December 2010 - NANA Regional Corporation

The Hunter
Published by NANA Regional Corporation, Inc. Volume 22 Number 7 Holiday Edition 2010
NRC President’s Message
NANA Elders’ Settlement Trust
Announces 2011 Distribution
The Trustees of the NANA Elders’ Settlement
Trust voted to issue a $2,000 per Elder
distribution in 2011. The Trust was established
by NANA in 2008 to provide a special distribution
to NANA shareholders who are 65 years of age
or older. This distribution was the result of a
contribution from NANA Regional Corporation,
Inc. (NANA) which was approved by its board of
directors on November 18, 2010.
Marie
Greene
Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year
Aarigaa! On behalf of the NANA family
of companies I want to wish you a Merry
Christmas and all the best in 2011. It is
a great honor and privilege to serve you.
We are blessed to be part of such a large
extended NANA family. The roots of our
ancestors dig deep and steady us. The
branches of our potential reach to the sky.
I look forward to all we will accomplish
together in 2011, and am thankful for the
Hunter Success we have shared this year.
Agaiyyuniqpajhie qaummabikkumuuq!
May your holidays be bright!
INSIDE:
2 NANA Shareholder Relations: Helping Those in Need
3
NANA Shareholder Development: Working for You!
4
5
NANA Helps Honor Veterans of the
Territorial Guard
Four Years of Safety! Congratulations to the Red Dog Mine Surface Crew
8
NANA Board Meeting
“Many of our Elders live on a fixed income and it
is our hope this dividend will help them and make
their lives a little easier next year,” said Donald
G. Sheldon, NANA board chairman. “The NANA
Elders’ Settlement Trust is just one way we honor
those who have paved the way for other NANA
shareholders.”
Open Hearts,
Open Homes
For some young people
in our villages, it is not
possible to be home for
the holidays. Some of them
are in foster care outside of the region. There is a
critical shortage of foster care homes in our area
of Alaska. This means that some of our young
people, who find themselves in need of care, are
being placed in homes in Alaska’s urban areas and
far away from family and friends.
“It is so important to find qualified foster parents to
step-up and be there for our young people,” said
Brian Triplett who is a guardian ad litem for the
Kotzebue and Nome area. “Our kids are not only
separated from loved ones when they are placed
outside of our region – they are oftentimes also
separated from their culture when they are placed
with non-Native families. We need to keep them
connected to our Iñupiaq way of life.”
Those children who can’t find placement with a
foster family experience a different challenge. They
often stay, for well over 90 days, at the Putyuk
Children’s Home in Kotzebue, Alaska. Putyuk does
excellent work by providing emergency shelter
for children ages 0 to 18 years who are removed
from their homes by the State of Alaska. Contact
with parents is maintained whether in person or by
phone as much as possible. But, for children who
find themselves in a long-term situation – Putyuk is
not the answer.
It is part of our Iñupiaq values to care for our
children. If you would like to open your heart or
your home to a young person in need, call Tracy
Haviland at Maniilaq Association at
(907) 442-7880.
The distribution is $1,500, with an additional
$500 for taxes. NANA Elders’ Settlement Trust
distributions are currently taxable and Elders
receiving the distribution are urged to consider
reserving the additional monies for their
2012 taxes.
The NANA Elders’ Settlement Trust distribution
will be paid on Feb. 4, 2011. Those Elders who
have elected to receive their distribution via
direct deposit will receive it that day. It should
arrive by mail later in the month for those Elders
who receive the distribution by mail.
In 2010, the NANA Elders’ Settlement Trust
distributed $2,000 per beneficiary.
HELP WANTED!
Have you ever thought of
becoming a foster parent?
The Office of Children’s Services is looking
for foster parents.
If you are interested in becoming foster
parents, we are looking for foster homes.
Foster homes are safe, healthy places for a
child to live while a family attempts to repair
itself and get back together.
A reimbursement for the child’s daily rate,
depending on age, is provided to qualified
licensed foster families.
Together we can foster positive lifestyles,
pride of heritage and empower tribal
communities to help children succeed.
