AHA011 3rd Quarter Newsletter_FINAL.indd

FALL 2015
SAMUEL JOHNS LAUNCHES FACEBOOK
GROUP TO CONNECT HOMELESS NATIVES
AHTNA DESCENDENT INVITED TO WHITE
HOUSE TRIBAL YOUTH GATHERING
OUR PRESIDENT MEETS THE PRESIDENT
Fall 2015
TABLE OF
3
5
6
8
CONTENTS
10
12
Samuel Johns
from Copper
Center makes
a difference in
the homeless
world
‘Old ways’
important part
of Elder’s life
5
14
16
17
Veteran
businessman
is new Ahtna
Netiye' CEO
Meet the team
that doesn’t
give up
Step-by-step
guide to
community
hunt
Intertribal
Resource
Commission
gearing up
for wildlife
management
15
18
19
19
President's message
Client gives SWE 'exceptional' rating
Subsidiary spotlight
Financial update
Shareholder-owner news
Meet the board
Shareholder-owner service update
Calendar of events
Ahtna, Inc. and Ahtna Netiye’ senior management team
Michelle Anderson
Tom Maloney
Roy J. Tansy Jr.
Kathryn Martin
William M. Tisher
Joe Bovee
Douglas Miller
Matt Block
President, AI
CEO, AN
Executive VP, AN
Senior VP, AI
CFO, AI
VP of Land and
VP of Human
General Counsel
Resources, AI
Resources, AI
Ahtna Subsidiary Presidents
Craig O’Rourke
Brenda Rebne
Vicky Dunlap
Susan Taylor
Tim Finnigan
David O’Donnell
President, AGSC & ADB
President, AFSI & APSI
President, ASTS
President, KEC,
President, AES & AEI
President, AC & PPC
AKHI & ATSI
If shareholder-owners would like to submit articles for
For questions or more information about the Kanas,
the next issue of the Kanas, the submission deadline is
please contact the Media and Communications office:
November 6, 2015.
Shannon Blue at (907) 230-7098 or [email protected]
2
Fall 2015
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDER-OWNERS
Dear fellow shareholder-owner,
As hunting season draws to a close and we begin to
recoup from the frenzy of summer activities and prepare
for the winter ahead we, too, at Ahtna are steadfastly
preparing for the coming year and beyond. Our Board
of Directors and senior management team have been
working diligently to update our five-year strategic plan.
Recent planning sessions and workshops have resulted in
identification of the following key goals for 2016-2021.
• Double stockholder equity:
To grow the stockholders’ equity in pursuit
of our vision, we must maximize income,
leverage credit and invest wisely.
• Build organizational capacity and sustainability:
Ahtna emphasizes the hiring and development of
shareholder-owners in pursuit of our vision. Ahtna
also takes great pride in recruiting and promoting
programs that engage and motivate all of
Ahtna’s workforce.
Throughout our family of companies, every employee is
working together as “One Team, One Ahtna” towards our
shared vision. We will continue to evaluate and update
these goals on an annual basis based on feedback from
key stakeholders like you, our shareholder-owners.
Ahtna’s Vision: Our culture unites us; our land
sustains us; our people are prosperous.
• Expand non-government profit:
The diversification of revenue sources
provides Ahtna long-term stability and financial
security. While government contracts are an important
part of Ahtna’s portfolio, the growth of nongovernment contract revenue will likely yield higher
returns and pose a lower risk to the organization.
• Increase clients’ perception of our quality:
Ahtna is recognized by our clients as a high-quality
provider of state-of-the-art construction, engineering,
environmental, security, information technology and
facilities management services.
• Enhance relationships with owners:
Ahtna is dedicated to providing value to its 1,900
shareholder-owners. Ahtna strives to build
shareholder-owner confidence and trust in the
organization through its business management
practices, proactive communication and delivery of
benefits to shareholder-owners.
Settlement Trust
The Settlement Trust was created to help provide a
means for Ahtna to pay stable, non-taxable dividends to
shareholder-owners. Ahtna made its first contribution to
the Settlement Trust in 2015 by transferring $3.4 million
from Ahtna’s investment portfolio. We plan to provide an
additional 10 percent of Ahtna’s net income to the Trust
each year, with the goal of reaching $10 million in Trust
assets. Once the Trust reaches $10 million in assets, all
future shareholder-owner dividends will be distributed out
of the Trust and dividends will once again be non-taxable
to the shareholder-owners. Ahtna’s contributions to the Trust
will increase each year after shareholder-owner dividends
begin to be distributed from it.
$5 million
• Ensure agile and efficient operations:
Ahtna’s business practices are aimed at providing
clients and shareholder-owners service in the most
cost-effective manner possible, while ensuring a high
standard of safety and quality.
• Protect and responsibly develop the land and
natural resources: Ahtna will manage land and
resources to promote and ensure customary and
traditional uses, enhance value and optimize
economic return for our shareholder-owners.
$10 million
$0
Settlement Trust
Continued on page 4
3
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE TO SHAREHOLDER-OWNERS
New CEO joins Ahtna
I am pleased to announce Tom Maloney as the most recent
addition to our executive management team as the new
chief executive officer (CEO) for our holding company,
Ahtna Netiye’, Inc. Tom brings to Ahtna a wealth of local
industry and executive management experience and
will be based out of our Anchorage office. I have been
humbled to be able to serve as interim CEO as we worked
to recruit for the position.
Wildlife co-management
Considerable progress has been made on the wildlife comanagement legislative effort in the months following the
Annual Meeting of shareholders-owners in June. Perhaps
the most encouraging news comes from the face-toface meeting Alaska Native leaders – including Alaska
Federation of Natives (AFN) President Julie Kitka and
I – had with President Obama this month. The president
considered the issue one of utmost importance and was
supportive of working to find an appropriate solution, but
acknowledged the complex nature of the issue given the
number of stakeholders involved.
