1099's are now available on MySealaska!

1099's are now available under the About Me tab on MySealaska!

1099's are now available on MySealaska!

1099's are now available under the About Me tab on MySealaska!

Celebration of Life for Ross Soboleff
Sunday, September 9, 2018

A Celebration of Life for Ross Soboleff will be held Wednesday, September 12, 2018.

Celebration of Life
Wednesday, September 12, 2018
Elizabeth Peratrovich Hall
320 W Willoughby Ave
Juneau, AK 99081
3:30 – 5:30 pm

Sealaska announced the passing of director Ross Soboleff on July 3, 2018, surrounded by family. Our thoughts and prayers remain with his family. He was Haida and Tlingit, Eagle/Sgalans, Killisnoo and Howkan. His Tlingit name was St’aast.

Soboleff served as a Sealaska Director from 2014 until he passed, July 3, 2018. Ross was elected to the board in 2014, after a successful independent campaign. He was chair of the governance-nominations board committee and served on the audit and shareholder relations committees. He was also a member of the Elder’s Settlement trust board. He saw his role on the board as a way to contribute his knowledge and experience in a positive way and help Sealaska become an economic force that benefits children and grandchildren. 

“Ross proved to be a powerful and effective board member immediately. He was thoughtful. He was deliberate. He was articulate. He was humble. He was respectful. More so than anyone I have ever worked with. His leadership is going to be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family right now. “

     — Sealaska Chair Joe Nelson

“Ross was a gentle and calming force on the board,” said Board Vice Chair Jodi Mitchell. “I appreciated his thoughtfulness and his opening prayers at our meetings, which made me feel like we were always starting from a positive place.”
     — Sealaska Vice Chair Jodi Mitchell

“I will miss Ross’s thoughtful presence in the boardroom. He reminded me of his father – when he would follow up personally on questions and his thoughts or just messages of thanks. With Ross’s passing, it also makes me think about how valuable every minute of our lives are.  I will miss him.”
     — Sealaska Director Jackie Pata

“Ross proudly carried his father’s name with the respect, honor, and dignity it deserves. He openly reached out and celebrated his mother’s Haida heritage in singing and dancing traditional Haida songs and dances. I appreciated his willingness to lead us in prayer to start our meetings in a positive tone. He treated us all with respect even in moments of disagreement. We will miss his kind and gracious presence in our board room and in our Native community!”
     — Sealaska Director Ed Thomas

I will miss seeing Ross in the board room. He was thoughtful and very effective. He was a Haida and Tlingit man engaged in business and he took that obligation very seriously. Yet, he did it with passion and warmth and just the way I would imagine our ancestors would approve of – with gratitude and respect for all.”
     — Sealaska Director Morgan Howard

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family, along with our commitment to help and care for them during their time of loss. Ross was a thoughtful man who wasn’t afraid to take on difficult challenges to create meaningful and positive change. He remained committed to sound governance.”
     — Anthony Mallott, Sealaska President and CEO

Soboleff led communications for Sealaska from 1995-2002 and then went on to work for the Alaska Department of Social and Health Services and for the office of State Representative Eric Feige.

Over the last 44 years, Ross was a small business owner and a commercial fisherman and owned the F/V Madeline Ruby.

Ross is the son of Dr. Walter Soboleff and Genevieve Ross. He graduated from Juneau Douglas High School and has a Bachelor of Science degree in community service and public affairs from the University of Oregon.


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Posted 8/30/2024
Posted 8/30/2024
Sealaska interns unload after a long journey to Howkan, a traditional Haida village site. Sealaska interns left to right: Evan Link, Operations Fellow at Icemar; Allison Mills, Natural Resources Intern at Sealaska; Addy Mallot, Storytelling & Engagement Intern at Sustainable Southeast Partnership; and Alicia Maryott, Traditional Food Security Intern at Tlingit & Haida Earlier this summer…

Posted 8/13/2024
Posted 8/13/2024
The Sealaska board of directors met on Friday, July 26 to welcome new board members and receive updates from the management team. The board focused on efforts for long-term strategic planning, led by the management team, with a goal of strengthening Sealaska’s internal team, vision for the future and community partnerships. This strategic planning will continue at the September meeting…

Posted 5/6/2024
Posted 5/6/2024
Frederiksen shares in Sealaska’s vision for the region: a thriving future for Southeast Alaska. Derik Frederiksen believes in the people of Southeast Alaska — and with this belief comes excitement about the future of both people and place. With over 20 years of experience serving Sealaska’s operations in the region and beyond, his energy, ideas and on-the-ground insight will serve to catalyze…

Posted 10/31/2023
Posted 10/31/2023
Look for link to download portraits at the bottom. The smell of sanded cedar filled the Steele Gallery at the Heard Museum on October 28. About 40 Sealaska shareholders, all at once, were sanding their own small dance paddles in preparation for painted formline designed by Tlingit master artist Doug Chilton. The sound of 40 people sanding at once echoed through the facility.

