First Shareholder Descendant Barbara Blake Elected at 2019 Annual Meeting of Sealaska Shareholders
Saturday, June 22, 2019
“It is an incredible moment in Sealaska history to witness the first shareholder descendant elected to the board. It’s been twelve years since we voted in Anchorage to enroll the descendants into Sealaska,” said Sealaska Chair Joe Nelson.
ANCHORAGE – Shareholders elected Barbara Blake, the first-ever shareholder descendant to join the board of directors. Barbara is a former Sealaska Board Youth Advisor and currently serves as the director of the Alaska Native Policy Center with First Alaskans Institute.
“It is an incredible moment in Sealaska history to witness the first shareholder descendant elected to the board. It’s been twelve years since we voted in Anchorage to enroll the descendants into Sealaska,” said Sealaska Chair Joe Nelson.
Sealaska shareholders elected four directors for three-year terms. Jodi Mitchell, Mick Beasley, Richard Rinehart and Barbara Blake were elected to serve as Sealaska directors for terms that expire at the 2022 meeting. There were 5,155,172 shares voted, representing 61.9% of outstanding shares of Sealaska voting stock. This year’s proxy had no shareholder resolutions.
“I am forever grateful for outgoing director Jackie Pata’s 20 years of service and guidance to Sealaska,” said Nelson. “I know her leadership will continue to positively impact our Native communities.”
Sealaska Celebrates Financial Success and Shareholder Priorities
More than 350 Sealaska shareholders gathered at the Dena’ina Center to hear from Sealaska’s leadership, and approximately 485 households joined the meeting from all over the country through Sealaska’s webcast.
Today’s presentation included an update on Sealaska’s record-breaking financial performance and a report on the company’s vision of working towards healthier oceans.
A panel of staff and corporate officers also held a discussion on Sealaska’s shareholder programs and benefits, including the new part-time student scholarship program.
“It is always meaningful to spend time with shareholders and their families to understand more about their needs and priorities,” said Sealaska President and CEO Anthony Mallott. “It gives me great pleasure to inform shareholders of Sealaska’s financial success and how we are investing back into meaningful shareholder benefits.”
The board met briefly and reaffirmed the positions of Board Chair Joe Nelson and Vice Chair Jodi Mitchell. Sealaska corporate officers were also renewed by the board including: Anthony Mallott, president and chief executive officer; Terry Downes, chief operating officer; Jaeleen Kookesh, vice president, policy and legal affairs; Kent Rasmussen, General Counsel. Doug Morris, vice president and chief financial officer, is retiring after almost 30 years at Sealaska.
Board Election Results
|
Jodi Mitchell |
901,503 |
|
Michael Beasley |
881,661 |
|
Richard Rinehart |
745,215 |
|
Barbara Blake |
704,637 |
|
Vicki Soboleff |
618,549 |
|
Karen Taug |
561,059 |
|
Jackie Pata |
460,530 |
###
Contact: Dixie Hutchinson
Phone: 907.209.1022 (mobile)
Email: Dixie.Hutchinson@sealaska.com
News Search
185 results found
Posted 4/10/2026
Posted 4/10/2026
Aak’w Kwáan (Juneau, Alaska) — The Sealaska Board of Directors met this Friday and approved the amount for Sealaska’s upcoming distribution. A spring 2026 distribution totaling $29.7 million will be issued to shareholders on Thursday, April 16. The upcoming distribution includes dividends totaling $3 million from Sealaska’s ocean-health business platform, $3.6 million from the Marjorie V.
Posted 4/10/2026
Posted 4/10/2026
Aak’w Kwáan (Juneau, Alaska) — The Sealaska Board of Directors met this Friday and approved the amount for Sealaska’s upcoming distribution. A spring 2026 distribution totaling $29.7 million will be issued to shareholders on Thursday, April 16.
Posted 4/10/2026
Posted 4/10/2026
The Sealaska Board of Directors met on April 10, 2026, and conducted key governance actions while receiving updates on shareholder services, shareholder development, natural resources and regional economic development.
Posted 11/12/2025
Posted 11/12/2025
Sealaska is announcing a Fall 2025 distribution totaling $11.8 million, to be issued to shareholders on Thursday, November 13. The board of directors approved the distribution at its meeting on Friday, November 7. The upcoming distribution includes $2.9 million in dividends from Sealaska’s operations, $3.6 million from the Marjorie V. Young (MVY) Shareholder Permanent Fund, and $5.3…
Posted 10/8/2025
Posted 10/8/2025
October 8, 2025 — For the first time in decades, leaders from Southeast Alaska’s tribes, Native corporations and tribal organizations came together in Juneau, Alaska for a Native Roundtable. Held September 29-30, 2025, the two-day summit created a powerful platform for renewed collaboration, strategic dialogue and collective visioning around the most pressing issues facing the region’s communities.
Posted 8/15/2025
Posted 8/15/2025
August 15, 2025 — Sealaska and Sitka Tribe of Alaska (Sitka Tribe) have signed the Interim Ḵunáa Historic Site Management Agreement. This agreement empowers Sitka Tribe to manage the 10.54 acres above mean high tide at Redoubt Falls (Ḵunáa). Ḵunáa, also known as Redoubt Bay Village, historically belonged to the Kiks.ádi and affiliated clans, with substantive historical importance as a…
Posted 6/10/2025
Posted 6/10/2025
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.
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Posted 5/12/2025
Posted 5/12/2025
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
Posted 5/2/2025
Posted 5/2/2025
Shareholders, today marks the beginning of another election season! Your paper proxies are being mailed out today and you can access Election Connection via MySealaska.com to view the proxy online and cast your votes. Our annual election cycle is an important way your voices guide the future of Sealaska by selecting our leadership. We are grateful to all of you who take part.
