an Ahtna Athabascan elder who fought for the right to fish on rivers that flow through federal lands. This is the third time the court has decided to let the Katie John litigation stand untouched. The federal government's Kuskokwim lawsuit, which the court has left intact, now affirms similar protections. Michelle Anderson knew the late Katie John when she was little girl. Today, she is president of the Ahtna Native Coporation. She says the Athabascan elder taught her people well to stand up for what's right. “During our history here is that you can’t sit back and rest on your laurels and you must always be vigilant and looking out for what’s coming next. No. I don’t think anyone is jubilant and celebrating and thinking this is it. We’re just waiting for the next time.” Alaska Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang said in a statement that the state will respect the decision of the court to not address the legal issues regarding fish and game management authorities over navigable waters belonging to the state of Alaska, but the commissioner also said the state will continue to work with the Secretaries of Interior and Agriculture to ensure state rights are safeguarded. Mary Peltola, left, applaudes during a speech by former First Lady Jill Biden in Bethel, Alaska. Democrat Mary Peltola (Yup’ik), the first Alaska Native person elected to Congress, announced Monday that she's running for U.S. Senate, taking on incumbent U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK). Alaska Public Media Washington correspondent Liz Ruskin reports interest in whether Peltola would run has been high for months. Her announcement Monday came with a video portraying her salmon-centered family life on the Kuskokwim River. She repeats her previous campaign slogan: “Fish, family, freedom.” She also hearkens back to Alaska senators who served in less partisan times. “(Former U.S. Sen.) Ted Stevens (R-AK) often said, ‘To hell with politics. Put Alaska first.’ It's about time Alaskans teach the rest of the country what Alaska first and, really, America first looks like.” Nationally, Democrats believe that with Peltola on the ballot, Alaska presents one of their best hopes of flipping a seat. Political analyst and statistician Nate Silver said in a social media post last week that Democrats still have an uphill battle to win back the Senate majority, but that Peltola's candidacy moves their chances in Alaska from a long-shot to plausible. Sen. Sullivan has already raised $6 million this election cycle. He has President Donald Trump's endorsement and maintains a strong alignment with Trump. But, in what Democrats took to be a sign that he's feeling the political heat, Sullivan last month unexpectedly voted to extend health insurance subsidies. He's also touting a new bill that targets one of Peltola's primary issues: Bycatch, or the accidental catch of salmon by the pollock fleet. Within minutes of Peltola’s announcement, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and other groups supporting Sullivan issued a string of press releases, previewing the campaign issues they plan to use against Peltola. They link her to President Joe Biden and national figures on the left, as well as transgender rights and policies that restrict drilling on federal land in Alaska. Some Republican messages jabbed at her effectiveness in Congress, and at her high rate of missed House votes. Peltola tried to head off that last point. “D.C. people were shocked that I prioritized going back to Alaska in July to help put up fish for our family, but Alaskans understand.” For U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Peltola's candidacy presents a dilemma. They're both moderates, and Murkowski endorsed Peltola in the past, despite their party differences. Sen. Murkowski declined to pick a side when a reporter asked before Christmas, but Thursday, she said she'd made a decision: she is endorsing her Republican colleague. “We’ve had a pretty solid team here in the Senate for the past 12 years, so we want to figure out how we’re going to keep in the majority. And Dan delivers that.” Both sides are expected to pour tens of millions of dollars into the race. Sullivan's last race in 2020 was one of the most expensive elections in state history, with spending by the campaigns and outside groups totaling more than $57 million. Sullivan was outspent, but beat independent candidate Al Gross by a substantial margin. Peltola lost her House seat to U.S. Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK). After ranked ballots were tallied in 2024, she had almost 49% of the vote to his 51%. The rankings had little impact on the final result in that race. Before voters' second- and third- choices were counted, Begich's lead was slightly smaller. Sullivan and Peltola will face off first in a nonpartisan primary in August. The top four candidates will advance to a ranked-choice ballot in November. Get National Native News delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up for our daily newsletter today. Download our NV1 Android or iOs App for breaking news alerts. Check out the latest episode of Native America Calling Tuesday, January 13, 2026 – String of new affordable housing options offer hope for struggling urban Native Americans