In the spring, members of the Ahtna Board of Directors
and I met with U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Congressman
Don Young and other Alaska delegation senior staffers at
their Washington, D.C., offices. We met, and continue
to meet, with the State of Alaska Department of Fish
and Game and local hunting groups to get all issues on
the table for discussion and build cooperation. While
there are many questions yet to be answered, all parties
are open to discussing long-term wildlife management
collaboration in some form.
-
Continued from page 3
I feel blessed to be working with such a strong and able
team on this effort and the progress that has been made
would not have been possible without the support of
our shareholders-owners, AFN, our sister Alaska Native
corporations, Alaska tribes and so many individual
leaders committed to finding common ground to ensure
the sustainability of our traditional food sources. We are
assisted by a dedicated team that includes: attorney John
M. “Sky” Starkey of Landye Bennett Blumstein; former
Sealaska president Chris McNeil Jr.; and Strategies 360,
which has been leading our communications strategy.
I am excited for what the future holds and proud to see
our people working together for the benefit of future
generations. We are practicing what our Elders have
taught us in order for us to survive as Native people.
Financial outlook
One piece of feedback that we have heard from our
shareholder-owners is that you would like to be provided
more regular financial updates. Starting with this issue
of the Kanas, we will be publishing quarterly financial
statements and hope that they will help give you a better
idea of the financial performance of the company.
I look forward to seeing many of you at the
upcoming AFN convention in Anchorage and keep
an eye out for future details on the Ahtna AFN
Shareholder-Owner Reception.
Tsin’aen,
Michelle Anderson, President
Ahtna Incorporated
President Barack Obama met with Alaska Native
leaders during his three-day visit to the 49th state,
including Michelle Anderson, president of Ahtna Inc.,
fourth from left in back row. Tribal leaders raised two
significant legal and policy issues during the meeting.
One was about land – the Bureau of Indian Affairs
has finalized a land-into-trust rule that includes Alaska
tribes for the first time in decades. Joining President
Obama were: (front row left to right) Eugene Asicksik,
mayor, Shaktoolik, Alaska and VP, Bering Straits
Native Corp.; Ana Hoffman, president and CEO,
Bethel Native Corp.; Myron Naneng, president of
the Association of Village Council Presidents; Victor
Joseph, president of Tanana Chiefs Conference;
Melanie Bahnke, president and CEO, Kawerak; Andy
Teuber, president of Kodiak Area Native Association;
Rhonda Pitka, First Chief of Beaver Alaska Native
Village. Second row left to right: Alaska Lt. Gov. Byron
Mallot; Julie Kitka, president of the Alaska Federation
of Natives; Alaska Gov. Bill Walker; Michelle; Marvin
Adams, fifth vice president of the Central Council of
Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes; President Obama;
AlexAnna Salmon, president, Igiugig Tribal Council;
Carol Gore, president/CEO of the Cook Inlet Housing
Authority; Sen. Lisa Murkowski; and Interior Secretary
Sally Jewell.
4
Fall 2015
SUBSIDIARY NEWS
MALONEY SELECTED AS AHTNA NETIYE' CEO
Ahtna is pleased to announce
that Tom Maloney has been
named the Chief Executive
Officer of Ahtna Netiye’, Inc. Tom
is a long-standing Alaskan with
over 25 years of executive-level
experience including developing
corporate strategies, business
development, risk management
and other key leadership roles.
“I am excited for the future of Ahtna Netiye’, its great
employees and many operation locations. I look forward
to contributing to the success of Ahtna, the family of
companies and shareholder-owners,” he said.
Tom most recently served as Alaska Area Manager and
Government Affairs Director for CH2M Hill, one of
Alaska’s largest private employers. He also led the board
of the Resource Development Council for two terms on
strategic issues affecting the health of Alaska’s economy,
including oil and gas, mining, tourism, fishery and
forestry sectors.
Tom is an active member of the community having served
in leadership positions on numerous boards including
the Alaska State Chamber of Commerce, Anchorage
Economic Development Corporation, Municipality of
Anchorage Investment Advisory Commission, Junior
Achievement of Alaska and Hilltop Ski Area.
Tom has been married to Susan Maloney for 35 years and
together they have one son. Tom and Susan are very active
in the community and enjoy the great
Alaska outdoors.
CLIENT GIVES SWE ‘EXCEPTIONAL’ RATING
Southwest Environmental (SWE), a department of Ahtna
Environmental and Ahtna Engineering, received a rating of
“Exceptional” in every category for work our staff did for
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Hunter Liggett in
California and at the Kingman Ground-to-Ground Gunnery
Range in Arizona.
SWE is headed by veteran Ahtna leader, Chuck Holman and
is based out of Pleasant Hill, CA and the soon to open San
Antonio, TX office.
“I know I can always rely on Ahtna to put the client first
and ensure all work is performed in accordance with the
Performance Work Statement,” wrote the client in a Past
Performance Questionnaire.
“In the field, the contractor demonstrated the highest quality
of professional performance in all aspects of their day-to-day
work performance."
“All phases of work were well coordinated and the final
deliverables met and, in many cases, exceeded the client’s
expectations,” the client said.
SWE pursues ammunition plant contract
SWE is pursuing its seventh contract at the Riverbank Army
Ammunition Plant in the northern San Joaquin Valley, 90
miles east of San Francisco. Constructed in 1942 as an
aluminum reduction plant, the plant was converted to produce
ammunition in 1951 and employment peaked at 1,923 during
the Vietnam conflict. It was closed in 2005 and classified as a
Superfund Site by the Environmental Protection Agency.
5
SUBSIDIARY SPOTLIGHT
Ahtna Government Services Corp. (AGSC) is a
multidisciplinary consulting and construction firm with
two main offices in California. They currently provide
environmental and construction services to public utilities
throughout California and support federal architecture and
engineering contractors across the country.