Posted 4/29/2025
Posted 4/29/2025
KETCHIKAN, Alaska, April 29, 2025 — Sealaska’s board of directors has approved funding for the reconstruction of the traditional clan house for the Kiks.ádi people of the X’aaká Hít (Point House), on their recently repatriated land in the Sitka Indian Village. This will be the first clan house to be rebuilt in Southeast Alaska in the 21st century. Where there were once 43 active clan houses…
Posted 4/21/2025
Posted 4/21/2025
Gunalchéesh to those who were able to attend our April 9 Community Business and Shareholder Information Meeting in beloved Ḵaachx̱an.áak’w. Our booths were filled with the great smiles of over 74 shareholders and their families attending. During the event, shareholders had the opportunity to learn about Sealaska’s businesses, engage with Sealaska leadership — including the full board — and enjoy…
Posted 4/11/2025
Posted 4/11/2025
Sealaska is announcing a Spring 2025 distribution totaling $17.7 million to be issued to shareholders on Thursday, April 17. Sealaska’s board of directors approved the distribution at a meeting held this Friday, April 11. The upcoming distribution includes dividends totaling $2.9 million from Sealaska’s operations, $3.3 million from the Marjorie V. Young (MVY) Shareholder Permanent Fund and…
Posted 3/10/2025
Posted 3/10/2025
BLM finalizes transfer of culturally significant Ḵunáa site after nearly 50 years Sealaska Corporation announced the successful conveyance of the Redoubt Bay Village (Ḵunáa) historical site from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), marking the culmination of a nearly 50-year effort to secure this culturally significant land under Alaska Native stewardship. The 10.54-acre site…
Posted 12/13/2024
Posted 12/13/2024
We are pleased to announce that Tlingit & Haida Executive Council and Sealaska board of directors met to engage in meaningful discussions on issues that matter most to tribal citizens and shareholders. This collaborative meeting was an important step toward finding pathways to create mutually beneficial outcomes while strengthening entities to better serve people and communities.
Posted 11/8/2024
Posted 11/8/2024
Sealaska is announcing a Fall 2024 distribution totaling $11.1 million to be issued to shareholders on Thursday, November 14. Sealaska’s board of directors approved the distribution at a meeting held in Juneau on Friday, November 8. The distribution includes $3 million from Sealaska’s operations, $3.3 million from the Marjorie V. Young (MVY) Permanent Fund and an additional $4.8…
Posted 10/28/2024
Posted 10/28/2024
Gunalchéesh Anax X’aséigu Yé Desiree Jackson for offering us this insight into One Sealaska and the many avenues of our community-focused work! We are working hard to provide our shareholders with a comprehensive understanding of all we do, focusing always on strengthening our people, culture and homelands. Through Woocheen, we promote ocean health, renewable energy and a holistic vision of…
Posted 9/30/2024
Posted 9/30/2024
This year’s elections hold significant importance for us all, which is why we are encouraging all shareholders and tribal citizens to get out and vote – and bring a loved one, too! Voting is one of the most powerful ways to make your voice heard. Every vote counts, and your participation can help shape the future of our communities. Make sure you’re prepared for election day by having a…
Posted 9/18/2024
Posted 9/18/2024
Newly appointed Sealaska board chair Richard Tashee Rinehart recently took time to answer shareholder questions surrounding board progress, priorities and commitments as the board and management collectively look toward the corporation’s next few years. Rinehart highlighted the addition of descendant shares, elder stock and the transition out of the timber industry as monumental progress…
Posted 8/27/2024
Posted 8/27/2024
Story and photography by Christian Gomez Sealaska’s Natural Resources team recently met with members of the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and local carvers on Prince of Wales Island for a three-day cedar tree inventory workshop. This collaboration, focused on scouting USFS land for cedar trees suitable for large-scale cultural art such as totem poles and canoes, marks a significant step in…
Posted 8/16/2024
Posted 8/16/2024
Early this summer, 34 students were guided through a series of financial wellness and career coaching workshops provided by #OneSealaska partner Spruce Root. Offered to the season’s cohort of shareholder interns as a part of Sealaska’s Intern Connect Week, the workshops provided participants an opportunity to grow existing knowledge and form new connections as they learned together as a group.
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 6/17/2024
Posted 6/17/2024
Early birds, it’s your time to fly! Congratulations to our 2024 winners.
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 4/12/2024
Posted 4/12/2024
As part of Sealaska’s continued investment in our communities and region, a spring 2024 distribution totaling $19.2 million will be issued to shareholders on Thursday, April 18. Sealaska’s board of directors approved the distribution at a meeting held in Juneau on Friday, April 12. The upcoming distribution includes dividends totaling $4.5 million from Sealaska’s ocean-health business…
Posted 2/5/2024
Posted 2/5/2024
The Sealaska board of directors met in a board meeting held on Friday, Jan. 26 to review yearly priorities, receive updates from the management team and approve donation requests. Executive Chair Joe Nelson opened the meeting with recognition of long-term shareholder employee Thea Brown, who will be retiring in early March after 40 years of service. Nelson also detailed internal efforts to elevate…
Posted 12/7/2023
Posted 12/7/2023
On a sunny October afternoon in Spokane, Washington, over 2,500 Indigenous students were gathered to attend the 2023 American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) National Conference. Among them were a cohort of more than 100 Sealaska and Sealaka Heritage Institute (SHI) sponsored college and high school students, Alaska Youth Stewards crew members, and Southeast Alaska educators…
Posted 11/7/2023
Posted 11/7/2023
The Sealaska Board of Directors met in Juneau on Thursday, Nov. 2 to approve a fall distribution totaling $13.6 million. The distribution will be issued to shareholders on Nov. 9. Sealaska’s distributions are made up of funds from three sources: Sealaska operations, the Marjorie V. Young Shareholder Permanent Fund and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act’s Section 7(i) resource revenue…
Posted 11/2/2023
Posted 11/2/2023
As part of our commitment to the shareholders and communities who make us who we are, Sealaska will issue a fall distribution totaling $13.6 million, to be issued to shareholders on Thursday, Nov. 9. Sealaska’s board of directors approved the distribution at a board meeting held in Juneau on Thursday, Nov. 2. After the fall distribution is made, a total of $17.2 million (approximately $5.85…
Posted 11/1/2023
Posted 11/1/2023
Sealaska, in partnership with the Organized Village of Kasaan (OVK) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) out of Thorne Bay and Craig, spent a week out on Sealaska lands in West Polk inlet this August, working to locate red and yellow cedar trees. The goal of the visit was to identify trees suited to serve as “monumental logs” in support of cultural community projects. The project is part…
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 10/4/2023
Posted 10/4/2023
Sealaska believes that a better future for people and the planet is within reach. Join us for a four-part series exploring ocean health, navigating the waters of Southeast and our rich connection to navigating the Pacific Ocean. Southeast Alaska welcomed Hawaiian relatives from the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS). PVS launched Moananuiākea, a voyage for earth in Juneau, Alaska.