Posted 8/2/2023
Posted 8/2/2023
“Indigenous Resistance: Now & Then” is a powerful telling of stories of resistance from Indigenous perspectives, sharing recent history and the impacts of colonialism on culture – and the ways in which our communities continue to stand up against it. Sealaska shareholders can preview it here until August 8. This award-winning short documentary by Haida director ‘Wáats’asdiyei Joe Yates stands in…

Posted 7/13/2023
Posted 7/13/2023
Each year, Sealaska’s board of directors appoints a young adult shareholder or shareholder descendant to the position of Board Youth Advisor (BYA). By serving in this role, young shareholders and descendants can share their perspectives and insight with the board, creating powerful impact while learning the ins and outs of the board room and leadership role. In 2023, changes to the term length…

Posted 7/10/2023
Posted 7/10/2023
by Evan Roberts, Shareholder Development Intern In the week leading up to Sealaska’s 2023 annual meeting of shareholders in Klawock, a group of seven interns traveled to Prince of Wales to learn about Sealaska’s community-driven work. 2023 celebrates the launch of Sealaska Abroad — Sealaska’s international internship program. The three students who will be working with Sealaska subsidiary New…

Posted 7/6/2023
Posted 7/6/2023
In early June, Sealaska welcomed 35 students from across Alaska and the rest of the country to Juneau for the 2023 Sealaska Intern Connect Week — five days full of learning and bonding for Sealaska’s 2023 intern class. For the next few months, Sealaska’s interns will embark on different projects across the country — and globe — spanning diverse fields, from finance and investment to cultural…

Posted 6/24/2023
Posted 6/24/2023
Sealaska’s 50th annual meeting of shareholders concluded Saturday in Klawock with the results of Sealaska’s annual election to fill available seats on the company’s board of directors. Over 300 shareholders attended the in-person meeting in Klawock, with nearly 1,500 shareholders joining via the online livestream on MySealaska. This year, four seats were available, and four board-endorsed…

Posted 6/22/2023
Posted 6/22/2023
As a part of the Sealaska Shareholder Development department’s newly expanded curriculum in mariculture, Klawock students recently ventured out to Seagrove Kelp at Port St. Nicholas on Prince of Wales Island (POW). The visit offered students a chance to learn more about the mariculture business and the growing possibilities — and growing workforce needs — of the mariculture industry.

Posted 5/23/2023
Posted 5/23/2023
Sealaska is invested in education. We are proud to announce that over $1.1 million in scholarships will be awarded to 462 recipients for the 2023-2024 academic year. Scholarships will support shareholders and descendants pursuing degrees on either a full- or part-time basis, as well as those enrolled in vocational-technical programs. “By supporting students on their educational path…

Posted 12/14/2022
Posted 12/14/2022
More than 2,300 shareholders — nearly 10 percent of Sealaska’s shareholder base! — participated in Sealaska’s virtual holiday party held on Wednesday, Dec. 14. Shareholders and their families gathered from their homes and phones to celebrate the magic of the season and learn more about the past year’s achievements. The event included door prizes, seasonal greetings from Sealaska’s board of…

Posted 11/7/2022
Posted 11/7/2022
Sealaska published a special edition Shareholder Newsletter. The following was included. Hello shareholders, I would like to welcome our new descendant shareholders to Sealaska and thank all of those who supported removing the blood quantum requirement for descendant stock. It is so important for all our people, no matter their blood quantum, to have a connection to our traditional…

Posted 10/18/2022
Posted 10/18/2022
Jon Rowan has spent the last 30 years at Klawock City School District leading the Native Arts department. After a long and successful teaching career, he retires this fall, leaving a legacy of community pride. A renowned Tlingit master carver and artist, Rowan was honored at the 2022 STEAM Conference held in Juneau on Friday, Oct. 14. Klawock City School District is a model of incorporating Native…

Posted 9/27/2022
Posted 9/27/2022
Barbara Belk’s life – and career – took a different direction through language learning and connection with community Seeking meaning during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sealaska shareholder Barbara Belk shifted the path of her life in the past couple of years. A few big changes include learning Sm’algya̱x, returning to school to pursue a degree in social welfare and exploring a new career path…

Posted 9/21/2022
Posted 9/21/2022
First Tlingit Totem to Stand in Craig, Alaska Hundreds gathered and traveled to Prince of Wales Island last weekend to witness the raising of the first Tlingit totem that now stands in the community of Craig. The Sukteeneidí Honor Totem Pole recognizes and holds up uncles of the dog salmon clan. Ed Thomas commissioned Tlingit master carver Jon Rowan to help bring to life the story behind…

Posted 9/8/2022
Posted 9/8/2022
Last May, the shareholders of Berkshire Hathaway gathered in Omaha, Nebraska to hear from the company’s legendary CEO, Warren Buffett, about the economic climate of 2022. Market swings, supply-chain bottlenecks, fears over inflation, rising interest rates and a possible recession make many investors wish for a crystal ball, and Buffett is known as the “Oracle of Omaha.” But what he had to say was…