AGSC’s highly qualified project managers, engineers and
scientists are long-time experts in civil infrastructure, vertical
construction, earthworks, environmental remediation,
demolition, marine construction, operations and
Mission & vision statements: Utilize AGSC’s minority
ownership and small business status to focus on
performing high quality and safe construction and
environmental services for utility companies and for large
A/E/C firms on government and commercial projects.
QUICK LOOK
Specialty work capabilities:
Construction - vertical, horizontal, civil, marine
Environmental - storm water services, remediation
8(a) status: Graduated in 2008
Top Clients
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company
• East Bay Municipal Utilities District
• Federal & utility prime contractors include:
ARCADIS, AMEC, Parsons, CDM Smith, Chicago
Bridge & Iron
maintenance, building renovation and homeland security.
AGSC has also developed a specialized practice in storm
water pollution prevention; preparing storm water plans,
obtaining storm water permits, conducting inspections
and installing engineering controls or best management
practices to prevent or control storm water runoff.
Formed in 1999, AGSC graduated from the 8(a) federal
contracting program in 2008 and is now classified as a
Small Disadvantaged Business and certified as a Minority
Business Enterprise (MBE) through the California Public
Utilities Commission. AGSC is one of the first Ahtna
subsidiaries to thrive following graduation from the
8(a) program.
AGSC recently completed two large projects in California.
As a contractor to AMEC Environment & Infrastructure,
AGSC provided $4.2 million in environmental construction
support services to clean up a landfill site on the former
Naval Air Station at Alameda, which is on the eastern
side of San Francisco Bay. Historically, the area was
used as a pistol and skeet range and as a disposal site
for waste, aircraft parts and petroleum. Based on AGSC’s
successful performance, the project was selected by
the Chief of Naval Operations for the Western Region
Environmental Award.
AGSC also recently completed a $3.4 million project as
a subcontractor to Parsons Environmental & Infrastructure
on a manufactured gas plant remediation site near
Stockton, CA. AGSC excavated and disposed of
contaminated soil from several locations across the site,
installed drainage and other improvements and repaved
the property in segments to minimize impact to the facility’s
ongoing operations.
A TIMELINE of Success:
Ahtna Government Services Corporation
1999
Ahtna forms AGSC
6
Fall 2015
2004
2008
Obtained $80 million Received a second
sole-source contract
contract for NNSA
with DoE’s National
for radiation
Nuclear Security
monitor installation.
Administration
Graduated from 8(a)
(NNSA) for
program
installation of
radiation monitors in
30+ foreign countries
2009
2011
Wins Project of
Year Award for
work at Odessa
International Airport
in Ukraine
AGSC’s last solesource contract
projects with NNSA
and the FAA ended,
necessitating a
change in business
development focus.
2012
2015
Commenced a new
AGSC’s strategy is
business development paying off as revenues
strategy to target
are increasing and the
California utility
company now works
companies and other
directly on multiple
government and
projects for several
commercial entities
California utilities and
and their contractors
as a subcontractor
with small business and
to various large
minority-owned business
architecture,
diversity spending
engineering and
goals.
construction firms.
YOUNG MANAGERS CARVE PATH TO SUCCESS
The road to leadership for two young Ahtna Government
Services’ (AGSC) project managers begins with outstanding
performance and a commitment to excellence.
Archie Rabasto, project manager
and environmental scientist,
joined AGSC in 2012 and is
currently managing a $1 million
Best Management Practices
Installation and Post
Construction Restoration.
Ashley Gaskell also joined
AGSC in 2012 and is managing
about $2 million in Storm
Water Pollution Prevention
Program contracts.
Archie says his prior experience
working for a building contractor
and heavy civil construction company paved the way for his
AGSC job.
“I was able to leverage that experience in better
understanding the processes I learned from school,” he
explains. “My formal education in business and construction
management also helped me in my current position. I have
both a B.S. and M.S. in construction management, but I
just like the idea of taking something from its initial stages
and seeing it grow and develop successfully, which is the
essence of a business enterprise.”
Water has always been part of Ashley’s life. “After college, I
worked for the California Department of Fish and Game on
a research boat, then I worked in a lab testing water before
joining the storm water group with AGSC. I have a very
strong affinity for water in my personal life and I think that
has transcended into my professional life.”
Archie wants the shareholder-owners of Ahtna to know
he’s dedicated to adding value. “I hope that our efforts in
expanding Ahtna’s market share of services will be evident
in increased shareholder value and that the realized gains
can help improve the standard of living and better promote
and preserve Ahtna’s cultural heritage through sustainable
business practices.”
Ashley says she’s “happy to work for a corporation that uses
its profits in such a meaningful way.”
“I’m truly honored to be a part of this company and I look
forward especially to growing our environmental program.”
STAR AWARDS
Recent winners:
Four Records Management Techs (RMT) at the AES worksite in Independence, MO, received Star Awards.
RMT Denise Bass received a leveltwo Star Award for making significant
safety suggestions.
RMT Becky Henneforth suggested a
process change that reduces the number
of times boxes are handled/lifted.
RMT Garry Thomas’ quick action
saved 2,000 file records from water
damage when he brought a water leak
to his supervisors’ attention.
RMT Theresa Binney received a
level-two Star Award for providing
aid and comfort to a fellow worker
who experienced a non-lifethreatening illness.
7
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Ahtna will publish its Consolidated Balance Sheet and Consolidated Statement of Operations in each quarterly
newsletter to provide information on the financial position and performance of the Corporation to shareholder-owners.