Do you have other questions?
Please call!
Tracy Haviland, Maniilaq Foster
Care Specialist (907) 442-7880 or
1-800-478-9771
NANA Shareholder Development News
NANA Shareholder Relations: Helping Those in Need
On October 16, 2009, E.J. Doll Garoutte, vice
president of NANA Shareholder Relations, read a
story in the newspaper about Anchorage Mayor
Dan Sullivan’s work to help the homeless in
Alaska’s largest city.
The mayor was starting a leadership team
focused on reducing death and violence among
Anchorage’s homeless citizens and to lessen
negative impacts on the city’s parks, greenbelts
and neighborhoods. The team he was building
included leaders of social service and health care
agencies; government officials, lawyers, police
and fire officials; pastors and business leaders.
She noticed the mayor had representatives
from a few Alaska Native Corporations on his
new “Mayor’s Homeless Leadership Team.”
She knew that some of the Anchorage’s
homeless population had originated from
smaller communities throughout the state. She
emailed the mayor and asked him if he was
ensuring that Alaska Natives, who were familiar
with the challenges faced by those from rural
communities, were on the team.
On November 6, 2009, she received an email
from Darrell Hess, homeless coordinator for the
Municipality of Anchorage, inviting someone from
NANA to participate at the next meeting. Doll
assigned Martha Cervantes, NANA shareholder
liaison, to serve as NANA’s representative.
On December 1, 2009, Martha attended her
first Homeless Leadership Team meeting and
her work with the group is making a positive
difference in the lives of homeless Alaska
Native people.
“Homeless men and women deserve to
be treated with respect,” said Martha.
“They deserve to be treated as citizens
and they deserve safety just like the rest
of us. I am proud that NANA is supporting
this effort.”
Martha’s participation on the team
has inspired her to lead NANA in other
outreach efforts. Just a few weeks
ago, Martha organized a team of NANA
employees and shareholders to bring
Anchorage-based Alaska Natives in need
a “niqipiaq” dinner; that is a dinner where
traditional Iñupiaq food is shared with
guests. She organized a group of volunteers
to transport homeless men and women to
the Friends Church from Bean’s Café where
the guests dined on delicious Iñupiaq fare.
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“I really appreciated the donations that came
from our people,” said Martha. “With jackets,
hats, gloves, socks – it was just like Christmas
to these folks in need. When they went into the
room to pick up the clothing, it was very moving
to see how happy clean warm socks or a new
jacket made them. Everyone was also excited
about the frozen whale meat and muktuk,
and it was good to connect with other
Alaska Native people.”
Martha continues her role on Anchorage’s
Homeless Leadership Team and she, and the
Shareholder Relation’s team, will continue their
outreach efforts to those from our region who
need our assistance.
Modern Day
Hunter Events:
There are many ways that NANA’s Shareholder
Development Team can help you connect
with training, education and employment
opportunities. Find out how we can help you
be successful by attending one, or all, of our
upcoming Modern Day Hunter events:
January 17: NANA Information Technology
Open House for NANA shareholder youth age
14 – 19. Location: Anchorage
February 7: DOWL HKM to visit their new
BWISE partner school, Ambler
Letter to Marie Greene from the Kotzebue
Senior Citizen Cultural Center
February 7-11: Regional Outreach.
Shareholder Development will visit each village
and school. Topic for class visits: Health choices
as they relate to employment/education
March 1: Anchorage Career Fair
To Marie Greene,
We are thankful to live for another day and to
rejoice in what the day brings forth. We are
thankful even in our adversity as well as our
prosperity. Today, we thank our Lord and Savior
for NANA, who provided us with warm winter
clothing. We are grateful that they remain true
to our Iñupiaq values and to God’s command that
we love one another! Thank you Red Seeberger
and Maureen Reich who took the time to meet
with us and to shop for us. We are all pleased
with your commitment and wish to encourage
you to keep helping others. May God continue to
let NANA prosper.