Posted 8/4/2022
Posted 8/4/2022
Program Honors Students with Academic Achievement and Leadership Skills Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) has chosen a Ph.D. student with a focus on Alaska Native sovereignty as the recipient of its 2021 Judson L. Brown Leadership Award. The honor was given to Tlingit scholar Breylan Náajeyistláa Martin, who holds a master’s degree from Brown University and is pursuing her doctorate in…

Posted 6/25/2022
Posted 6/25/2022
Sealaska shareholders gave strong support to a resolution that will extend eligibility for Class D (Descendant) stock in Sealaska to lineal descendants of original shareholders without respect to their documented Alaska Native blood quantum. Sealaska joins Calista and Arctic Slope Regional Corporation in rejecting the practice of quantifying degree of Indian blood in order to be a…

Posted 6/22/2022
Posted 6/22/2022
“I know they believe in me and they want to continue to see me succeed.” This spring, look for stories from some of Sealaska’s scholarship recipients. Each student is on a different path, with diverse personal, academic and professional goals. Sealaska believes in their dreams. By helping to further the education of these future leaders, we are investing in our people’s shared future.

Posted 6/15/2022
Posted 6/15/2022
Sealaska’s more than 23,000 shareholders are invited to join us in person and virtually on Saturday, June 25 for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at Centennial Hall in Juneau and streaming live on MySealaska.com. The meeting will include the results of this year’s election for four open seats on the Sealaska board as well as the resolution on this year’s proxy to eliminate the blood…

Posted 6/6/2022
Posted 6/6/2022
Thank you, Early Birds, for submitting your proxy by the early bird deadline! Your vote is vitally important. Participating in Sealaska elections and remaining engaged keeps us connected, allowing Sealaska to better serve you. Early Bird voters are qualified to win cash prizes of up to $5,000. The winners of Early Bird prizes are randomly selected by Sealaska’s Independent Inspector of…

Posted 5/23/2022
Posted 5/23/2022
Sealaska announced today that it will award $1.2 million in scholarships to 426 recipients for the 2022-2023 school year. Scholarships were awarded to full- and part-time degree-seeking students as well as students enrolled in vocational-technical programs. Sealaska prioritizes investing in education and is dedicated to supporting Indigenous students seeking to further their education.

Posted 5/23/2022
Posted 5/23/2022
Sealaska announced Monday, May 23 that the Juneau Community Meeting scheduled to be held Wednesday, May 25 at Centennial Hall in Juneau will now take place as a virtual event only due to rising cases of COVID-19 in Juneau. The City and Borough of Juneau recently updated its recommendations to include indoor masking in Juneau among other precautions as cases doubled from the previous week’s…

Posted 5/2/2022
Posted 5/2/2022
Sealaska has sponsored a Community Emergency Vehicle (CEV) to be based in Juneau. This vehicle will enable Red Cross staff and volunteers to provide support and relief to southeast Alaska communities. “The Dodge Promaster van will be used to serve communities efficiently and effectively. Having this additional resource in our southeast towns means the Red Cross can be there when we are needed…

Posted 4/21/2022
Posted 4/21/2022
After two years of meeting virtually, Sealaska is excited to welcome shareholders back to in-person events this spring! Shareholders and descendants are invited to join Sealaska – including representatives from Shareholder Relations, Shareholder Development, board and leadership, Corporate Communications and more – at one or more of the many upcoming events. Each event will offer participants…

Posted 4/18/2022
Posted 4/18/2022
Ellen Bradley is at home in the rainforest and snow-covered peaks of Lingít Aaní — literally. A skier, scientist and passionate Indigenous advocate fighting both colonialism and climate change in the outdoor industry, Bradley returned to her ancestral homeland to ski for the first time this winter, deepening her connection with the land and her Indigenous identity through time spent in the…

Posted 4/8/2022
Posted 4/8/2022
For several years, Sealaska has been building a business platform that revolves around fostering healthy oceans. Now, with global expertise in geotechnical services, data sciences, marine construction, sustainable seafood and more, it’s time for Sealaska’s businesses to share an ocean-health identity. Part of that identity involves giving the platform a name. Woocheen is a name that was…

Posted 4/5/2022
Posted 4/5/2022
Sealaska’s financial success allows for increased investment in workforce and career development, a priority consistently reflected in shareholder surveys. Sealaska seeks shareholder input and invests in areas highlighted by shareholders. Through increased support for workforce development, Sealaska helps shareholders and descendants advance professionally, grow into leadership roles and give back…

Posted 12/28/2021
Posted 12/28/2021
As we welcome 2022, we at Sealaska have much to be grateful for. We end the year safe and successful, despite facing continued challenges and disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic. Sealaska continues to prioritize the health of our employees and deeply appreciates their tireless efforts to maintain COVID precautions while working to achieve business growth and enhance shareholder benefits.

Posted 12/17/2021
Posted 12/17/2021
Gunalchéesh, Háw’aa, T’oya̱xsut ‘nüüsm for joining us today! This year, Sealaska had two opportunities for shareholders to win cash prizes: All cash prizes will be delivered in the manner you receive your deposits via MySealaska.com. Over 1,000 of you that tuned into the holiday fair were automatically entered for event door prizes. Congratulations and thank you all for attending.