Publishing the financial statements quarterly improves reporting to shareholder-owners by providing transparency and
visibility of activity and also provides for good corporate governance. Providing these financial reports is a corporate
governance process or procedure that informs Ahtna shareholder-owners of financial affairs so that they will be better
informed when making shareholder-owner decisions.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
The Consolidated Balance Sheet shows economic resources that we own (assets), what we owe (liabilities) and the
stockholders’ ownership in the business (stockholder’s equity). The Consolidated Balance Sheet reflects a snapshot
picture of our business at any given time.
Consolidated Statement of Operation
This statement shows our sales, expenses and profit from operations. It is a reflection of our business activity and gives
an overview of how we are doing financially during a certain period of time.
*Note: Financial glossary of terms can be found on page 18.
AHTNA, INCORPORATED, AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Statement of Operations (unaudited)
For the Period Ending June 30, 2015 and 2014
Revenues
Cost of revenues 1
$
Gross profit 2
Operating expenses 3
Income from operations
Other income (expense):
Investment income
Interest expense
Gain from sale of property and equipment
Social, cultural and educational programs
Other
Total other income (expense)
Income before income taxes
Income taxes expense
Net income
4
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests
Net income attributable to Ahtna, Incorporated
Earnings per share
8
Fall 2015
$
2015
2014
83,779,187
69,159,696
95,587,542
80,109,847
14,619,491
15,477,695
11,218,732
11,855,882
3,400,758
3,621,813
296,551
(109,172)
4,500
(215,579)
172,785
128,883
(69,942)
31,460
(762,737)
154,393
149,084
(517,943)
3,549,843
3,103,870
(1,362,121)
(1,393,113)
2,187,722
1,710,757
(21,035)
(110,756)
2,166,687
1,600,001
9.27
6.84
AHTNA, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES
Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)
June 30, 2015 and 2014
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents 5
Marketable securities 6
Accounts receivable, net 7
Inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8
Deferred taxes
Costs and estimated earnings in excess of billings
on uncompleted contracts
2015
$
Total current assets
Deffered taxes
Other assets
Oil and gas exploration costs 9
Property and equipment, net 10
Total assets
$
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Line of credit 11
Accounts payable 12
Accrued expenses 13
Current portion of long-term debt
Billings in excess of costs and estimated earnings
on uncompleted contracts 14
Income taxes payable
Deferred income
Other current liabilities
57,253
1,365,859
34,272,226
205,739
1,581,828
1,233,837
133,337
4,717,849
27,576,683
168,003
1,203,108
1,649,054
1,654,281
2,057,676
40,362,024
37,505,710
−
91,019
2,863,149
14,366,203
251,566
38,428
−
14,596,697
57,682,395
52,392,401
2015
$
2014
2014
5,762,347
7,537,146
11,439,629
696,803
2,062,478
6,168,927
13,557,749
675,000
6,142,260
438,909
1,801
164,619
4,663,851
181,725
−
−
32,219,513
27,309,730
Long-term debt, less current portion 15
Deferred taxes
2,813,222
485,940
3,576,427
−
Total liabilities
35,518,675
30,866,157
−
−
20,434,626
84,907
−
1,097,009
19,368,673
373,921
20,519,533
20,839,603
1,644,188
666,641
22,163,721
21,506,244
57,682,395
52,392,401
Total current liabilities
Stockholders’ equity 16:
Common stock, no par value. Authorized 2,750,000 shares; and
233,800 shares issued and outstanding, at 2015 and 2014, respectively
Contributed capital
Retained earnings
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
Total stockholders’ equity attributable
to Ahtna, Incorporated
Noncontrolling interests
Total stockholders’ equity
Commitments and contingencies
Total stockholders’ equity
$
9
ORGET
ME
NO
F
t
links homeless To THEIR FAMILIES
Samuel Johns, an Ahtna
shareholder-owner originally
from the village of Copper Center,
founded a Facebook group that
connects thousands of homeless
people to their family and friends.
10
Fall 2015
Called "Forget Me Not," the Facebook group has taken off since its inception
in June and currently has over 6,000 members. Johns, a rapper and
motivational speaker who goes by the stage name AK Rebel, came up with
the idea after speaking with a homeless Native woman who approached him
asking for spare change. The woman told him she was from Angoon.
“She got real teary-eyed and said she wanted to go home. Before I left, I told
her I would do what I can,” Johns said.
But after he returned home, Johns couldn’t remember her name or anything
other than the town she was from. He knew there had to be a better way to
help Native homeless people connect with the families who have lost track of
them – and came up with the idea of using Facebook. He started a group that
he named after the Alaska state flower, forget me not, and within a day and a
half over 3,000 people had joined.
,
I,m still here,
i m alive.
The idea was simple, he explained to followers: The group would be a virtual
bulletin board for information about people living on the streets of Alaska’s
largest city who had slipped out of contact with loved ones.
He would go out and find some of them himself. Other people could post their
encounters, too.
One summer afternoon, Johns and a
friend went down to Bean's Cafe with
some drums. Soon Teddy Segevan
and his brother Wyman, originally
from Wainwright, joined the
drumming. Johns snapped a picture
and posted it on Facebook. He posted
the following words:
“There’s a lot of people in rural areas who have a loved one they wonder
about,” Johns said. “This gives them a platform to see them again.”
This is Teddy
He is from Wainwright
~
He is an Inupiaq
This is his message.
I'm still here. I'm alive.
I wish I can go home.
I miss all of you.
On a recent visit to Bean’s Cafe, an Anchorage soup kitchen and homeless
shelter, Johns brought a Native drum and handed it to Teddy Segevan, an
Iñupiaq from Wainwright. Teddy, his brother Wyman, and two others began
spontaneously performing a Native dance. Teddy sang an Iñupiaq song
and drummed while the others leapt and gestured with their arms like expert
members of a Native dance team.
Using Facebook to connect the homeless with their families in far-off villages
opens a channel more profound than most people realize, Johns explained.
