Be the Change You Seek
Friday, June 8, 2018
A letter from Sealaska Chair Joe Nelson discussing the 2018 Celebration theme “Respect: Weigh Your Words”

For decades, we have been coming together every other year during Celebration – as Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people. It is a beautiful thing.
Over the years, much has changed, and yet, much has stayed the same. Technology changes every few months. Leaders change every few decades. We have made progress in some areas. We have regressed in others. Many of the challenges that we face are the same as they were forty years ago.
I often wonder how this can be when we have so many organizations and leaders working to improve our situation every day. Our municipalities, our schools, our healthcare organizations, our cultural organizations, our tribes, and our corporations are all led by people who see themselves contributing to the betterment of our people. With all of these people doing good things, why is it that so many of our communities are virtually in crisis year after year?
I believe that there is a root cause of most of our challenges: our egos.
We all have egos. Our egos keep us from genuinely looking in the mirror. Our egos keep us from taking responsibility. Our egos keep us from forgiving others. Our egos prevent us from truly moving on.
When we properly manage our ego, we are better able to address the reality of our situation, individually and collectively. The circumstances around us are not the reason that we cannot succeed. They are the reality in which we must succeed. Every one of us is in full control of our own happiness.
The Celebration theme Respect can be the impetus for a revolution. The day we truly start lifting each other up and stop acting like crabs in a bucket, is the same day that we start solving some of the difficult problems we face.
In light of our current political climate, the theme Respect: Weigh Your Words, is, no doubt, timely.
Individually, the amount of impact we can each exert over complex situations is limited. However, collectively, we can – we must – make a conscious effort to be the change we seek.
Respect is not always knowing right from wrong; it is having the courage to make things right when you have done wrong.
Respect is not demanded from positions of power; it is maintained by ensuring that your actions are aligned with your words.
Respect will increase when we accept the fact that we are responsible for our own happiness.
We cannot afford to be pulling each other down. We cannot afford to focus on the things that divide us.
Celebration of our collective beauty can and should be a daily practice.
If every one of us commits taking responsibility for our happiness on a daily basis through self-reflection and respecting each other as real people, we can start a revolution – by celebrating each other.
Joe Nelson
Sealaska Board Chair
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We are excited to announce that the results of the 2025 Sealaska election have been certified and are ready to share with all of you.
Congratulations to our 2025 winners. At Sealaska, we are deeply grateful for your participation in this year’s election. Selecting exceptional leaders to help guide our shared future is one of the most meaningful ways for shareholders to engage with us. These winners were randomly selected from the pool of early birds by the Inspectors of Election. All payments will be processed this week and delivered via the payment method on file for distributions in MySealaska.com.
We are continuing our search for a dynamic and visionary leader to serve as Sealaska’s president. It is important that we find the right candidate to fill this position, which is why the Sealaska board of directors is being as exacting as possible as we search for a candidate capable of amplifying the impact of our mission and providing benefits that empower our shareholders. To this end, the Sealaska board of directors recently revised the job description for the position of president and sought the assistance of a professional recruiting firm. Our hope is to announce a successful candidate as our new president this coming summer.
After considering the recently announced U.S. Postal Service delays to First-Class Mail in conjunction with a paper proxy error leading shareholders who wish to vote by mail to potentially wait for their regularly scheduled second proxy mailing, we have made the decision to extend the early bird deadline to June 6. We are listening to shareholders and want to give everyone the best chance to qualify as an early bird. Thank you for understanding and thank you for voting.
Shareholders, an error occurred when printing proxy cards regarding the number of shares you own and votes you have in the top right corner of your proxy card. This error does not affect the validity of your paper proxy, nor does it affect voting on MySealaska.com through the Election Connection portal
Early birds, it’s your time to fly! Congratulations to our 2024 winners.
Sealaska shareholders are invited to join us at our upcoming in-person and virtual community meetings to learn more about Sealaska business operations, upcoming opportunities and connect with fellow shareholders and descendants.
Sealaska shareholders are now able to view and download their IRS Form 1099-DIV for 2023. Printed 1099 tax forms will be mailed on or before Jan. 26.
Film is a mirror: Sealaska shareholder descendant Miciana Hutcherson reflects on Black History Month
Sealaska shareholders are now able to view and download their IRS Form 1099-DIV for 2022. Printed 1099 tax forms will be mailed on or before Jan. 27.
What Are Shareholders Saying? How does blood quantum impact your life?We asked this simple question and more than 600 shareholders answered, so far. Below are a few of the perspectives we shared via our social channels. Some of these posts you will love. Some you may not. Sealaska has not taking a position, we are …