Posted 10/20/2021
Posted 10/20/2021
In early September, Sealaska asked shareholders to tell us how blood quantum impacts their lives. So far more than 600 people have responded. We are sharing a selection of quotes and perspectives in social media and on our website to help advance the discussion around blood quantum, and to better understand how it impacts shareholders and descendants. Sealaska is exploring the possibility of…

Posted 10/14/2021
Posted 10/14/2021
Sealaska’s board of directors recently approved a $25,000 contribution in support of the creation of a totem pole that will serve as a monument and acknowledgement of the healing journey undertaken by women and children as they move from abusive family circumstances to healthier ones. The totem is being carved by master carver Wayne Price of Haines, and will be erected at the Kaasei…

Posted 10/5/2021
Posted 10/5/2021
Sealaska will begin accepting applications for its CARES Act distribution in partnership with the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Tribes of Alaska on Monday, Oct. 4. We have compiled the following answers to questions we’ve received so far. Do you have a question that isn’t addressed here? Email us at sealaskacares@ccthita-nsn.gov. We’ll update this Q&A throughout the application period.

Posted 9/29/2021
Posted 9/29/2021
Sealaska will mark September 30, the National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools, with its support for a day of events on Thursday, Sept. 30 in Juneau to raise awareness of the legacy and trauma of the boarding and residential school systems in the United States and Canada. Also known as “Orange Shirt Day,” the day originated in Canada in 2013, and has since been formally adopted…

Posted 8/20/2021
Posted 8/20/2021
One of the few remaining birth speakers of the Northern Haida dialect of Xaad kíl, Jane Kristovich (K’ujúuhl), joined her ancestors on August 18, 2021 at the age of 93. Kristovich was a treasured speaker of Xaad kíl who gave her time and knowledge generously to generations of her people through her involvement with language and dance groups, community events and even on film.

Posted 8/17/2021
Posted 8/17/2021
On Friday, July 23, Sealaska’s board of directors approved a resolution to give full support and cooperation to the Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative, which was announced by Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (Laguna Pueblo) in late June. The resolution calls on landowners, religious and governmental officials, and others to support the investigation, was passed unanimously by Sealaska’s…

Posted 8/2/2021
Posted 8/2/2021
Educator and Sealaska shareholder Karen Lauth Elliott has been celebrating a lot of graduations over the past few years, culminating on June 12 this year, when she and her youngest son, Emad Al-Shamasawi, both received diplomas on the same day. Elliott earned her master’s in education policy from the University of Washington (UW) that day while her son graduated from Ingraham High School in…

Posted 7/27/2021
Posted 7/27/2021
On Friday, July 23, 2021, Sealaska’s Board of Directors approved $450,000 in donations to fund language-preservation programs and a social service project spearheaded by organizations in Southeast. Three of the grants, totaling to $400,000, will go toward invigorating all three of Southeast Alaska’s Indigenous languages: Lingít (Tlingit), X̱aad Kíl (Haida), and Sm’algyax (Tsimshian).

Posted 7/13/2021
Posted 7/13/2021
On Saturday, June 26, Sealaska shareholders elected the following candidates to serve three-year terms on the company’s board of directors. We asked each of these newly elected directors the following question. Their answers follow. Sealaska is focused on teamwork – on the board and staff levels and within our larger community of tribes, shareholders, descendants and partner organizations.

Posted 7/7/2021
Posted 7/7/2021
Every year, Sealaska directors select a shareholder descendant to serve a one-year term as the Board Youth Advisor (BYA). Tiadola Silva was selected as the 2021-2022 BYA. In this position, Silva will provide input and gain board membership training and knowledge of Sealaska’s operations. Silva is originally from Angoon and now lives in Juneau. Her parents are Jeremy Martin and Juanita Silva.

Posted 6/26/2021
Posted 6/26/2021
Saturday’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders Included Election Results, New Logo, Shareholder Survey Data and Report on 2020 Financial Performance Sealaska’s 48th annual meeting of shareholders closed Saturday with the announcement of shareholders’ selections to fill the five available seats on the company’s board of directors and the green light for the company to move forward with…

Posted 5/25/2021
Posted 5/25/2021
High school graduations are taking place this month, with many students receiving their hard-earned diplomas. High school can be hard to navigate, and learning during a global pandemic has been a new challenge for our young students. The class of 2021 has shown what true perseverance is. “This past year has seen tremendous educational disruption and required great dedication and effort from…

Posted 5/4/2021
Posted 5/4/2021
Two of Sealaska’s long-serving directors, Senator Albert Kookesh and Tate London, have decided not to seek another term on the board this year. “Both directors have fulfilled the purpose and mission of Sealaska while serving on behalf of our shareholders,” said Joe Nelson, Sealaska Chair. “We are forever indebted for their service.” The decision by Kookesh and London left two board…