Posted 9/27/2023
Posted 9/27/2023
On September 26, a virtual shareholder event focused on Sealaska’s policy efforts and how the company advocates for our traditional way of life. The Sealaska Policy Committee, known as Naxtoo.aat/Wayi Wah/Hágwsdaa – which translates to “Let’s Go!” in Lingít, Sm’algyax, and Xaad Kíl – was established by the board to drive change and ensure that shareholder priorities are met at the local, state…
Posted 9/27/2023
Posted 9/27/2023
Sealaska believes that a better future for people and the planet is within reach. Join us for a four-part video series exploring ocean health, navigating the waters of Southeast Alaska and the ways in which the ocean connects us to our relatives across the Pacific. Canoes from Southeast and the Hokulea at the 2023 Moananuiākea Global Launch in Juneau. In June…
Posted 9/19/2023
Posted 9/19/2023
Sealaska believes that a better future for people and the planet is within reach. Join us for a four-part video series exploring ocean health, navigating the waters of Southeast Alaska and the ways in which the ocean connects us to our relatives across the Pacific. In June, Southeast Alaska was honored to welcomed Hawaiian relatives from the Polynesian Voyaging Society to the…
Posted 9/13/2023
Posted 9/13/2023
Sealaska believes that a better future for people and planet is within reach. Join us for a four-part video series exploring ocean health, navigating the waters of Southeast Alaska and the ways in which the ocean connects us to our relatives across the Pacific. In June 2023, Southeast Alaska was honored to welcome Hawaiian relatives from the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) to the…
Posted 9/6/2023
Posted 9/6/2023
by Shareholder Development Intern Evan Roberts Sealaska’s intern program is structured to provide support to every intern as they begin their new positions – for many, this is their first full-time job experience. This summer, through the intern “buddy” program, a number of interns had the opportunity to pair up with Sealaska intern alumni as their buddies, a full-circle experience…
Posted 8/16/2023
Posted 8/16/2023
In 2019, Sealaska established three Shareholder Participation Committees (SPC), with a goal of increasing communication and collaboration between the board of directors and the shareholders they serve. Now in their fourth year, these committees offer an opportunity for Sealaska to strengthen engagement between shareholders and the board and build relationships between communities and those who…
Posted 8/8/2023
Posted 8/8/2023
The Sealaska board of directors met for its quarterly committee and board meeting on July 27-28. All Sealaska’s actions and efforts are driven by our mission to strengthen people, culture and traditional homelands and inspired by shareholder voices and priorities — something which is honored and remembered each time the board convenes. In the most recent shareholder survey…
Posted 8/3/2023
Posted 8/3/2023
Over the summer, Alaska’s congressional delegation introduced new Landless bills to the 118th Congress: S. 1889 (introduced by Sens. Murkowski and Sullivan) and H.R. 4748 (Introduced by Rep. Peltola and Rep. Pete Stauber (R-MN). Sealaska continues to support the effort, providing funding to Alaska Natives Without Land and advocating for progress with both Alaska and Lower 48 representatives.
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 7/10/2023
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 6/22/2023
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 6/22/2023
Posted 6/22/2023
The Prince of Wales Surf and Turf camp doesn’t serve up steak and lobster. Instead, something much more valuable is on the menu for students on the island: survival skills. The course, offered through a partnership between the school districts and Sealaska’s Natural Resources department, provides all students in the Prince of Wales (POW) school district — including many shareholder and descendant…
Posted 6/16/2023
Posted 6/16/2023
Hundreds of people had gathered on the University of Alaska Southeast Campus on Thursday, June 15 to wish the crew of the Hōkūleʻa farewell as they embark on a remarkable journey over the next four years. The event marked the Global Launch Ceremony for Moananuiākea, a voyage that will circumnavigate the Pacific using traditional methods of wayfinding as they visit 36 countries and archipelagoes…
Posted 6/16/2023
Posted 6/16/2023
Taylor Natkong wanted to learn to code, but without having to leave her culture and homeland behind. Before participating in a new software programming opportunity made possible through Sealaska’s partnership with Codefy, she might have felt forced to choose. But now, she says, through this program, she has found the best of both worlds. Natkong, originally from Hydaburg…
Posted 6/13/2023
Posted 6/13/2023
At Sealaska, shareholders are at the center of everything we do. We cherish every opportunity we have to meet with each of you, learning more about your values, priorities and vision for our shared future. This May, we were grateful to host meetings in 10 communities — the first time we have been able to host a full community meeting rotation since 2019. Sealaska shareholders were invited…
Posted 6/5/2023
Posted 6/5/2023
Join Sealaska as we welcome and bid farewell to Hōkūle’a and our Hawaiian relatives of the Polynesian Voyage Society (PVS) while they embark on the Moananuiākea Voyage, a four-year journey across the pacific, from the stores of our ancestral homelands. A tribal welcome ceremony will take place on Saturday, June 10 from 3-7 p.m. at the Auke Rec Raven Shelter, kicking off a week…
Posted 5/15/2023
Posted 5/15/2023
Gunalchéesh, Háw’aa, T’oya̱xsut ‘nüüsm to all the shareholders who participated our California and Anchorage and Seattle community meetings, as well as those who tuned into the webcast of the Anchorage meeting and our virtual business update. We appreciate your engagement and participation. We look forward to connecting with more shareholders at upcoming in-person and virtual community meetings…
Posted 5/1/2023
Posted 5/1/2023
In a recent virtual Q&A session, directors provided information on their work from the recent board meeting towards shareholder priorities and shared the schedule for upcoming community meetings throughout the month of May. Our directors also provided an update from the recent shareholder survey. A record-breaking 5,437 shareholders participated in this year’s shareholder survey…
Posted 4/14/2023
Posted 4/14/2023