From the Elders of the Senior Center
March 3: Kotzebue Career Fair
March 14: Annual Meeting/Career Fair
in Ambler
April 18-22: Regional Outreach. Shareholder
Development will visit each village and school.
Topic: Junior Achievement Activity
TBD: NANA WorleyParsons to visit their BWISE
partner, Shungnak School
Senior Center residents from Kotzebue thank NANA for the gift of clothing this holiday season. Pictured (l to r) Dora
Stalker, Ray Snyder, Art Fields, Donald Baldwin, Bob Uhl, the late Levi Coffin, Willie Booth, Haley Hunnicutt, Magdeline
Lee, Inez Koenig, Doris Carter, Iva Towksjhea, Laura Frankson, Jimmy Lane, Richard Hensley, Josephine Sampson
2
TBD: DOWL HKM to visit their BWISE partner
school, Ambler
NANA Shareholder Development News
Shareholder Talent Portal – Update Your Resume Today!
Shareholder hire and development is important to
all of NANA’s companies. Providing opportunities
to our people is one way we achieve our mission
of improving the quality of life for our shareholders.
We have a new tool to help us identify and
match talented shareholders to employment
opportunities.
NANA is in the process of creating a shareholder
talent portal. This project will allow us to have
one place to house all of our shareholder talent
information. This project involves many steps,
including consolidating existing information
NANA has on file. This includes pulling data from
applications of shareholders from online, resumes
we have here at our offices, and educational
information from Aqqaluk Trust.
In order to make this project successful, we need
your help! The most complete set of data we
have access to is the online application. We are
asking you to please take a moment to complete
an online application if you have never done so,
or to update the application you currently have
online whether you are looking for work or not. You
can update your application at www.nana.com/
employment. If you don’t have Internet access,
you can contact the NANA offices in Kotzebue or
Anchorage, or stop by your local village Resource
Technician’s office.
an online survey. You can type in this address
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GPVC3ZF or go
to NANA’s Shareholder Development website
www.moderndayhunter.com to click the link.
Complete a survey and you’re automatically
entered for your chance to win a Modern Day
Hunter t-shirt!
We are also collecting data related to whether or
not you’re currently seeking employment, and if
you are, the type of employment you’re seeking. To
make this collection of data easy, we have created
NANA Shareholder Development: Working for You!
Season’s Greetings from Shareholder
Development! The Shareholder Development
team has the NANA mission in our hearts. We
work to improve the quality of life of our people.
It has been a successful year for Shareholder
Development which means it has been a
successful year for our shareholders. Throughout
NANA’s family of companies, NANA shareholders
earned more than $47.4 million dollars last year!
That’s an increase of about $3.5 million dollars
over the year before. Here are some highlights
from 2010:
• Helped more than 200 shareholders gain employment by providing job referral service and helping shareholders with resumes.
• Held three job fairs in Buckland, Kotzebue and Anchorage this year.
•
Created the Shareholder Development Committee – a committee comprised of each major NANA company. We work together towards the common goal of providing opportunities for our shareholders.
Shareholders
Calvi
and Josie Brow n Thomas, Darlene Heckler,
er enjoy attend
ing the Moder
Day Hunter Em
n
ployability Wor
kshop featurin
NMS in Anchor
g
age.
• Implemented monthly Employability Workshops in Anchorage in an effort to
increase awareness of opportunities.
•
Continued successful partnership with the Northwest Arctic Borough School District (NWABSD). Made three visits to each school
to help prepare our young shareholders for successful futures.
Millions of Reasons to get MSHA Certified
and Denise
mi Krukoff
Ta
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and educ
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Red Dog Mine offers a world of opportunity. Last
year alone, NANA shareholders working at Red
Dog received over $28 million in wages. In order
to work at Red Dog, or any other mine, you must
have your Mine Safety and Health Administration,
or MSHA, training.
To help our shareholders receive this
important training in 2010, NANA Shareholder
Development connected with the University of
Alaska’s Mining and Petroleum Service (MAPTS).
MAPTS has a State of Alaska grant to provide
free MSHA certification training each month in
Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau. To make sure
our shareholders were taking advantage of this
great opportunity, we reached out to our people
living in these locations.