“Native identity is often reestablished as friends and relatives reach out across
cyberspace. Homeless Natives remember who they really are and begin the
path back to wholeness.”
“There on the street, generations of tradition sprang to life. The stigma of
defeat to the pressures of the big city momentarily melted away. Pride returned
to their eyes,” Johns said.
Johns, who regularly travels all over Alaska giving motivational talks to young
people, didn’t understand the power his simple idea had at first. “When I first
created Forget Me Not, I didn’t expect much. I thought it would have 500
members maybe.”
But since then, business owners and even a regional Alaska Native
corporation have offered to help. People send him boxes of donated items to
hand out. Code writers are donating their services to create a more efficient
website. A new Forget Me Not Spokane group has been formed and another
is planned for San Francisco.
“This is only the beginning,” Johns wrote in a recent posting, “and together we
will do some amazing things. Every time I do motivational speaking, I always
ask the crowd, ‘What is stopping YOU from making a difference?’ The answer
is: NOTHING.’”
11
Christopher Gene, the 2015 Copper River Region Elder
of the Year, enjoys teaching the younger generations about
the traditions and cultures of the old way. “The main point
of being an Elder is to encourage young ones to keep
going and reach for the sky,” he says. He believes our
people will be in good hands as there are many youth
out there with great vision and big dreams and given the
chance they will do very well.
Christopher Gene – 2015 Ahtna Elder of the Year
Christopher was born in Gakona in 1949 to Buster and
Alice Gene. There were eight kids in the Gene family and
his dad taught them to be proud of who they are, their way
of life and the Udzisyu (caribou) clan.
Christopher remembers the Gakona community having
to be relocated because the river flooded and washed
sand over the old village site. He traveled a couple miles
away for elementary school and went to high school in
Glennallen and the Copper Valley Boarding School. He
loved playing basketball outside with his friends, so much
so that even 60-below temperatures didn’t deter them. His
free time was spent dog sledding and snowshoe racing.
His older brother and sister had a team of 12 dogs, which
was a lot of work he says, but the protection, transportation
and hauling power they provided made it worth it.
His dad was out of town a lot working or checking his trap
line, so his mom was left to provide, going out hunting while
the children were in school−cooking, cleaning and washing
12
Fall 2015
the large family’s clothes by hand on a washboard. His
dad was a well-known dancer, singer and songwriter
and the lyrics he wrote helped lift Christopher up when
he fell on hard times later in life. The song was written to
help with alcohol abuse and losing grandchildren and
a cousin. He sang, “This alcohol is not made for you (us
Native people).”
Elders like his aunts and uncles and the late Chief Ben
Neeley were mentors to Christopher and taught him
about the culture and subsistence way of life. They also
taught him to respect others and always help those in
need by sharing.
His grandparents passed on before his time, but his
parents told him stories about them, like how they
would make snowshoes and dog sleds out of birch or
spruce trees.
The old way
Potlatches were important to the health of the communities
and runners would be sent to notify the nearby villages,
like Tanacross and Northway, of upcoming Gakona
potlatches. People would come on foot, and by dog sled
in the winter, to gather and celebrate. He remembers
the memorial potlatches being a quiet time to say final
goodbyes and pay respect to the loved one who had
been lost. There were not eulogies as they are today, as
the Elders believed you should not talk about the dead,
but instead talk to them when they are alive.
Christopher enjoyed hunting with his family from a young
age and a trip they took to a nearby lake in his early
20s stands out in his mind. They hiked five miles out to
the lake and his father was the first to get a moose. His
uncle, Chief Fred Ewan, came with an ATV to help pack
out the animal. While they were loading the moose, a
bull chased a cow into the lake so they ended up with
three moose that day. They would also catch lynx, wolf,
martin and fox in their traps and the larger pelts would go
for as much as $500. Sometimes they would get as many
as 200 muskrat in one day of trapping and would use
their pelts to line their clothes for warmth. “It was a good
feeling to go out and listen to the wolves at night and see
all the game in the moonlight,” he said. His dad always
taught him to take care of game and show respect after it
had died.
A life of service
Christopher’s first time leaving home was when he was
drafted into the army in the ‘70s and was deployed to
Europe. He enjoyed the two years that he served, but
found himself homesick. When he returned to Alaska, he
felt a rush of relief to be home and was greeted by his
parents and brother. The returning troops were told to
change out of their uniforms at the airport to avoid any
conflict with war protesters and it was the last time he
remembers wearing a suit, he says.
After his time in the army, Christopher worked for Ahtna
Construction on the road project for the pipeline off
the Tok highway. He worked off and on for Ahtna for at
least 10 years and also served as an Ahtna, Inc. Board
Director for one term. He has served on many other
boards, including the Copper River Native Association
(CRNA) as chairman and vice chairman, Copper River
Regional Housing Authority as chairman and as Gakona
Village Representative, Gakona Village Council Vice
Chairman, Ahtna Alaska Federal Federation (AFN) Village
Representative and acting Chairman of the Ahtna Copper
River Intertribal Resource Commission.
He spent many years advocating for the subsistence way
of life and the community hunt. He went to Washington,
D.C., with CRNA and met with everyone from President
Obama, who was still a senator at the time, to the Alaska
delegation, including the late Sen. Ted Stevens.
The light of the youth
As Christopher begins to step down from his Board
positions, he is looking to the younger generation to step
up and take over and sees a lot of potential in those like
his granddaughter, Lacayah Engebretson. Lacayah is
attending college in Anchorage and wants to become
an elementary school teacher so she can teach Ahtna
children about their ancestors’ way of life and language.
There are many traditions when it comes to hunting and
fishing, says Christopher. For example, moose head
was considered a delicacy and was reserved for the
Chief. Also, after the first fish was caught in the wheel,
everyone would take a steam bath and some of the more
adventurous would swim across the ice-cold river while the
Elders feasted on the salmon.