Sealaska’s spring distribution of $37.7 million is part of Sealaska’s continued investment in our shareholders and communities. The distribution includes dividends totaling $6.8 million from Sealaska’s ocean-health focused operations businesses, $2.9 million from the Marjorie V. Young (MVY) Shareholder Permanent Fund and an additional $28.0 million in Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Section…
Posted 3/10/2023
Posted 3/10/2023
For shareholders interested in running for Sealaska’s board as an independent candidate, a March 9 virtual event provided the perfect opportunity to learn more. Shareholders were able to ask questions and find out more about the process, requirements and associated deadlines for independent candidacy in Sealaska’s annual shareholder elections. Shareholders tuned in from across Alaska and…
Posted 1/20/2023
Posted 1/20/2023
Since the elimination of the blood quantum requirement in June 2022, Sealaska has welcomed over 2,100 new shareholders. Sealaska hosted a virtual shareholder orientation to provide our new shareholders with more information on Sealaska, as well as what to expect as a shareholder moving forward. Board Chair Joe Nelson served as the host and was joined by President and CEO Anthony Mallott…
Posted 1/13/2023
Posted 1/13/2023
“Molly of Denali” is one of the biggest shows on PBS — so big that it was recently nominated for the Children’s and Family Emmys in two categories: Outstanding Preschool Animated Series and Outstanding Writing for a Preschool Animated Program. The team behind that outstanding writing includes four Sealaska shareholders: Frank Henry Kaash Katasse, Vera Starbard, X̱’unei Lance Twitchell and ‘Wáats’…
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 11/29/2022
Posted 11/29/2022
Applications are now open for the 2023 summer internship program! Sealaska hosted a virtual internship information session on Nov. 28 to help prospective interns and their families learn more about exciting internship opportunities offered next summer at Sealaska and partner organizations. Shareholder Development Program Manager Kayla Roberts provided information about the internship…
Posted 11/20/2022
Posted 11/20/2022
A memorial totem pole honoring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two Spirits (MMIWG2S) was recently raised near Klawock. This beautiful, heartbreaking tribute is the result of a sensitive collaboration, and was dedicated to Judylee Guthrie, who was murdered by her partner in 2016. The pole was carved in recognition of the crisis of violence facing Indigenous communities.
Posted 11/17/2022
Posted 11/17/2022
Sealaska Recognizes Combat Veteran Fred Peratrovich In celebration of Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, we are recognizing shareholders who have served in the Armed Forces as part of our #RecognitionMatters Veterans Campaign. Today, we recognize U.S. Army combat veteran Fred Peratrovich. Peratrovich was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for his service in the…
Posted 11/10/2022
Posted 11/10/2022
Sealaska Recognizes Veteran Aaron Isaacs In celebration of Native American and Alaska Native Heritage Month, we will be recognizing a handful of shareholders that have served in the Armed Forces as part of our #RecognitionMatters Veterans Campaign. The first piece will be published today, in honor of Veterans Day. This story features former Sealaska founding director Aaron Isaacs who served…
Posted 11/9/2022
Posted 11/9/2022
Sealaska shareholders tuned in from locations around Alaska and the country yesterday to hear an overview of the fall distribution from Sealaska President and CEO Anthony Mallott. The distribution, which was issued to those with direct deposit today, is the third made through the Sealaska Settlement Trust, which was established by shareholder vote in 2021. Mallott was joined by Director…
Posted 11/7/2022
Posted 11/7/2022
Sealaska published a special edition Shareholder Newsletter. The following was included. Following the June 25 approval of a shareholder resolution to eliminate the one-quarter blood quantum requirement from the eligibility criteria for Sealaska’s Class D (Descendant) shares, Sealaska is now pursuing justice on behalf of another group of disenfranchised descendants — those who were born…
Posted 11/7/2022
Posted 11/7/2022
Tracy and Penny are among Sealaska’s newest shareholders, who have enrolled since the one-quarter blood quantum requirement was removed from enrollment criteria for Class D (Descendant) stock. Tracy Allen welcomes the change. “I think that eventually our blood quantum would have run out as a lot of us are mixed ethnicities,” she said. “The change has been great for me and Penny…
Posted 10/31/2022
Posted 10/31/2022
Applications are now open for summer 2023 internships at Sealaska and partner organizations like Sealaska Heritage Institute, Spruce Root, Barnacle Foods, McKinley Capital and Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Sealaska internships are in a class of their own — they are whole-person experiences designed to provide cultural, social and professional development…
Posted 10/28/2022
Posted 10/28/2022
The Sealaska Board of Directors approved a distribution totaling $15.4 million to be issued to shareholders on Nov. 9. This includes $2.8 million in earnings from the Marjorie V. Young (MVY) Shareholder Permanent Fund, $7.6 in operations income and $5.1 million in Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Section 7(j) natural resource revenue sharing funds. Through a balanced…
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 8/18/2022
Posted 8/18/2022
The enrollment process can seem overwhelming and confusing. To help ease those feelings Sealaska held a virtual enrollment overview on August 16. The event was hosted by Tesla Cox, Senior Director of Shareholder Development. Sealaska Shareholder Relations provided a walkthrough of the online application for Class D (Descendant) stock. Other information presented in the one-hour…
Posted 8/15/2022
Posted 8/15/2022
Each year Sealaska selects one shareholder descendant to be the Board Youth Advisor (BYA) for a one-year term. The Board Youth Advisor provides valuable input to the Sealaska Board and gains understanding of Sealaska’s operations and mission. The 2022-2023 BYA is Connor Ulmer. Ulmer was born and raised in Dzantik’i Héeni (Juneau). His Tlingit name is Deikeenaak’w (Little Haida)…
Posted 8/4/2022
Posted 8/4/2022
The Sealaska Board of Directors met on July 28 and 29 to discuss investments, business momentum and review financial statements. The board continues to meet via a hybrid model, with some board members appearing in person and others via video call. Global and US economies face many difficult issues this year – most importantly, high inflation, rising interest rates…
Posted 7/20/2022