We also worked with Cheryl Edenshaw, director
of the Alaska Techical Center (ATC), to bring
the training to Kotzebue. Cheryl is a great
Pictured above:
(l to r) Denise Ko
utchak, Tami Kr
Kristine Couse.
ukoff,
Sitting (l to r) Kr
istina Patrick, Ro
and Annette Ze
n Adams
lla
partner and always works with us to provide
opportunities to shareholders.
“It is vital that we continue working together
with NANA to provide shareholders with
training opportunities leading to meaningful
employment,” said Edenshaw. “Work in people’s
lives greatly influences their self-confidence
and self-sufficiency which, when positive, has a
domino effect and merges many of our Iñupiat
I itqusiat values.”
Now, we want to take this great training
opportunity out to the villages. Contact your
NANA Resource Technician to let them know
you’re interested in taking the MSHA class. We
will contact all those people who have signed
up when we have a class scheduled. You can
also contact Tami Krukoff directly in Shareholder
Development to learn about upcoming training
dates at [email protected].
3
NANA Regional Corporation News
NANA Helps Honor Veterans
of the Territorial Guard
Story courtesy of the Arctic Sounder
Kotzebue unveiled a statue commemorating the Alaska Territorial Guard
November 11, 2010, in Kotzebue at the Heritage Center. The Territorial Guard,
sometimes called the “Eskimo Scouts,” was a reserve force that helped defend
Alaska’s vast expanses during World War II. Iñupiaq, Aleut, Athabaskan, Haida,
Tlingit, Tsimshian and Yupik men and women served as a volunteer force in
the Territorial Guard. The ceremony was hosted by the Kotzebue IRA, NANA
Regional Corporation, Inc., Maniilaq Association and the Northwest Arctic
Borough. Surviving members of the Territorial Guard in the villages were flown in
by NANA to attend the event.
Decora
ted vete
ran
families
and Kotz Wilfred Lane
giv
ebue re
sidents. es an address
to vete
rans, th
eir
Percy
, walks with ng of a
r Sampson
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W
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d NANA em onored during the ce ska Territorial Guard
Veteran an
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A
as
e
w
th
n
in
so
ck
ed
Jackson. Ja ed to those who serv
icat
statue ded
Bob Uhl came to Alaska while serving in the U.S. Army in
World War II and has stayed since.
Wilfred Lane pr
esented a certi
ficate to the fa
Sr. Norton was
mily of the late
a member of th
James Norton
e Alaska Territo
just weeks prio
rial Guard, who
r to the cerem
ony.
passed away
ith the
e dances w
Wilfred Lan
ights dance
Northern L
group.
Susan Bucknell / Courtesy photos
4
NANA Regional Corporation News
In Memory
NANA Board of Directors and staff extend their condolences to the family and friends of
the following shareholders who have recently passed away.
Every Iñupiaq is responsible to all other
Iñupiat for the survival of our cultural
spirit and the values and traditions
through which it survives. Through our
extended family, we retain, teach, and
live our Iñupiat way. With guidance and
support from Elders, we must teach our
children these Iñupiat values:
Charlie J. Allen
Else Goodhope
Priscilla Booth
Violet Goodwin
Knowledge of Language
Ivan Field, Sr.
Trygve Jorgensen, Jr.
Knowledge of Family Tree
Harry Foster, Jr.
Mary F. Mitchell
John Gooden
Gordon Reynolds
Roy H. Scott
Sharing
Humility
Respect for Others
Love for Children
Cooperation
Hard Work
Respect for Elders
Respect for Nature
Avoid Conflict
Family Roles
Humor
Spirituality
Four Years of Safety! Congratulations to the
Red Dog Mine Surface Crew
The Red Dog Mine Surface Crew has achieved a major milestone – going four years without a single
Lost–Time–Incident, or LTI. The crew is just another great example of our Red Dog Mine employees
going above and beyond the call of duty to keep our people safe on the job and to keep our
environment clean.