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing entitled “Impacts of Government Shutdowns and Agency Reductions in Force on Native Communities” Date: October 29, 2025 Time: 2:00 PM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 The Honorable Sarah E. Harris Vice Chairwoman / Secretary United South and Eastern Tribes Nashville, Tennessee Mr. Ben Mallott President Alaska Federation of Natives Anchorage, Alaska Mr. Kerry Bird Board President National Indian Education Association Washington, DC Mr. Pete Upton Native CDFI Network Grand Island, Nebraska Mr. A.C. Locklear CEO National Indian Health Board Washington, DC More on Indianz.Com: https://indianz.com/News/2025/10/29/witness-list-for-senate-committee-on-indian-affairs-hearing-on-government-shutdown/

In today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:In Kipnuk, Halong's high winds and storm surge left a catastrophe. Quyana Alaska followed the first and second days of the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. And out in the Bering Sea, when planes can't land, grocery shelves go bare.Photo: St. Paul's 300 residents went without many major staples in June when travel disruptions led to a food shortage on the island, photographed here in September 2025. ( Theo Greenly/KUHB)

In this newscast: Alaska Federation of Natives delegates on Saturday called for an immediate emergency declaration from President Donald Trump – and more federal assistance for communities hit by the remnants of Typhoon Halong. It was one of dozens of resolutions passed on the final day of the AFN convention in Anchorage; Alaska Airlines is dropping its popular policy that allowed travelers flying within the state of Alaska to check three bags for free. The change will primarily impact non-Alaska residents; More than 1,500 Juneauites joined millions of people nationwide this weekend to partake in the second iteration of the No Kings protest against President Donald Trump's policies and actions; Alaska Congressman Nick Begich on Saturday delivered his first address to the Alaska Federation of Natives since being sworn in this year; As residents boarded air transports out of Kipnuk Wednesday, they were leaving what remained of their houses, belongings, and ancestral homeland behind. For many, that list also included their dogs. A Bethel-based nonprofit sprang into action to rescue the pets.

In today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:More than 400 Sitkans turned out Saturday to speak out against what they call an escalating abuse of power by President Donald Trump. Gubernatorial hopeful Tom Begich kicked off a statewide listening tour on the Kenai Peninsula last weekend. And Alaska Congressman Nick Begich on Saturday delivered his first address to the Alaska Federation of Natives.Photo: No Kings protesters in Sitka. (Hope McKenney KCAW)

In today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:Anchorage city leaders voted Friday to extend an emergency declaration as the city welcomes hundreds of people displaced by heavy flooding in Western Alaska. Gov. Mike Dunleavy visited two Western Alaska villages to assess the damage left by high winds and flooding. Dozens of attendees at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention stood in protest during U.S. Sen.Dan Sullivan's speech.

In this newscast: Dozens of attendees at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention stood in protest during U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan's speech Friday morning; Juneau residents got a glimpse of what life in town looked like in the mid-20th century - in Kodachrome; Community leaders in Ketchikan and Saxman have teamed up with the state to build more affordable housing units; Western Alaska residents from the storm-ravaged communities of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok continued to land Thursday night in Anchorage at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson.

In today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:The theme of unity has been prominent at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. A massive airlift is underway in Western Alaska, bringing evacuees of last week's storm to Anchorage. And Adak is without power.Photo: Adak Alaska. Aleut Adventures.

In today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:A mass evacuation is underway for Kipnuk and Kwigillingock, where a thousand people were sheltering in schools after Sunday's huge storm. Local officials are continuing to search for two people missing from Kwigillingock. And the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention has started in Anchorage.Photo: This dance group from Point Hope was one of many that performed at the Alaska Federation of Natives convention. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

A big storm with category one hurricane characteristics brings rain to much of Alaska.Meteorologist Bailey Braun has the details.Plus, can reporter Justin Mattson beat a contestant at the first Alaska Federation of Chess Statewide Tournament? We find out while learning about the event.

In this newscast: Lieutenant governor and former U.S. House candidate Nancy Dahlstrom is running for governor; The Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska announced today that it is rejoining the Alaska Federation of Natives; The Juneau Assembly chose a preliminary redevelopment plan for the downtown Telephone Hill neighborhood that, if approved, would evict residents by October; A Juneau-based author's graphic memoir won the Pulitzer Prize yesterday for autobiography and memoir; The Trump administration has started canceling federal grants that fund arts and culture programs across the country, including here in Juneau; Yesterday was Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples' Day, and in Juneau, at MMIP events like last night's, one name comes up consistently: Tracy Day

The state's largest federally recognized tribe rejoins the Alaska Federation of Natives. Plus, Petersburg's police chief sues the local borough. And we have Part 2 of a story about how foreboding federal emails are affecting immigrants in Juneau.