Posted 7/20/2022
Sealaska aims to help provide shareholders with useful information on how to vote for the upcoming Primary Election in Alaska. Regardless of whom you vote for, Sealaska seeks to deliver all shareholders with needed materials to make voting accessible. A virtual information session hosted by Sealaska provided a information on the upcoming Alaska special election and the primary for November’s…
Posted 6/27/2022
Posted 6/27/2022
A deep appreciation for the outdoors, for people and for problem-solving united Darren O’Mahony, Paul Dunlop and Ciaran Doherty when they were colleagues at Glover Site Investigations in Northern Ireland. So when Glover liquidated in the wake of the global financial crisis in 2011, their strong working relationships saw the trio reunited again in a new, fledgling company that was set up to target…
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 6/16/2022
Posted 6/16/2022
Sealaska’s Shareholder Participation Committee overwhelmingly approved a resolution in support of the removal of blood quantum from Sealaska’s eligibility requirements when it met the week of June 6 in Juneau. Sealaska shareholders will decide this month whether applicants should have to prove they have at least one-quarter Alaska Native blood quantum to qualify for Class D (Descendant)…
Posted 6/15/2022
Posted 6/15/2022
“Knowing Sealaska is rooting for me is much more meaningful than just the money.” 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…
Posted 5/10/2022
Posted 5/10/2022
Sealaska shareholders and descendants gathered online for a person-to-person discussion of the company’s resolution on the 2022 proxy that would eliminate the requirement to document blood quantum in order to be eligible to apply for Sealaska descendant shares. The event, held the evening of Monday, May 9, was designed to allow shareholders and descendants to discuss amongst themselves the…
Posted 4/20/2022
Posted 4/20/2022
Haida carver TJ Young (Sgwaayaans) is hard at work creating the first 360-degree totem pole to be raised in Alaska. The Sealaska Cultural Values Pole will stand guard over Heritage Square at the center of the new Sealaska Heritage Arts Campus in downtown Juneau. Young is carving the pole with assistance from his brother, Joe Young and guest carvers David R. Boxley, who is Tsimshian, and Rob Mills…
Posted 4/18/2022
Posted 4/18/2022
Sealaska’s board of directors approved $558,000 in funding for language preservation programs at a meeting held on April 8, pledging grants to seven different language preservation and language learning projects. Sealaska shareholders consistently rank language preservation and revitalization as a top priority, an urgency shared by Sealaska leadership.
Posted 4/12/2022
Posted 4/12/2022
Blood Quantum Q & A
In the past year, Sealaska has hosted a variety of conversations on Native identity and conducted extensive outreach to shareholders and descendants about the issue. The purpose of these efforts was to better understand how blood quantum impacts our community, and to provide background and context to shareholders. Topics included how blood quantum was incorporated into...
Posted 4/12/2022
Posted 4/12/2022
Welcome!
Identity and belonging are some of the most deeply felt, emotional issues for Native people. Many of us – regardless of whether we grew up immersed in our culture and on our lands – have questioned whether we are “Native enough.” Maybe it’s because we don’t speak the language. Maybe it’s because our skin is light. Maybe it’s because we aspire to live a...
Posted 4/12/2022
Posted 4/12/2022
How Many Shareholders?
Based on estimates produced by Sealaska, there are approximately 15,000 descendants of original shareholders who have less than one-quarter Alaska Native blood quantum. This estimate is based on comparing the number of shareholders currently in Sealaska with the number of enrolled tribal citizens of Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, along...
Posted 4/12/2022
Posted 4/12/2022
Shareholders from across Alaska and around the country joined Sealaska President and CEO Anthony Mallott virtually for an overview of the spring distribution, which totals $21.3 million and will be issued to shareholders on April 22. The benefits that Sealaska provides to shareholders are not limited to just distributions, Mallott explained. Sealaska values investing in shareholder priorities…
Posted 4/11/2022
Posted 4/11/2022
The Sealaska Board of Directors met on April 7 and 8 to review financial statements and declare a spring distribution to shareholders. Following a thorough review, the board of directors approved the consolidated 2021 financial statements, in addition to the ANCSA Section 7(i) report for the period ending December 31, 2021. Sealaska will publish the audited financials in early May.
Posted 4/8/2022
Posted 4/8/2022
Sealaska’s board of directors approved a $21.3 million distribution to shareholders when it met Friday, April 8. The spring distribution is made up of $7.5 million from Sealaska’s business operations, $2.6 million from the Marjorie V. Young (MVY) Shareholder Permanent Fund and $11.2 million in Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act Section 7(j) natural-resource revenues. The distribution will be…
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 4/5/2022
Posted 4/5/2022
One of the important ways Sealaska serves shareholders and communities is advocating for Native rights and issues. The work takes place at the local, state, and federal level on behalf of shareholders, Indigenous people nationwide and traditional communities. Sealaska leadership provided an overview of current policy and advocacy efforts during a virtual Policy Forum held Tuesday, April 5…
Posted 3/23/2022
Posted 3/23/2022
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Posted 3/8/2022
Posted 3/8/2022
Sealaska shareholders who are interested in running as an independent candidate for the board of directors have until Friday, March 25, 2022, to complete the nominee’s application. In the videos below, Sealaska Chair Joe Nelson discusses the application and what type of experience Sealaska needs around the boardroom table. If you are interested in running as an independent…
Posted 2/21/2022
Posted 2/21/2022
The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS) Grand Camp organizations brought Alaska Native leaders together to celebrate the life and legacy of Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich during a virtual event held Wednesday, February 16. Peratrovich is remembered as a powerful Tlingit civil rights leader who served in the ANS alongside her husband Roy who served in the ANB.