Domestic Skills
Hunter Success
Responsibility to Tribe
Our understanding of our universe and
our place in it is a belief in God and a
respect for all His creation.
The Surface Crew has a wide range of duties they perform safely on a day-to-day basis. Larry Hanna,
Red Dog Mine General Foreman, credits the group’s attitude.
“This is a self-sufficient team,” Larry said. “They know what to do and they go out and do it. They work
in a way that is in alignment with our commitment to safety. We’re proud of what they accomplished.”
Surface crew team members include:
Steve Chace
Clyde Pullock
Heather Sheldon
Douglas Edwin
Andrew Reich
John Sheldon
Tim Gray
JD Schaeffer
Robert Smith Russell Hanna
Mike Schierman/
Richard Thomas
Penny Hodges
Alfred Karmun
Jeff Matney
Louie McCue
Robert McCue Robert Merculieff/
Surface Supervisor
Eli Mitchell
Surface Supervisor
NANA Vision
NANA will be a respected, profitable,
multibillion-dollar corporation.
NANA Mission
We improve the quality of life for our
people by maximizing economic
growth, protecting and enhancing
our lands, and promoting healthy
communities with decisions, actions,
and behaviors inspired by our Iñupiat
I itqusiat and consistent with our
Core Principles.
Virgil Naylor
5
NANA Culture And Community
Alaska to Bolivia
On Dec. 1, 2010, Rosie Barr, resources
manager for NANA Regional Corporation,
boarded an international flight to the world’s
highest city, La Paz, Bolivia – a monumental
3,660 meters above sea level. The trip was
part of a business exchange program that
NANA engaged in organized by the Pan
American Development Foundation (PADF).
An independent delegation of Bolivian
representatives visited Kotzebue in late
September of this year.
During the trip, Willie Hensley, former NANA
president, and Barr met with local and national
Bolivian officials to discuss a wide range of
topics surrounding indigenous peoples and
responsible resource development.
“There is a great deal of similarity in our
stories,” said Barr. “In Bolivia, they are trying to
responsibly harness the economic potential of
their resources to benefit their people, just as
we do.”
Presentations and discussions focused on the
Alaska Native Corporation (ANC) model and
how the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act
(ANCSA) fostered indigenous development
through the creation of Native corporations
and how legislation has helped Alaska Native
people to improve their lives
and communities in
a generation.
Cultural exchange was also
on the itinerary with Barr
and Hensley. They were
honored guests at cultural
events planned especially for
them.“We were fed traditional
foods and we participated in
a spiritual ceremony at the
ancient ruins of Tiahuanaco
city,” said Barr. “The ruins
pre-date the arrival of
the Spaniards. It was
breathtakingly beautiful.”
The Aymara Spirit
The PADF is organizing a
ual Leaders ask for
permission to enter
of Tiahuanaco.
trip to Alaska this summer
the sacred ruins
where they hope to bring
a larger and more diverse group of
Bolivian business, cultural and governmental
leaders.
“We’re looking forward to hosting our friends
from the south again,” said Barr. “We believe this
partnership will greatly benefit both of our regions
and people.”
NANA Christmas Spirit
Santa’s elves wh
o built Christmas
Town in
Kiana (l to r) Jayc
ee Beecroft, Jo
e Hill Staheli,
Jenna Walker an
d Kayana Barr
r about the spirit of
ches her daughte
ge.
Jacquie Tillman tea
in need in Anchora
se
tho
to
t
ched ou
giving as NANA rea
Linda Lee
arl Gomez (Kobuk),
Board members Pe
the informal
at
r)
ys Jones (Amble
(Shugnak) and Glad
ge
ora
ch
ng in An
shareholder meeti
y in Anchorage.
t bags for the need
Santa’s elves fill gif
6
Doll Garoutte an
d Priscilla Hensley
Holthouse were
Christmas cheer
full of
at the niqipiaq fea
st at Anchorage
Church.