Becky and Luna explain their new Alaska Federal Lands project and discuss the collection of Alaska Federation of Natives' first secretary and board member, Joan Elva Corliss. Link to Corliss finding aid: https://archives.consortiumlibrary.org/collections/specialcollections/hmc-1082/ Image is of an Alaska Federation of Natives meeting, 1968. From the Henry S. Kaiser, Jr. papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage.

On this today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines:The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race has a new champion. Tanana Chiefs Conference full board of directors voted Thursday to rejoin the Alaska Federation of Natives. And former federal employees are applying for unemployment.

House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs Legislative Hearing on H.R.410, H.R.412, H.R.504 & H.R.741 Wednesday, February 5, 2025 | 10:15 AM On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, at 10:15 a.m., in room 1324 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills: H.R. 410 (Rep. Begich), “Alaska Native Vietnam Era Veterans Land Allotment Extension Act of 2025”; H.R. 412 (Rep. Bergman), To authorize the Bay Mills Indian Community of the State of Michigan to convey land and interests in land owned by the Tribe; H.R. 504 (Rep. Gimenez), “Miccosukee Reserved Area Amendments Act”; and H.R. 741 (Rep. Stanton), “Stronger Engagement for Indian Health Needs Act of 2025” Committee Notice: https://naturalresources.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=416897 Committee Repository: https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByEvent.aspx?EventID=117842

Kendra Closter is the director for government relations at the Alaska Federation of Natives and the former co-director for Law and Policy at the Alaska Native Women's Resource Center, an organization dedicated to strengthening local, state, and tribal government responses to the needs of Native women and children in their communities and their homes.In this episode, we talk about Native communities and some of the beauties and challenges they face, efforts to strengthen the relationship between Natives and others, the power of law, policy, partnerships, and some of the unique difficulties and beauties for Native Alaskans, and some of those triumphs. Some of which might be able to be emulated everywhere where Indigenous cultures are trying to protect their ways of life, be healthy and be safe.Alaska Federation of Natives:https://nativefederation.org/Alaska Native Women's Resource Center:https://www.aknwrc.orgCheck out the Silver Linings Handbook website at:https://silverliningshandbook.com/Join our Facebook Group at:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1361159947820623Check out our Patreon to support the show at:https://www.patreon.com/thesilverliningshandbookVisit the Silver Linings Handbook store to support the podcast at:https://www.bonfire.com/store/the-silver-linings-handbook-podcast-store/

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Water levels on Juneau's Mendenhall Lake and River are returning to normal following a moderate glacial outburst flood. Senators Sullivan and Murkowski addressed the Alaska Federation of Native Convention last week. And Ketchikan estimates it spent about eight million dollars last year to accommodate cruise ship passengers. Photo: Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) addresses the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention on Oct. 19, 2024. (Matt Faubion/Alaska Public Media)

In this newscast: The City and Borough of Juneau will offer sandbags this weekend for residents affected by August's record-breaking glacial outburst flood. Every household that flooded is eligible for up to 200 free sandbags provided by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Juneau-based writer Vera Starbard will be Alaska's next state writer laureate; Subsistence has always been part of the conversation during the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention, but in recent years, it's a topic that's taken center stage as both a unifying and divisive topic. And, it is again the focal point, filling nearly half the agenda on the first day of this year's gathering; Southcentral Alaska's mariculture industry is optimistic about a bill passed this summer that streamlines the leasing process for kelp and shellfish farmers. The legislation could affect growers on the Kenai Peninsula - and around the state. 

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: Subsistence has taken center stage at the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference. The Soldotna Seed Library allows folks to check out seeds adapted to Alaska's climate. And Wrangellites gathered on a beach earlier this month to watch a rescued and rehabilitated seal get released back into her natural habitat.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Legislative Hearing to receive testimony on S.4370 & S.4505 Date: July 25, 2024 Time: 2:00 PM Location: Dirksen Room: 628 Agenda: S. 4370, Tribal Forest Protection Act Amendments Act of 2024 S. 4505, A bill to approve the settlement of water rights claims of Ohkay Owingeh in the Rio Chama Stream System, to restore the Bosque on Pueblo Land in the State of New Mexico, and for other purposes Witness List: Ms. Tracy Canard Goodluck Senior Advisor to the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. Mr. John Crockett Associate Deputy Chief for State, Private, and Tribal Forestry U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington, D.C. The Honorable Larry M. Phillips, Jr. Governor Pueblo of Ohkay Owingeh Ohkay Owingeh, New Mexico The Honorable Thora Padilla President Mescalero Apache Tribe Mescalero, New Mexico Mr. Benjamin Mallott President-Elect Alaska Federation of Natives Anchorage, Alaska More Info: https://indianz.com/News/2024/07/25/witness-list-for-senate-committee-on-indian-affairs-legislative-hearing/

On Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at 10:15 a.m., in Room 1334 Longworth House Office Building, the Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs will hold a legislative hearing on the following bills: H.R.6489, the Alaska Native Village Municipal Lands Restoration Act of 2023 H.R.8942, the Improving Tribal Cultural Training for Providers Act of 2024 H.R.8955, the IHS Provider Integrity Act H.R.8956, the Uniform Credentials for IHS Providers Act of 2024 Witness List Mr. Benjamin Smith [H.R. 8955, H.R. 8942, and H.R. 8956] Deputy Director Indian Health Service U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rockville, Maryland The Hon. Jarred-Michael Erickson [H.R. 8955, H.R. 8942, and H.R. 8956] Chairman Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation Nespelem, Washington Ms. Amber Torres [H.R. 8955, H.R. 8942, and H.R. 8956] Chief Operating Officer National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Washington, D.C. Ms. Jerilyn Church [H.R. 8955, H.R. 8942, and H.R. 8956] Executive Director Great Plains Tribal Leader's Health Board (GPTLHB) Rapid City, South Dakota Mr. Ben Mallott [H.R. 6489] [Minority Witness] Vice President for External Affairs Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Anchorage, Alaska More Info: https://indianz.com/News/2024/07/22/legislative-hearing-on-h-r-6489-h-r-8942-h-r-8955-h-r-8956/

Tourism is big money for many tribes and individual entrepreneurs. But it also has the potential to diminish people's quality of life. Residents in Juneau, Alaska are considering a limit on the dozens of cruise ships that unload thousands of visitors there every summer. Among other things, critics say the steady stream of outsiders detracts from what they enjoy about living there. Some tribes have closed off tourist attractions altogether. We'll find out about “overtourism” and ways to avoid it. GUESTS Sherry Rupert (Paiute and Washoe), CEO of American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association (AIANTA) Joe Nelson (Tlingit), chair of Sealaska Corporation and co-chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Cory Mann (citizen of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska), business owner in Juneau, Alaska Ilihia Gionson (Native Hawaiian), public affairs officer for the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority

A Kasaan family loses their home to a fire; the National Park Service bans the practice of bear baiting; the proposed buyer of Wrangell's old hospital backs out due to a newspaper headline; and the Alaska Federation of Natives hires a new president.

Jane Angvik was an Anchorage Charter Commission member who drafted the founding document that unified the city and borough of Anchorage in 1975. On July 1, 2024, she administered the oath of office at the inauguration of Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. Jane has spent her life in service to Alaska whether at her first job for the Anchorage borough as a planner upon her arrival in 1973, working for the Alaska Federation of Natives, serving on the Anchorage Assembly, or training the next generation of leaders through Alaska Women Ascend, the ways that she has contributed to our state and city are many and profound. This episode will discuss much of Jane's life including her childhood in Minnesota and her meeting of her husband Vic Fischer – a founding father of Alaska who we sadly lost last year at the age of 99. This episode will not include Jane's time on the charter commission. That period of her life, which so profoundly impacts what Anchorage is today,  will be its own episode released next week.

On today's Midday Report with host Terry Haines: The Alaska Judicial Council has voted to recommend retention of all 19 judges on the November ballot, but not without dissent. The Donlin Gold project plans to be powered by a gas pipeline stretching hundreds of miles to Cook Inlet. And the Alaska Federation of Natives has rolled-out plans for its October convention, with a program dedicated to the younger generation. Photo: Proposed natural gas pipeline to be used by Donlin Gold facility.