Posted 4/19/2021
Posted 4/19/2021
The next time you find yourself on a beach, grab a handful of sand and look at it closely, suggests oceanographer Jesse McNinch. That sand is a detective story, he says, encoding the tales of millions of years of natural history. “Geology is like the earth’s stenographer,” Jesse says. “It’s always recording everything that’s happening. The exciting part is being able to read and interpret it.”…

Posted 3/17/2021
Posted 3/17/2021
Sealaska invests in Southeast Alaska businesses through a yearly commitment to Spruce Root, Inc. Spruce Root supports businesses through loan capital and support services to promote economic, social, cultural and environmental resiliency. Sealaska economic development partner Spruce Root just announced the winners of its annual Path to Prosperity business competition…

Posted 2/18/2021
Posted 2/18/2021
Hailing from Kansas to Kodiak and pursuing fields of study from pharmaceutical sciences to studio photography, Sealaska scholarship recipients represent diverse backgrounds, interests and career paths. In a recent survey, they shared words of advice and interesting demographic data. And, of course, a lighthearted look at the realities of student life—for example, many respondents said Top…

Posted 1/27/2021
Posted 1/27/2021
The summer of 2019 was the most promising yet for Stormy and Bonnie Hamar’s tourism business, Kasaan Arts, Museum and Canoes. They had a big write-up in the local travel guide, fresh brochures to stock in ferry terminals and B&Bs, and a new contract pending with a day-cruise operator that would’ve guaranteed a stream paying customers throughout the summer of 2020. But like so many…

Posted 1/14/2021
Posted 1/14/2021
Although the opportunity to serve as a Sealaska Board Youth Advisor (BYA) was on her radar for several years, Michaela Demmert said she waited until the time felt right to apply. For Demmert (Tlingit, Blackfeet, Nez Perce), who is Taakw.aaneidí (Raven/Sea Lion Clan), the right time rolled around last year. Demmert graduated from Dartmouth College in 2018, and plans to begin working on a…

Posted 12/20/2020
Posted 12/20/2020
It is the holiday season, and a great opportunity to support local, Native-owned businesses, artists and entrepreneurs. Sealaska invited its shareholders, descendants and others in the Alaska Native community to share their businesses and artistry with our audiences so we can help promote them during an otherwise very difficult year. We were flooded with submissions from all sorts of artists…

Posted 12/9/2020
Posted 12/9/2020
At just 25 years old, Sealaska shareholder descendant Stephanie (Sxhaalghén) Masterman was recognized by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development as a Native American 40 Under 40 award recipient for 2020. The announcement came in November. Masterman is Tlingit. She is Wooshkeetaan (Eagle/Shark Clan), a child of German, English, Irish and Navajo ancestors…

Posted 11/22/2020
Posted 11/22/2020
Earlier this year, Sealaska marked an important milestone in its growth and development as a company – following the board election this spring, our board is now majority female, with seven of 13 members who are women. Balance and reciprocity are important values we hold as Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people, and they’re part of our company values at Sealaska, too.

Posted 11/17/2020
Posted 11/17/2020
Caitlin Way never had any intention of being an entrepreneur. Even after becoming a business owner, she had a hard time embracing the identity. When she returned home to Sitka after graduating from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, with a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, she didn’t quite know what her next step would be. Way, who is Tlingit, said she was operating under…

Posted 11/16/2020
Posted 11/16/2020
Her business card says she’s the president and CEO of The CIRI Foundation, but Susan Anderson jokes that her real title ought to be “fairy godmother.” That’s because she says her job is “not even a job” – she oversees the distribution of millions of dollars a year in scholarships and grants to help CIRI shareholders and descendants transform their lives through education while strengthening…

Posted 11/13/2020
Posted 11/13/2020
When the Healing Hand Foundation was established, it was designed to fill gaps in the medical and health-care services available to beneficiaries of Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) and to veterans. At the time, that might mean providing travel assistance so Elders could have a companion travel with them to out-of-town medical appointments, or to fund a replacement pair of…

Posted 11/10/2020
Posted 11/10/2020
Due to COVID-19, Sealaska’s 2020 summer interns worked from home and connected to their teams through video chats, emails, and phone calls. With the pandemic heavily impacting many of our communities across the country, there were opportunities to lend a helping hand. Interns had the chance to participate in a “Give Back Day,” which was a day of community service in the intern’s area with an…

Posted 11/3/2020
Posted 11/3/2020
In a resolution adopted Friday, Oct. 30, Sealaska’s board of directors voted to add an additional $2.5 million to its scholarship endowment fund to meet the increased demand for support from students receiving postsecondary education on a part-time basis. Sealaska just started providing scholarships to part-time students for the 2019–2020 academic year, and the demand was significant.