Posted 2/17/2022
Posted 2/17/2022
Thank you to all those who joined the Sealaska Public Policy Forum today. We appreciate your engagement and willingness to take the time to learn about Sealaska policy initiatives and advocacy efforts. The Sealaska Policy Committee is also known as Naxtoo.aat/Wayi Wah/Hágwsdaa – a phrase that translates to “Let’s Go!” in Lingít, Sm’algyax and Xaad Kíl, respectively – and was formed to help…
Posted 2/9/2022
Posted 2/9/2022
As Sealaska celebrates its first 50 years of history, we can look back with great pride in the knowledge that the early leaders of our company sought to ensure Elders are recognized and cared for through additional shareholder benefits. The Elders’ Settlement Trust was established at the same time, which provides a one-time payment to shareholders when they turn 65. (To qualify…
Posted 1/27/2022
Posted 1/27/2022
The Sealaska Board of Directors elevated shareholder Jason Gubatayao to the position of general manager of Haa Aaní, Sealaska’s land-management company, when it met Jan. 20-21. The board also decided to continue holding most Sealaska meetings virtually while pandemic circumstances remain uncertain—including the annual meeting of shareholders on June 25. Haa Aaní is responsible for Sealaska’…
Posted 1/21/2022
Posted 1/21/2022
Every two years, Sealaska conducts a shareholder survey to identify your priorities. Those priorities are the road map to our public policy work and help guide the shareholder benefits we are grateful to be able to provide through the success of our businesses. In 2021, Sealaska’s board and executive leadership launched what will be a multiyear effort to hold leadership meetings in…
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 12/13/2021
Posted 12/13/2021
As Police Chief, Ed Mercer is the highest-ranking member of the Juneau Police Department. He has served as Juneau Police Chief since 2017. On December 14, 2021, Chief Mercer was presented the 2021 AFN President’s Award for Public Service. The award recognizes an Alaska Native who demonstrates dedication, competence, and sensitivity in public service. “Sealaska is proud of Chief…
Posted 12/13/2021
Posted 12/13/2021
Ruth Demmert Kaanak of Kake, Alaska is well known for her dedication and inspiration to the Tlingit language and culture. At this year’s Alaska Federation of Natives convention, Demmert was presented with the AFN President’s Award, Dr. Walter Soboleff “Warriors of Light”. The award is presented to people who uplift people, enrich spirits, and unify people. Ruth Demmert was raised…
Posted 11/23/2021
Posted 11/23/2021
Today, Alaska Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan introduced a companion bill to Rep. Don Young’s House Bill 3231, which, if adopted would resolve 50 years of injustice for five landless communities in Southeast Alaska. The bills, which will work their way through committee assignments and hearings in the coming weeks and months, would amend the Alaska Native Claims…
Posted 11/5/2021
Posted 11/5/2021
What Are Shareholders Saying?
How does blood quantum impact your life?We asked this simple question and received more than 700 responses so far. Below are a few of the perspectives we have heard. Some of these posts you will love. Some you may not. Sealaska is sharing a variety of perspectives to help inform the discussion on this important issue. If you’d like to weigh in, please do so at this link.
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Posted 11/4/2021
Posted 11/4/2021
Why Was Blood Quantum Part of ANCSA?
Blood quantum first originated in the United States in the early 1700s in the Colony of Virginia, where it was used to limit the rights of anyone who was more than half Native. These measures were carried forward into the 19th and 20th centuries to limit the federal government’s treaty obligations to Natives. Tribes started using blood quantum in their en...
Posted 11/4/2021
Posted 11/4/2021
Sealaska is continuing its effort to understand our shareholders’ views and priorities about the current eligibility requirements to enroll as a shareholder. Beginning today, Thursday, Nov. 4, Sealaska shareholders are invited to take a 15-minute survey online or over the phone about blood quantum and eligibility. Shareholders will receive a unique PIN number via email and on a print…
Posted 11/3/2021
Posted 11/3/2021
Welcome!
Identity and belonging are some of the most deeply felt, emotional issues for Native people. Many of us – regardless of whether we grew up immersed in our culture and on our lands – have questioned whether we are “Native enough.” Maybe it’s because we don’t speak the language. Maybe it’s because our skin is light. Maybe it’s because we aspire to live a more traditional lifestyle than...
Posted 10/28/2021
Posted 10/28/2021
Sealaska hosted its second in the “#NativeEnough” series of virtual events centered on the issue of blood quantum Tuesday night, Oct. 26. The purpose of the event was to provide background on blood quantum – how it was incorporated into the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, its history related to enrollment requirements at Sealaska, what tribes and other Alaska Native Corporations require…
Posted 10/25/2021
Posted 10/25/2021
Five years ago, when Sealaska began to embrace the idea of businesses revolving around ocean health, the concept was just an aspiration, COO Terry Downes said at this year’s annual meeting. It was an idea inspired by Sealaska’s owners, rooted in the collective wisdom, heritage and knowledge of thousands of people, cultivated over thousands of years in Southeast Alaska.
Posted 10/13/2021
Posted 10/13/2021
Sealaska shareholders and followers of Sealaska social media channels were asked a simple question about a month ago: “Tell us how blood quantum impacts you.” During a lunch-hour Zoom and Facebook Live event on Wednesday, Oct. 13, Sealaska shared some of those answers. The event also provided background information on the different classes of stock currently available in Sealaska…
Posted 9/30/2021
Posted 9/30/2021
Sealaska is teaming up with the Central Council of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska to distribute its $4.2 million in Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) funding from the federal government to eligible shareholders. The application will be live beginning Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. Tlingit & Haida has generously contributed an additional $1.8 million to make the…
Posted 9/24/2021
Posted 9/24/2021
Sealaska is proud to share the winners of our 2021 #SealaskaWayOfLife photo contest! We created the #SealaskaWayOfLife photo contest in 2020 because we want to see what the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian way of life looks like through your lens, celebrate our culture and heritage and foster connection within our communities and beyond—especially amid the pandemic. This year…
Posted 8/31/2021
Posted 8/31/2021
Many shareholders are asking about Sealaska’s CARES Act funding, and how the $4.2 million amount of its allocation was determined. The U.S. Department of the Treasury created the formula for how CARES Act money was allocated to tribes and Alaska Native corporations (ANCs). The most important thing is that Alaska Natives in Southeast Alaska are receiving additional support at a crucial time.