Ep. 071: Into the Wild: Life in the Mat-Su Valley of Alaska Sarah Montalbano is the Policy Manager for the Alaska Policy Forum and a senior fellow with the Independent Women's Forum. She was born and raised in Wasilla, AK, and her family has roots in the state from the era before Alaskan statehood. Sarah joins the Forgotten America podcast to share about the culture, natural beauty, and economic growth of the state. Garrett & Sarah discuss public policy challenges Alaska faces, art and culture, and the history of the native population as well as how Alaskans handle issues of conservation and responsible land development.   Follow @SarahMontalban0 and at IWF, Young Voices, and Alaska Policy Forum.  Additional Resources for This Episode Wasilla, Alaska: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wasilla,_Alaska Alaska Policy Forum: https://alaskapolicyforum.org/author/sarahm/ Mat-Su Valley: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matanuska-Susitna_Valley Alaska Permanent Fund: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Permanent_Fund Endless Wall Trail in West Virginia https://www.nps.gov/places/endless-wall-trail.htm Hatcher Pass Alaska https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatcher_Pass 229 federally recognized federally recognized Alaskan native villages. Alaska Federation of Natives: https://www.nativefederation.org/ Alaska Native Corporations: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alaska_Native_Claims_Settlement_Act 13 regional corporations that generate revenues and distribute them to shareholders Denali National Park: https://www.alaska.org/destination/denali-national-park Hobo Jim State Balladeer https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo_Jim Bus 142 from Into the Wild: https://www.uaf.edu/museum/collections/ethno/projects/bus_142/index.php Into the Wild (book): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Into_the_Wild_(book) Firecracker Boys (book): https://www.amazon.com/Firecracker-Boys-Dan-ONeill/dp/0465003486   Garrett Ballengee, Host President & CEO - @gballeng Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Amanda Kieffer, Executive Producer Vice President of Communications & Strategy - @akieffer13  Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Nate Phipps, Editor & Producer Communications & Social Media Associate - @Aviv5753 Cardinal Institute for West Virginia Policy   Follow: YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram Support: Patreon, Donate, Newsletter

In this newscast: A new study shows that some surveys of pollock abundance in the Gulf of Alaska may not account for the way that fish are responding to climate change; Sitkans shared feedback with SEARHC about the fall closure of its Medicare-certified home health department, after months of trying; The Alaska Federation of Natives have announced plans for Julie Kitka to step aside as president before this fall's convention

Since time immemorial, the Kuskokwim River in Southwest Alaska has fed Native families. Now, after years of failed salmon runs, Native families are confronting the potential loss of this vital resource. At the same time they are caught in the middle of a legal battle between the federal government and the state over how best to manage fishing in rivers that flow through both jurisdictions. The Alaska Federation of Natives just joined several tribal groups, taking he federal government's side in the fight. We'll look at what's at stake for Alaska Native residents in this latest chapter in the evolving fight over subsistence fishing. GUESTS  Curt Chamberlain (member of the Native Village of Aniak), assistant general counsel for the Calista Corporation Serena Fitka (Yup'ik), executive director of the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association Dr. Mike Williams (Yupiaq), vice chair of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission

HOUR 1Tom S covers Boys Division I (West won) and II (Soldotna won) High School Football championships over the weekend Israel releases videos of Hamas attacks / (FOX News) https://www.foxnews.com/video/6339712069112Tom overviews the delay in Israel's ground offensive and why they've held off - specifically because the U.S. and EU asked Israel to consider: (per the NYT) Hostage safety, ongoing defense strategy, and disruption to the aid of food, water and meds now coming into Gaza"NBC News Chief Foreign Correspondent Richard Engel reports from Kiryat Shmona in northern Israel near the border with Lebanon on the latest in the Israel-Hamas war and the possibility of an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza." / (MSNBC) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mfwZVp2ORsAmericans overwhelmingly support Israel / (The Hill) https://thehill.com/policy/international/4268117-americans-overwhelmingly-support-israel-in-war-with-hamas-poll/Surviving victims show NPR journalists the carnage from the Oct 7th Hamas attack / (NPR) https://www.npr.org/2023/10/20/1207549467/loved-ones-of-hamas-attack-victims-diverge-over-israels-war-on-gazaHOUR 2Nine congressional members offer themselves for Speaker consideration / (NBC) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/9-candidates-joined-house-speaker-race-jim-jordan-dropped-rcna121607Bill Stoltze from Chugiak on Minnesota's Congressman Tom Emmer and how they had some classes together at UAF in the 1980s and he supports Emmer for Speaker "Vic Fischer, a father of Alaska statehood who as a child escaped both Adolf Hitler and Joseph Stalin, died Sunday evening. He was 99." / (ADN) https://www.adn.com/politics/2023/10/22/vic-fischer-last-surviving-alaska-constitutional-convention-delegate-dies-at-99/"The Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention held in Anchorage this week started Saturday morning with review and adoption of several resolutions to address the issues faced by the state's Native communities." / (ANS) https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/10/21/afn-resolutions-address-needs-alaska-native-communities-statewide/Jen from Fairbanks on subsistence and "rural preference""The 2023 federal budget deficit surged by 23% to $1.7 trillion, leaving the US in its deepest yearly fiscal hole outside of the Covid era, according to the Treasury Department, which released the data on Friday." / (MB) https://www.morningbrew.com/daily/stories/2023/10/22/deficit?