Posted 10/19/2020
Posted 10/19/2020
Sealaska established a $10 million language endowment to focus on the revitalization of Tlingit (Lingít), Haida (X̱aad Kíl) and Tsimshian (Sm’algya̠x) languages. In Alaska, very few birth speakers of these traditional languages remain. All are older than 70, and a majority are 80 or older. The group includes four birth speakers of Sm’algya̠x, three birth speakers of X̱aad Kíl…

Posted 10/15/2020
Posted 10/15/2020
Major Walter Hotch-Hill, a Sealaska shareholder descendant, was presented with a President’s Award during the 2020 Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) annual convention. AFN is the largest statewide Native organization in Alaska, with members representing more than 250 organizations. Each year AFN hosts an annual convention that includes setting priorities for the advocacy group as well as…

Posted 10/13/2020
Posted 10/13/2020
Sealaska is pleased to announce the nomination of Joe Nelson as the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) board co-chair. Nelson has served as a Sealaska director since 2003 and has been board chair since 2014. Nelson has a long and distinguished career working as a practicing attorney and advocating for youth while working for the University of Alaska Southeast. Nelson is a tribal member of the…

Posted 9/28/2020
Posted 9/28/2020
(September 25, 2020) – Shareholders from around Southeast Alaska filled their smokehouses, pantries and freezers with the rich red of sockeye salmon this week, courtesy of a unique partnership between Sealaska and the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association (ALFA), in conjunction with tribal leadership in each community. The first of its kind, this salmon distribution netted a total of 51,000…

Posted 9/25/2020
Posted 9/25/2020
This summer, the TRAYLS (Training Rural Alaskan Youth Leaders and Students) crew in Kake continued a solemn but purposeful task — improving trails on Grave Island. The work started in 2019, when the death of a local resident who was to be interred on the island prompted a request of the TRAYLS crew to clear overgrowth and level walking paths to ensure that Elders could more easily walk from…

Posted 9/18/2020
Posted 9/18/2020
This month, a partnership between Sealaska and the Alaska Longline Fisheries Association (ALFA) will result in the distribution of 49,000 pounds of salmon to families reliant on subsistence fishing from Yakutat to Hydaburg. ALFA received a $250,000 grant from the Alaska Community Foundation and Catch Together, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit that helps small-scale fishing communities ensure…

Posted 9/1/2020
Posted 9/1/2020
In Kake, the Keex’ Kwaan Culture Camp is a rite of passage. Held annually for more than three decades, the week-long event pulls in just about every school-age kid in Kake and marks a transition during the long summers of childhood — before Culture Camp, and after. As with just about everything in 2020, this year’s camp was different, but the determination on the part of the Organized Village…

Posted 8/5/2020
Posted 8/5/2020
Each year, Sealaska directors select a shareholder descendant to participate as a board youth advisor to the board for a one-year term. Michaela Demmert from Juneau was selected for the board youth advisor position for the coming year. In her role as board youth advisor (BYA), Michaela serves as a non-voting member on the board and will be asked to provide input, while learning about the company’s…

Posted 8/3/2020
Posted 8/3/2020
Sealaska shareholder Kendra Kloster joined two other Alaska Native women as appointees to Anchorage’s Public Safety Advisory Commission in June. Kloster was born in Wrangell, Alaska, and is Tlingit, Raven, Kiks.ádi (Frog Clan), Gagaan Hít (Sun House). Kloster said she and her fellow appointees — along with friends and colleagues from other organizations working on behalf of Alaska Natives…

Posted 7/13/2020
Posted 7/13/2020
Sealaska shareholders have told us that education and vocational scholarships are a top priority. Sealaska is proud to recognize our scholarship recipients. Marissa Brakes has many different interests when it comes to her future career in law. Through internships at Sealaska and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Boise, Idaho, three years of work at a civil litigation firm, and her role as…

Posted 6/29/2020
Posted 6/29/2020
Sealaska shareholders have told us that education and vocational scholarships are a top priority. Sealaska is proud to recognize our scholarship recipients. Brian James is among the first class of Sealaska scholarship recipients who are attending college part time, and the expanded eligibility offered by Sealaska, “is honestly life changing,” he said. James is 51 and will technically be…

Posted 6/8/2020
Posted 6/8/2020
Letter from Board Chair Joe Nelson: #JusticeforGeorgeFloyd Outraged. Yes. Outraged after watching Officer Derek Chauvin murder George Floyd. Outraged after watching Officers Tou Thao, Thomas Lane and J. Alexander Kueng aid in Chauvin’s murder of Mr. Floyd, an unarmed black man accused of spending a fake $20 bill. Outraged because our “civilized society” allows police…

Posted 5/29/2020
Posted 5/29/2020
As a Sealaska Board of Directors endorsed candidate, Lisa Lang brings her understanding of the profound changes that Alaska, its lands, people, economies and cultures are and will be experiencing in the future. She is dedicated to revitalizing cultural values and communities as the pillars of a strong region. While she brings strength, vision and skills to the board, it is her humility that is…

Posted 5/29/2020
Posted 5/29/2020
Mike Roberts’ motivation for running for the Sealaska board is straightforward: “Shareholders need to be heard and not just listened to.” Roberts draws the distinction between holding annual elections and community meetings, which he considers listening, versus truly hearing the deep needs of shareholders, particularly those in communities outside Juneau. “People outside of Juneau feel…