Posted 8/12/2021
Posted 8/12/2021
Sealaska shareholders approved a resolution to establish a settlement trust for Sealaska by a margin greater than three to one during the election that concluded Saturday, June 26. The trust, which is similar to those established by dozens of other Alaska Native regional and village corporations, will free Sealaska shareholders from paying federal income tax on their dividends.
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 5/28/2021
Posted 5/28/2021
Hearts are heavy at Sealaska after the passing of Sealaska director Albert Kookesh, Tlingit leader, former senator, business owner and fierce advocate for Alaska Natives. Albert died at his home in Angoon, surrounded by family, his children and grandchildren. “Today, we mourn the loss of a colleague, a friend, a champion of Alaska Native people,” said Sealaska Chair Joe Nelson.
Posted 5/25/2021
Posted 5/25/2021
At Vandenberg Air Force base in 2019, Air Force staff and partners were focused on cleansing groundwater that had been polluted with chlorinated hydrocarbons, runoff from solvents that were used to spray down missile engines prior to launch. But the challenge was bigger than toxins in the water. Threatened vernal pool fairy shrimp, red-legged frogs and other endemic species in a nearby stream had…
Posted 5/7/2021
Posted 5/7/2021
The 2020 Sealaska annual report was sent to shareholders on May 5, 2021. Sealaska’s communications team met with President & CEO Anthony Mallott to get his thoughts on last year’s performance and describe how the company’s ocean health businesses are leading to increased shareholder benefits. The full annual report is available online by clicking here. What are the highlights from 2020 from a…
Posted 5/4/2021
Posted 5/4/2021
Sealaska is deeply grateful for the service of two of its board members who have chosen not to seek another term on the board. These two men have contributed mightily to our company, and their service and commitment to our people has been of incalculable value. Sealaska director Albert Kookesh, formally announced he will not seek another term on the Sealaska Board of Directors.
Posted 5/4/2021
Posted 5/4/2021
Sealaska is deeply grateful for the service of two of its board members who have chosen not to seek another term on the board. These two men have contributed mightily to our company, and their service and commitment to our people has been of incalculable value. Sealaska director Tate London formally announced he will not seek another term on the Sealaska Board of Directors.
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 4/8/2021
Posted 4/8/2021
Growing up in Juneau, Rain Felkl had no fear of the mountains, she said. Her parents would let her play at the glacier or spend the night on top of Thunder Mountain unsupervised, entrusting XTRATUF boots, hand-me-down outdoor gear and the unwavering confidence that characterizes childhood with her safe return home. “They [my parents] didn’t instill fear in us when it came to the outdoors,”…
Posted 3/30/2021
Posted 3/30/2021
Amy Hallingstad was a champion for civil rights causes in Alaska, desegregating schools and other public facilities, advocating for equal pay for women and quality health care for Alaska Natives, and tearing down signs that read “No Natives Allowed.” She fought the most serious challenges faced by her people for most of her life, earning the unofficial title of “First Lady for the First…
Posted 3/29/2021
Posted 3/29/2021
Sealaska’s most recent virtual event invited panelists to share their experiences with cold water dips, an ancient ritual among our people that was designed to fortify the body and spirit against a wide range of difficulties, from weather to warfare. The live virtual event, moderated by Sealaska Board Chair Joe Nelson, featured Richard Peterson, Sarah Dybdahl, Barbara Blake…
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 2/24/2021
Posted 2/24/2021
San Diego’s new mayor, Todd Gloria, is Tlingit, Filipino and has Dutch and Puerto Rican roots. He often describes himself as the proud son of a hotel maid and a gardener. Gloria is San Diego’s first non-white mayor, and also its first LGBTQ mayor. “I’ve been the first of many things in my career,” Gloria said. “The goal is always not to be the last one.
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
On Feb. 2, Fred (Sḵwaal) Hamilton, Sr. of Craig will mark his 100th birthday. The day has been designated by the Craig City Council as Fred Hamilton, Sr. Day. Hamilton is the son of George (Siigaay) Hamilton, Sr. and Joy (Haana Iwaans) Edenso Hamilton. He is of the Raven moiety and his crests are Owl, Brown Bear and Flicker. Longevity is in his genes. Hamilton’s dad lived to be just shy of…
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
Sealaska shareholders have told us that investing in traditional languages is a top priority. In 2019, Sealaska set up an endowment to support the revitalization of the Tlingit (Lingít), Haida (X̠aad Kíl) and Tsimshian (Sm’algya̠x) traditional languages. Sealaska hosted an hour-long discussion on traditional languages on Wednesday, December 9, 2020. Sealaska Director Lisa Ka’illjuus Lang…
Posted 11/19/2020
Posted 11/19/2020
Close your eyes. Clear your mind. When you hear the word ‘scientist,’ who do you envision? Is it an ‘old guy,’ with ‘crazy hair’ in a ‘lab coat’ with ‘glasses’? Is he ‘white’? If those are the words you used, you’re just like the kids in Hydaburg City School District used to be. That is, before they met Wendy F. Smythe and learned a new way to think of themselves and to value their…
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 10/29/2020
Posted 10/29/2020
It is with great sadness, but also reverence, respect and gratitude for his innumerable contributions, that we share the news of the passing of Tlingit Elder and culture bearer Kingeistí David Katzeek. Katzeek was a clan leader for the Eagle moiety, Shangukeidí (Thunderbird Clan) of Klukwan. Katzeek was from Kaawdliyaayi Hít (House Lowered from the Sun), and Shis’g̠i Hít (Tree Bark House) in…
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 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 9/15/2020
Posted 9/15/2020
Late this summer, a series of happy coincidences led 40 Yakutat kids out of the doldrums of the pandemic and into the icy waters of the North Pacific for a series of surf camps in Yakutat’s legendary waves. Their time in the water brought welcome joy, healthy connection to the ocean, and an opportunity to open minds and overcome fears. “I’ve been so used to everything being sad this year…
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 8/31/2020
Posted 8/31/2020
The 2020 summer interns have proven to be resilient and adaptive, as their anticipated work experiences shifted from in-person employment to remote work due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sealaska welcomed 18 summer interns this year for its first ever remote internship program. This year’s interns — like so many people across the country — worked entirely from home, exchanging office time for…
Posted 8/25/2020
Posted 8/25/2020
Sealaska hosted an inaugural #SealaskaWayOfLife photo contest, inviting our social media audience to showcase their Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian way of life. Overwhelmingly, it was clear that “our way of life” revolves around our children, traditional foods, communities, and land, oceans and waterways. At Sealaska, we directly relate with this way of life and have committed to serving the twin…
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 6/28/2020
Posted 6/28/2020
Shareholders receive news at 2020 annual meeting The 47th annual meeting of Sealaska shareholders featured record-breaking news for the company. The election of three women to the board of directors means that, for the first time ever, women make up the majority of board members. The company also announced record financial performance, which enabled significant growth in shareholder…
Posted 6/22/2020
Posted 6/22/2020
After discussing where Maka came from and how she was taking on her current projects on climate change and social injustice, we asked her flat out, “why?” Why youth, why now? Her answer… “My people are resilient people. I remember, as a child, sitting at our old wooden kitchen table after dinner while my grandfather spoke about how the Tlingit people trained to stay strong and healthy.