Special report: Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Preview

Every year, the Alaska Federation of Natives brings thousands of Alaska Native and other indigenous people together for the largest gathering of its kind in North America. It's a mix of business, education, policy, culture, festive dancing and an exhibit hall that features a stunning array of incredible art. Whether you are Alaska Native or not, you are welcome to attend. It's a great opportunity to learn about the First people of Alaska and how they have not only survived rapid change, but have thrived within that change. We learn more about the areas of discussion this year and ask about a federal lawsuit that AFN joined against the State of Alaska on this Talk of Alaska.

The Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention is only a few weeks away and there will be plenty of speakers, crafts and traditional music. But what about contemporary music? On this episode of Hometown, Alaska we have two very different in-studio performances from some up-and-coming Alaska Native musicians. Join host Dave Waldron as he speaks with hip-hop duo Brother Buffalo and singer-songwriter Witty Youngman about their music and how their heritage influences their art.HOST: Dave WaldronGUESTS:Garrett and Jake Swenson, Brother BuffaloWitty Youngman, singer-songwriterLINKS:Brother Buffalo InstagramBrother Buffalo SpotifyWitty Youngman InstagramWitty Youngman FacebookWitty Youngman Website ]]>

Two large tribal organizations leave the Alaska Federation of Natives. Plus, Alaskans mourn missing and murdered Indigenous loved ones.

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Hearing on "Native communities' priorities for the 118th Congress" Wednesday, March 08 2023 - 02:30 PM Location: Dirksen Room Number: 628 PANEL 1 The Honorable Shannon Holsey Treasurer National Congress of American Indians Washington, DC The Honorable Thomas Lozano Chairman, Board of Directors National American Indian Housing Council Oroville, California The Honorable Carmen Hulu Lindsey Chair, Board of Trustees Office of Hawaiian Affairs Honolulu, Hawaii Ms. Nicole Borromeo Executive Vice President & General Counsel Alaska Federation of Natives Anchorage, Alaska Ms. Kari Jo Lawrence Executive Director Intertribal Agriculture Council Billings, Montana Mr. Rico Frias Executive Director Native American Financial Officers Association Washington DC Ms. Tesia Zientek Citizen Potawatomi Nation, President, Board of Directors National Indian Education Association Washington DC Committee Notice: https://www.indian.senate.gov/hearing/oversight-hearing-native-communities-priorities-118th-congress

This podcast is part of the thought leadership events from the Stratfor Center of Applied Geopolitics at RANE. Its host is Rodger Baker, the center's executive director and a veteran geopolitical strategist whose expertise includes the Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic.In this episode, Baker's guests are Julie Kitka, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives, and Richard Glenn, former EVP of External and Government Affairs at the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. They discuss the growing strategic and geopolitical importance of Alaska and the wider Arctic region as China, Russia, and the United States race to secure maritime routes, minerals, and other opportunities. As climate change melts age-old snow, permafrost and sea ice it has prompted renewed interest in Arctic development and created new security and strategic concerns.The Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics is a global center of excellence for geopolitical intelligence and analysis that focuses on training, educational certification and geopolitical thought leadership. Sign up to receive alerts from the center at www.ranenetwork.com/stratcenter.

This podcast is part of the thought leadership events from the Stratfor Center of Applied Geopolitics at RANE. Its host is Rodger Baker, the center's executive director and a veteran geopolitical strategist whose expertise includes the Korean Peninsula, Southeast Asia, and the Arctic. In this episode, Baker's guests are Julie Kitka, President of the Alaska Federation of Natives, and Richard Glenn, former EVP of External and Government Affairs at the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation.  They discuss the growing strategic and geopolitical importance of Alaska and the wider Arctic region as China, Russia, and the United States race to secure maritime routes, minerals, and other opportunities. As climate change melts age-old snow, permafrost and sea ice it has prompted renewed interest in Arctic development and created new security and strategic concerns. The Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics is a global center of excellence for geopolitical intelligence and analysis that focuses on training, educational certification and geopolitical thought leadership. Sign up to receive alerts from the center at www.ranenetwork.com/stratcenter.

A five-minute newscast focused on activity at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, anchored by Hannah Bissett.