13
Catcher Shawn Jr. (left), stays
focused during big game.
Photo provided by Klas
Stolpe/Juneau Empire
UNDERDOG
TEAM TAKES
SHAWN JR.
TO STATE
CHAMPIONSHIP
Shawn Sanford Jr.’s team just doesn’t give up.
Shawn, 14, is the catcher for Polar Little League, a team
that stunned the baseball world when it rose from the
losers’ bracket and defeated one of the strongest teams in
the state not once – but twice – to become Anchorage’s
Junior Division All-Star representatives.
They could not afford a team van to get to the ballpark,
but local parents donated vehicles. “Mr. Jeff Hart
happened to be watching the game one night,” Stacy
said. “He offered us a ride home and, after he dropped
us off, he came back and said we could borrow his car
for the rest of the week. And Rep. Geran Tarr had a friend
named Megan who also let us use a car.”
The win sent them to the state tournament in Juneau, with
only two days to fundraise and find lodging.
But the fairy tale ended in the rain when Polar lost three
out of five games to Ketchikan.
“We weren’t even supposed to be here,” Polar Manager
Rob Stacy said.
“All of them gave great plays this year,” Stacy said. “They
realized, if they worked together, they would have a great
team, that hard work and repetition pays off, especially
in baseball.”
“We actually held a car wash a few hours before we flew
to Juneau.”
No one on the team had visited Juneau before – not
even the coaches – but the team fell in love with Alaska’s
capital city. “We were so appreciative of the hospitality
and generosity of the people here in Juneau,” Stacy said.
“They made the kids and coaches feel at home. People
would come up to us to start a conversation at the grocery
store, which is not very common for us. They would just
come up and say we played hard and did not give up.”
For two days, they stayed at the Alaska Club and, for
the rest of the week, the First Church of God found the
team shelter.
14
Fall 2015
Shawn is the son of Ahtna shareholder-owners Crystal
Ewan and Shawn Sanford Sr. Crystal is an executive
assistant at Ahtna, while Shawn Sr. is director of finance
for Ahtna Technical Services.
As for Shawn Jr., he wants to someday play in the Major
League, but for today “I like sliding into the mud puddles.
And I liked downtown Juneau.”
Polar Little League originated in the mid-1980s and had
not won a district tournament since 1987, when the
Polar Juniors won the state tournament in Fairbanks and
represented Alaska in Vancouver, WA.
JOHN JENKINS ATTENDS WHITE HOUSE TRIBAL YOUTH GATHERING
John Jenkins, an Ahtna descendant from Mentasta Lake, attended
the first-ever White House Tribal Youth Gathering. The July 9
gathering brought together more than 875 youth representing
230 Indian nations and Alaska Natives from 42 states to speak
to first lady Michelle Obama, cabinet officials, the White House
Council on Native American Affairs and non-federal partners about
a range of issues, including education, health, justice, economic
opportunity, climate change, cultural protection and language
revitalization. The gathering built on the Obama administration’s
Generation Indigenous initiative to fund and expand education,
health, employment and social services for Native youth. John, the
son of Gwendolyne John and John Jenkins Sr., said he was excited
about the conference and shaking the President’s hand. “I think we
are going to find out how our problems are the same and hopefully
come up with answers that adults might listen to.”
MICHON JOHNSON SELECTED AS UDALL INTERN
Ahtna shareholder-owner Michon Johnson was selected as a
2015 Udall Foundation Native American Congressional Intern
and worked for the office of Sen. John McCain. She was one
of 12 interns selected for this competitive program. Michon
completed an intensive 10-week internship program over the
summer, and had the opportunity to meet with key decision
makers in Washington, DC Michon provided policy research
and staffing support to McCain throughout the summer. Michon
feels that the summer internship was a wonderful experience
because she was exposed to the legislative process, and
learned so much about politics and the business of working in
the Senate.
For additional information about the
Internship program, please contact
Destiny Khalil at 520-901-8561 or
[email protected].
Michon is a member of the Cheesh’na Tribe and Naltsiine
clan. She is the daughter of Robert Johnson and granddaughter
of the late Irene Johnson and late Walter Johnson. She grew
up in Anchorage and attended East High School. After
graduation with a bachelor's in social work from the University
of Alaska Anchorage, Michon gained public policy and
government contracting experience working at ASRC Research
and Technology Solutions, providing services to the National
Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA) at the Goddard
Space Center and was secretary of NASA’s Native American
Advisory Council. Currently, Michon is a graduate student at the
University of Michigan studying for her master's in public policy
and master's in social work, and she is the current co-chair of
the Native American Student Association. After graduation,
she intends to work for a Native organization doing advocacy,
legislative and social work. Michon is also considering going
to law school after acquiring more work experience. In the
future, she would like to work for a firm or an Alaska Native
organization litigating on Native American affairs.
The Native American Congressional Internship Program
provides American Indian and Alaska Native students with the opportunity to gain practical experience with the federal
legislative process in order to understand first-hand the government-to-government relationship between tribes and the
federal government. The internship is funded by the Native Nations Institute for Leadership, Management and Policy.
15
LAND DEPARTMENT NEWS AND UPDATES
MID-DECEMBER DEADLINE FOR COPPER BASIN COMMUNITY
SUBSISTENCE PERMIT HUNT PROGRAM
Here are instructions to apply for a Copper Basin
Community Subsistence (CHS) hunting permit.
• The deadline to apply is Dec. 15, 2015. If you don’t
apply by that date, you will not be able to participate
in the CHS hunt during the 2016-2017 season.
HOW TO APPLY ONLINE
1.
• Before you apply for your permit, call Ms. Stickwan
at (907) 822-3476 to get moose and caribou
permit numbers.