Posted 5/21/2020
Posted 5/21/2020
Sealaska shareholders and descendants who applied for scholarships for the 2020–2021 academic year received their award letters this month, marking an all-time high in the level of scholarship support provided by Sealaska. The year 2020 was significant for the program. It marked the largest number of students ever awarded, the most Sealaska scholarship money ever distributed…

Posted 4/14/2020
Posted 4/14/2020
Applications for Sealaska’s scholarships are due today! A scholarship can be a tremendous source of support. For more information on scholarships and how to apply, go to the shareholder portal MySealaska.com or Sealaska Heritage Institute. Rick Brock, Dino Brock, and Archie Young are fierce competitors but they’re also family. This set of two brothers and a cousin are well-known and respected…

Posted 4/14/2020
Posted 4/14/2020
Applications for Sealaska’s scholarships close on April 15th! A scholarship can be a tremendous source of support. For more information on scholarships and how to apply, go to the shareholder portal MySealaska.com or Sealaska Heritage Institute. How does a child from the small village of Angoon end up coaching college basketball all over the country? It’s not a straight line…

Posted 4/9/2020
Posted 4/9/2020
Applications for Sealaska’s scholarships close on April 15th! A scholarship can be a tremendous source of support. Over the course of the next week, we’ll bring you stories of former scholarship recipients who are pursuing great careers and making a difference in our communities. For more information on scholarships and how to apply, go to the shareholder portal MySealaska.

Posted 3/30/2020
Posted 3/30/2020
Due to the impact of COVID-19, the Sealaska scholarship deadline has been extended to April 15. The decision was precipitated by a number of shareholders and descendants who have lost their jobs due to the virus and who now want to go to school, according to Joe Nelson, Sealaska board chair and ex-officio trustee of Sealaska Heritage Institute. “We are living in a time when we have to be…

Posted 3/13/2020
Posted 3/13/2020
Sealaska offices in Juneau, Alaska will be closed to the public beginning Monday, March 16, 2020. On Thursday, March 12, 2020, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy announced the first case of COVID-19 in the state. In a statement published Thursday March 12, Alaska Governor Dunleavy said the patient is a foreign national who developed a fever and respiratory symptoms shortly after arriving in Anchorage…

Posted 3/12/2020
Posted 3/12/2020
For the past several weeks, Sealaska has been monitoring the news about the spread of coronavirus (also known as COVID-19). To date, there are no confirmed cases of the virus in Alaska but we know that this could change at any time. Our team is closely following the situation and we have contingency plans in place to ensure the safety of our employees and the continuity of our business.

Posted 2/27/2020
Posted 2/27/2020
Alana Peterson learned the value of hard work at a very early age. When she was just 10 years old, she worked alongside her father, who was an artist, selling hand-painted wood trinkets to tourists. Throughout her life, Peterson has grabbed every opportunity to work, to help others fulfill their dreams, and to improve the local economy. Her resume includes several unique experiences that has…

Posted 2/25/2020
Posted 2/25/2020
Morgan Love is one of 359 students who were awarded Sealaska scholarships in 2019. Did you know that approximately 1,000 Sealaska shareholders and their families live in California? This is a story about a young shareholder from Southern California on a journey to understand her own Native identity. And she is serving others as she navigates her way. Introducing shareholder Morgan Love…

Posted 2/10/2020
Posted 2/10/2020
Kellen London is one of 62 part-time students who were awarded Sealaska scholarships in 2019. Last year was the first year the scholarship program included part-time students. Some might think that being a part-time student means going back to school while raising kids or pursuing a second career. Or maybe it means finishing the degree you always wanted to. Not always so.

Posted 1/30/2020
Posted 1/30/2020
Stephanie Jenkins is one of 62 part-time students who were awarded Sealaska scholarships in 2019. Last year was the first year the scholarship program included part-time students. When Stephanie Jenkins first applied for a Sealaska scholarship in 1998, she had no idea she was opening a door to her Tlingit culture and identity. This identity ultimately allowed her to see herself as a…

Posted 1/25/2020
Posted 1/25/2020
Message from Shareholder Vicki Soboleff We just finished our first weaving classes, thanks to Sealaska’s Carving and Bark Program! Classes were held August 2019, through January 20, 2020. It was such a treat to teach the class alongside assistant teachers Fredrick Anderson and Carrie Sykes. I lived in Alaska for 48 years of my life and have fond memories of people and…

Posted 1/17/2020
Posted 1/17/2020
Katu Allen is Tlingit but she grew up separated from her traditional homelands in Southeast Alaska. Over the last few years, she has found what she calls a flotation device and beacon of knowledge that helps her reconnect with her identity. Helping Katu and many others is DonnaRae (Klinklia) James, president of the San Francisco Tlingit and Haida Community Council, and founder of CAlaska…

Posted 1/9/2020
Posted 1/9/2020
Attention Sealaska students! Scholarship applications for the 2020–2021 academic year are now open to Sealaska shareholder and descendant students. Every year Sealaska awards hundreds of full-time and part-time merit-based scholarships to our student leaders. Since 1981, Sealaska has been funding scholarships as part of our long-time commitment to education.