Friends
olders
d NANA shareh
Ron Adams helpe
ason —
se
ay
lid
age this ho
living in Anchor
it.
a hat to prove
he has the Sant
NANA Christmas Spirit
Pictures from the Jam Making and Fish Canning workshop done at the
Kiana School by Seth Kantner November 23, 2010. It was funded by
Kiana Traditional Council. Samples were served at the School/Community
Thanksgiving feast and jars of jam and fish were given to the Elders.
Coming down a hil
l in Deering to go
fishing! Bottom to
are Kristina Moto,
top
Ashley Iyatunguk,
Louise Hingsberge
Alvin, Leslie Hings
n,
bergen and Dorca
s Swan.
Martha R. Smith at
k
wedding in Noata
’s
her brother Deron
Children ge
t ready to ic
e fish.
from Deering gets
Leslie Hingsbergen
r class for tomcod.
he
ready to fish with
Brothers, Isaa
c III and Milton
,
wait for their
brother, Deron pose as they
, to get marrie
d.
ith from Noatak
n and Kristine Sm
Newlyweds Dero
7
Anchorage, AK
Permit No. 444
PAID
PRSRT STD
U. S. Postage
NANA News
NANA Board Meeting
NANA Regional Corporation’s Board of
Directors met in Anchorage, Alaska, at the
Egan Convention Center for a board retreat
and meeting from Nov. 16 – 18, 2010.
P.O. Box 49
Kotzebue, Alaska 99752
The first two days of the gathering focused on
resource and land issues. Many presentations
were given regarding protection of subsistence
activities, NANA lands and potential mineral
development in the region.
The board held their formal meeting on Nov.18,
2010, with four of the board committees
meeting prior to that day. At that meeting, the
board approved, by resolution, a contribution
of approximately $1.2 million dollars to the
NANA Elders’ Settlement Trust; allowing
the Trust to make a distribution of $2,000 to
roughly 620 NANA Elders. It also approved
funding for two $55,000 Village Economic
Development grants; passing resolutions
approving funding for a building renovation
project in Kiana and a road improvement
project in Shungnak. NANA continues to work
with many villages on their applications.
At the meeting, Bureau of Land Management
(BLM) Deputy State Director, Ramona Shin,
Conveyances Coordinator, Joe Labay, and
Resolution Specialist, Ralph Eluska, were
present to sign documents conveying formal
title to lands to NANA under section 12(a) of
the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act for the
villages of Ambler, Kobuk and Shungnak.
Taikuu to the NANA Board of Directors for their
hard work.
Event Calendar
jANUARY
17 NANA Information Technology Open House for NANA shareholder youth
age 14 – 19. Location: Anchorage
FEBRUARY
DOWL HKM to visit their new BWISE 7
partner school, Ambler
Regional Outreach. Shareholder Development will visit each village
and school. Topic for class visits:
Health choices as they relate to
employment/education
Seattle Informal Shareholder Meeting
Development will visit each village and school.
7-11 19 MARCH
Anchorage Career Fair
1
3
Kotzebue Career Fair
14 Annual Meeting/Career Fair in Ambler
APRIL
18-22 Regional Outreach. Shareholder Contact NANA
NANA Regional Corporation, Inc., Kotzebue
P.O. Box 49, Kotzebue, AK 99752
P (907) 442-3301
P (800) 478-3301 (Toll Free)
F (907) 442-2863
www.nana.com/regional
Edited by:
NANA Regional Corporation’s
Communications Department
Contributors:
8
Cana Crosby
Charles Fedullo
Priscilla Hensley Holthouse
Allison Knox
Maija Lukin
Alexandra J. McClanahan
Kristina Patrick
Verna Westlake
Shelly Wozniak
TOP IMAGE: (l to
r) Directors Nellie
Sheldon (Ambler
Henry Horner, Sr.
); Gladys Jones (A
(Kobuk); Elder Ad
mbler);
visor Levi Clevela
and Michael Ticke
nd; Linda Lee (S
tt (Shungnak) ho
hungnak);
ld
the
BOTTOM IMAGE:
co
nv
ey
an
ce
titl
es for their villag
BLM Deputy State
es.
Director, Ramona
conveyance for Sh
Shin, signs the
ungnak.