• Participants may apply online in mid-October 2015
at www.adfg.alaska.gov
• The CSH moose hunting season will change to
August 20-September 20 in 2016.
• Participants in the CHS hunt will be mailed a
household survey in 2016. This household survey
is voluntary but these surveys are important as
they help to determine bag limits, subsistence hunts
customary and traditional use of species, Rural and
Non-Rural Determination Areas and amounts
necessary for subsistence uses, etc.
Click on "Subsistence" tab (top of the page, fourth
tab to the left).
2.
• An “any bull” moose drawing hunt will be held in
Unit 13 in 2016 with up to five permits issued.
• Locking tags for 2016-2017 Ahtna Group will most
likely be distributed to Village Council Administrators.
• The Alaska Department of Fish and Game gives a list
of eligible CSH caribou and moose household
members to Ahtna’s CSH coordinator each year.
Scroll down to "Regulations and Permits" (middle
of the page) then click “Permits for Cultural and
Subsistence Harvest (Hunting)”under "Cultural and
Subsistence Harvest."
• CSH members are listed under their village affiliation.
• Locking tags are distributed three per every three
households for each Ahtna Village and the Glennallen
CSH hunters.
3.
• Hunters are required to have a CSH permit and
an “any bull” moose locking tag in their possession to
harvest a moose that does not meet general season
antler restrictions, and must affix the “any-bull” moose
locking tag to the main beam of one antler or lower
jaw immediately after harvest.
Then click an application option under "Community
Subsistence Harvest and Permit Conditions."
16
Fall 2015
INTERTRIBAL RESOURCE COMMISSION GEARING UP FOR
WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
Ahtna has been hard at work at
state and federal levels to secure a
meaningful role in the management
of fish and wildlife that exist on our
lands and that have nurtured our
people for thousands of years.
Karen Linnell of the Cheesh’na Tribe
is the Ahtna shareholder-owner at
the helm of the Ahtna Intertribal Resource Commission
(AITRC), the organization that is getting ready to
take over management duties when and if favorable
legislation passes.
“Right now, we are gearing up ourselves technically to be
able to manage the resources,” Karen says. “We’ve been
doing some habitat enhancement for moose for the last
couple of years, setting up a monitoring program to see
what kind of impacts we’re having on their land. We’re
also working on a comprehensive conservation grant
through U.S. Department of Agriculture, in addition to
many other efforts. We’re taking an integrative approach
to look at the whole process, not just one aspect.”
Under Linnell’s leadership, AITRC is focused on
collaboration to produce the most effective way of
managing our lands and wildlife.
“We’ve been talking with the school district, our local
Department of Fish and Game, the Park Service, with
everyone who has a vested interest in the Copper River
Basin and Cantwell and asking, ‘What can we do
to work together? How can we help each other in
our programs?’”
Although AITRC is just in the infancy stage, Linnell wants
shareholder-owners to think about ways they can fit
into the organization. “We’re going to need wildlife
biologists, foresters, wildlife technicians to do the counts,
statisticians to do data input and database managers.”
For more information on the
AITRC, please email Karen
at [email protected]
AITRC is a unique organization that consists of the
eight Ahtna villages, plus the two ANCSA corporations
that are landholders, Ahtna Inc. and Chitina Native
Corporation. The commission has a 10-member board
of directors.
Contact your Village Administrator for questions
on the distribution of 2016-2017 locking tags:
Cheesh'na Tribal Council (907) 822-3503
Chitina Traditional Village Council (907) 823-2215
Gakona Village Council (907) 822-5777
Gulkana Village Council (907) 822-3746
Mentasta Traditional Council (907) 291-2319
Native Village of Cantwell (907) 768-2591
Native Village of Kluti-Kaah (907) 822-5541
Native Village of Tazlina (907) 822-4375
17
MEET THE BOARD
CHAIRMAN WORKS TO BENEFIT SHAREHOLDER-OWNERS
“Respect” is the one message
Nicholas Jackson, chair, Ahtna
Board of Directors, would like
to share.
Q. What excites you the most about the Board’s work?
A. The work we do – we do for everyone. We work for
shareholder-owners and every decision we make benefits the
shareholder-owners.
“Respect the community, the
Q. Describe your family life currently. Children? Married?
land where you are at and the A. I have four children. Two boys and two girls. Harvey,
people. The people need to
Angela, Frances, Elton. All grown-up and two grandchildren.
respect one another. When I
Married to traditional Chief’s daughter – Lorrawine.
was growing up, I know that
there were a lot of people
"Respect the community, the land where
respecting each other. Lots of that is being lost. When
you are at and the people."
you have respect for your community, the way of life, fish
and game – everyday life, really – it builds a lot more trust
Q. What tribe are you?
between each other." Here are some other questions and
A. Udzisyu (Caribou) clan.
answers with Jackson.
Q. What is the Board’s vision for Ahtna?
A. Business is thriving with some development, but I’d like to
see more. Maybe gas development. Something that is going
to help the cost of living in rural Alaska. I’m concerned
about the amount of people moving to Anchorage. They had
a school built (in Gakona), but over the years had to shut
it down because everyone moved their kids to Glennallen
or Anchorage. More shareholder-owners live in Anchorage
than our land any more.
Q. What made you want to join the Board?
A. A lot of potential for growth within the Company and I
knew I wanted to play a role in Ahtna’s success in the future.
Q. What are some defining/influential moments in your life?
A. I’ve been a part of Ahtna since they organized – in fact,
I helped incorporate Ahtna. I was on the Ahtna board from
1974 to 1992. In 1992 they changed the rules that you
couldn’t work for Ahtna and be on the board. So after I
retired I joined the board again in 2003. I was the chair of
the board on and off between 2005 and 2011 – now I’ve
been the chair of the board every year since 2011.