Posted 1/8/2020
Posted 1/8/2020
Dear Shareholders, Sigóowu Yées Táakw! Happy New Year! As we greet 2020, I am most hopeful for the coming decade. I am proud that Sealaska dedicated $10 million last November to support Lingít (Tlingit), Xaad Kíl (Haida) and Sm’algyax (Tsimshian) language revitalization. We anticipate spending $500,000 annually for the next 10 years. In December, I issued a challenge to all shareholders…

Posted 12/20/2019
Posted 12/20/2019
Sealaska is partnering with Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Tlingit & Haida) and Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) to host a community gathering in Roseville, CA on Saturday, Jan. 11. The event is an opportunity for shareholders and tribal citizens that live away from their traditional homelands to connect with their culture and learn more about the three…

Posted 12/18/2019
Posted 12/18/2019
Tlingit cultural icon David Katzeek was honored by the Juneau School District Board of Education and issued a legislative citation from the 31st Alaska State Legislature. Representative Andi Story (District 34) presented Katzeek with the legislative citation. Story says members of the Alaska State Legislature commend Katzeek on his dedication to the revival of Tlingit language and…

Posted 11/25/2019
Posted 11/25/2019
Dear Sealaska family, At a recent meeting, we established a fund to support Lingít (Tlingit), Xaad Kíl (Haida) and Shm’algyack (Tsimshian) language revitalization for the next 10 years. We anticipate spending $500,000 annually from the interest earned on this $10 million fund. We have limited time and resources, i.e., speakers and money. We need to use them efficiently and effectively.

Posted 11/5/2019
Posted 11/5/2019
Congratulations to Benjamin Young of Hydaburg, Alaska, who was recognized as the 2019 Culture Bearer by the Alaska Federation of Natives. Young is Haida Raven of the Yahgw’láanaas Clan and his Haida name is K’uyáang. He has three brothers and one sister. Two of his brothers (TJ and Joe Young) are renowned Haida carvers. The family grew up in a traditional Haida environment…

Posted 10/31/2019
Posted 10/31/2019
SEALASKA INTERN SPOTLIGHT: Archives Interns Take You on a Tour of William L. Paul Sr. Archives at Sealaska Heritage Institute. By: Alicia Duncan, Breylan Martin and Miranda Worl, 2019 Archives Interns, Sealaska Heritage Institute William L. Paul Sr. Archives Hello from the William L. Paul Sr. Archives at Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI). Today we’d like to give you all a quick tour to…

Posted 10/28/2019
Posted 10/28/2019
Stormy Hamar is an accomplished Haida artist, who has a passion for dugout canoes. Stormy was recognized as a 2018 Individual Artist award recipient from the Rasmuson Foundation. He shared that his history with canoes goes back to his childhood days, when he paddled to school in a dugout canoe. In 2015, Sealaska Heritage Institute surveyed artists about priorities related to arts in…

Posted 5/28/2019
Posted 5/28/2019
Apply by Friday, May 31, 2019 The Men’s Work Gathering from June 28 to 30, 2019, is co-sponsored by Aiding Women in Abuse and Rape Emergencies (AWARE), Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault (ANDVSA), Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, and Sealaska. Acknowledging that change starts with ourselves, the gathering will guide participants through a process of deepening self…

Posted 5/2/2019
Posted 5/2/2019
Barbara Blake was selected to join the 2019 endorsed candidate team for the Sealaska board of directors. If elected, Barbara would be the first-ever shareholder descendant and youngest member on the board of directors. As a former Sealaska board youth advisor from 2010 to 2011, Barbara brings a strong understanding of Sealaska board structure and governance. “To me this is a sign…

Posted 11/9/2018
Posted 11/9/2018
Veterans prepare to carry Veterans Totem Pole, representing all branches of the U.S. military. Alaskans and the rest of the nation are taking time this weekend to honor U.S. military veterans. Veterans Day, recognized each November 11, is a time to recognize and honor those who served in the US Armed Forces. According to the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, Alaska Natives and American…

Posted 8/24/2018
Posted 8/24/2018
This is the first story in a series featuring the 2018 Sealaska summer interns. See the businesses through their eyes, understand their impact on Sealaska and experience the reconnection with their Alaska Native roots. Since the early 1980s, Sealaska’s internship program has been offering shareholders and shareholder descendants paid professional work experience and on-the-job training…

Posted 6/23/2018
Posted 6/23/2018
Sealaska had good news to report to shareholders at its annual meeting Saturday, June 23 in Wrangell, AK. The company achieved one of the most successful years in its history, recording a net income of $43.3 million in 2017 and a $78 million net income improvement over the last five years. Shareholders heard from Sealaska’s management and its board about how the company continues to…

Posted 5/21/2018
Posted 5/21/2018
Sealaska is meeting with communities during May. During the community meetings, shareholders have the opportunity to hear from board endorsed candidates as well as independents who are present at the meeting. At the Juneau community meeting, all board candidates gave their statements. Video from the Juneau community meeting on May 16, 2018 You can read more about candidates…