Q. What are you most passionate about in your life currently?
A. Well … I like to hunt and fish. I grew up in subsistence
and living off the land. I used to be a big trapper but
not anymore.
FINANCIAL GLOSSARY
CONDOLENCES
In loving memory of our shareholderowners who have passed
18
Garrett F. Fassler
Tracey Hamilton
Andrew J. Tyone
Kenneth E. Racelis
Earl M. Davis
Danny O. Ewan
Barry L. Dunlop Jr.
Matt W. Frankson
Fall 2015
Cost of Revenue – Costs incurred in providing services to customers.
Gross Profit – Revenue less cost of revenue.
3
Operating Expenses – Costs associated with running core operations on
a daily basis such as general and administrative payroll, insurance and
professional services.
4
Net Income – Profit left after all expenses have been paid.
5
Cash and Cash Equivalents – Includes cash and other liquid
investments that are convertible into cash within three months.
6
Marketable Securities – Investments in marketable securities such as
stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
7
Accounts Receivable – Money owed from customers to Ahtna from sales
to customers.
8
Prepaid Expenses – Amounts already paid for future services or goods.
9
Oil and Gas Exploration Costs – The costs for exploring for oil and gas
in the Ahtna region.
10
Property Plant and Equipment – The cost of property and equipment
purchased by the company less depreciation or costs for using the
equipment.
11
Line of Credit – Shorter-term amounts borrowed from financial institutions
or banks to conduct operations.
12
Accounts Payable – Amounts owned for purchases made by the company.
13
Accrued Expenses – Amounts that will be paid in the future for company
activity that has taken place.
14
Billings in Excess of Costs and Estimated Earnings on
Uncompleted Contracts – Amounts billed on contracts that are in excess
of costs recognized to date on contracts.
15
Long Term Debt – Longer-term amounts borrowed from financial
institutions or banks to conduct operations.
16
Total Stockholders’ Equity – Stockholder/owners ownership in the
company and/or assets less liabilities.
1
2
SHAREHOLDER-OWNER SERVICE UPDATE
For details on all shareholder-owner services, visit
ahtna-inc.com or call (907) 822-3476
Class L
Ahtna shareholder-owner descendants who wish to
become shareholder-owners may apply to become a
Class L stockholder. To do so, applicants must fill out the
Class L application, meet several eligibility requirements
and submit any necessary additional paperwork. Learn
more online.
Gift of stock
If you have Ahtna shares you would like to gift to your
descendants, you will need to provide the following to
the Shareholder Services department: Gift of Stock Form,
original Birth Certificate, original Certificate of Indian
Blood, copy of Social Security Card.
Testamentary disposition (if you are eligible for the
Merger Land Use Program this form is required)
The testamentary disposition form describes how you
wish to distribute your Ahtna shares in the event of
your death.
Direct deposit
Ahtna encourages shareholder-owners to fill out the
direct-deposit form, which can be found on our website.
Name and address change
It’s important that you keep Ahtna informed of any name
or address change so that we may maintain an updated
shareholder-owner record of you. Shareholder-owners
may now update their address and phone numbers on
the talent bank at shareholder.ahtna.net
Scholarship deadline is Dec. 15!
Memorial fund donation
Ahtna provides a Memorial Fund Donation in the amount
of $5,000 to help defray the cost of funeral expenses for
the death of an Ahtna shareholder-owner. Assistance is
also available for a funeral program.
The Ahtna Heritage Foundation has three
new college scholarship opportunities.
Applications are due Dec. 15, 2015. Visit
ahtnaheritagefoundation.com or call
907-822-5778 for more information.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Date
Event
Location & Time
Oct. 2
Al BOD Meeting
Glennallen, AK
Nov. 11
Veterans Day
Oct. 3
Joint SVO Meeting
Buster Gene
Memorial Hall,
Gakona, AK
Nov. 18-19
Budget Workshop
Nov. 20-21
AI/AN/SUBS
BOD Meeting
Nov. 26-27
Thanksgiving
Dec. 9-10
AFN BOD Meeting
Dec. 11
Glennallen Christmas
Gathering
To be determined
Dec. 18
Anchorage Christmas
Gathering
To be determined
Dec. 25
Christmas Day
Dec. 31
New Year’s Eve
Oct. 13
AFN BOD Meeting
Anchorage, AK
Oct. 12-14
Elders & Youth
Conference
Anchorage, AK
Oct. 15-17
AFN Convention
Anchorage, AK
Oct. 23
Class L Application
Deadline
Nov. 5
Land Committee
Nov. 5
Investment Committee Video, 9-11 a.m.
Nov. 6
Nov. 6
Video, 1 - 5 p.m.
Shareholder- Owner
Committee
Video, 9 a.m
Policy Committee
Video, 1 p.m.
Anchorage, AK
Please note: Ahtna meeting dates and times are subject to change and
can be confirmed with Anna Upicksoun, Ahtna executive board secretary
at [email protected] or 907-868-8232.
19
Ahtna, Incorporated
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
110 W 38TH Avenue, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
ANCHORAGE, AK
PERMIT NO. 358
PAID
RETURN ADDRESS REQUESTED
Ahtna, Inc. Board of Directors
Nicholas Jackson
Chair
Eleanor Dementi
Vice Chair
Jason Hart
Treasurer
Linda Tyone
Secretary
Lucille Lincoln
Dorothy Shinn
Karen Linnell
Genevieve John
Corporate Headquarters
PO Box 649
Glennallen, AK 99588
Phone: (907) 822-3476 | Fax: (907) 822-3495
Toll Free: 1-866-475-0420
Roy J. Tansy Sr.
Roy S. Ewan
Franklin John
Angela Vermillion
Jessica Rock
Anchorage Office
110 W. 38th Avenue, Suite 100
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 868-8250 | Fax: (907) 868-8285
Toll Free: 1-888-562-5316
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