Posted 6/11/2020
Posted 6/11/2020
When our Elders came together for the first Sealaska Elders Conference 40 years ago, a single theme emerged: preserving the past and passing it on to future generations. We hear this loud and clear in the “Because We Cherish You” text: “Even from long ago, our grandchildren — we placed high above ourselves. Yes. We cherish them.” Our Elders’ beautiful words inspire Sealaska to be a better…
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 6/4/2020
Posted 6/4/2020
It is natural that Morgan Howard sees the future of Sealaska – as well as its challenges – through the lens of communications. As founder of Morgan Howard Productions, a communications company specializing in video, web, and social media, he has been telling the stories of Alaska Native people and Alaska Native Corporations (ANCs) since the mid-1990s. Howard said he believes that…
Posted 5/29/2020
Posted 5/29/2020
For 12 years, Angela Michaud’s dual-track career in health care and executive leadership has prepared her to serve on the Sealaska Board of Directors. Her lifetime connection to her Tlingit culture and deep connections to Southeast Alaska, especially Ketchikan and Hoonah, have prepared her to serve her people. Michaud was born and raised in Ketchikan. She is Tlingit Chookendei and T’…
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 5/28/2020
Posted 5/28/2020
Sealaska published the 2019 Annual Report on May 1, 2020. Shareholders can view at MySealaska.com. We are sharing excerpts from the document. Sealaska leaders created the Sealaska Heritage Foundation in 1980 after hearing from a cross-section of Elders at a gathering held in Sitka. The Elders spoke of their hands growing weary as they clutched on to our culture. Forty years later…
Posted 5/13/2020
Posted 5/13/2020
As the primary caretaker for her mother, working from home, and now an at-home-educator for her son and foster daughter, Candice Cook is navigating the many obstacles of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cook is a Sealaska shareholder descendant from Hydaburg who lives in the Seattle area. As she saw the effects of the pandemic over the course of the past month, her thoughts kept going back to her hometown.
Posted 5/4/2020
Posted 5/4/2020
In light of COVID-19, food banks all over the country have seen an onslaught of demand as store shelves have gone bare, and unemployment rates have climbed. Mike Reusser, director of operations for the Food Bank of Alaska , says it hasn’t been any different in Alaska, with distribution numbers up 50 percent since the crisis ensued in mid-March, totaling in at approximately 1 million pounds of…
Posted 5/1/2020
Posted 5/1/2020
Sealaska’s board of directors set out to improve its own performance a number of years ago through training, self-assessment and a gap analysis. Purposeful change often takes time and discipline. The board has experienced dramatic and intentional change over the last six years. Strong performance requires high expectations, training, high-level recruitment and healthy teamwork.
Posted 4/24/2020
Posted 4/24/2020
For the last two weeks, the @Southeast Alaska Food Bank and Sealaska transformed the parking lot of the Sealaska Plaza in Juneau into the Food Bank’s first-ever mobile food pantry. The Food Bank staff provided people in need with more than 5,400 pounds of food—including shelf staples, fresh produce and milk—in just over one hour at each event. “It’s a new thing. We were trying to find out how…
Posted 4/15/2020
Posted 4/15/2020
Bill Bennett keeps a bentwood box in his office containing dozens of handwritten thank you notes. He also displays many of the notes on his office wall. Bennett is the general manager for Alaska Coastal Aggregates, a Sealaska subsidiary. He also manages the Sealaska Carving and Bark Program. The team — Frank Peratrovich, Gary Mills and Bill Bennett — take great pride in the work to…
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
Sealaska’s board of directors recently approved a $1 million COVID-19 relief and recovery package to help Alaska Native communities respond to the impact from the coronavirus. We all have a role to play in helping our shareholder families and neighbors, and we are all in this together.
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 3/27/2020
Posted 3/27/2020
Dear Sealaska Shareholders: As the healthcare provider of choice in our communities, SEARHC has gone to great lengths in response to the arrival of COVID-19 in Southeast Alaska. Our mission of providing the highest quality healthcare to our patients and communities continues to be our focus. This outbreak is unlike any other threat our organization has experienced, and the Consortium has…
Posted 3/16/2020
Posted 3/16/2020
Sealaska is sad to announce the passing of longtime director Marjorie (Marge) V. Young from Craig, Alaska. Marge served on the board from 1979 to 2009 and held positions as chair and vice chair during her years of service. Marge was a successful business owner in her hometown of Craig. She operated AC Thompson House Grocery Store and the Hill Bar & Liquor Store for nearly five decades.
Posted 3/9/2020
Posted 3/9/2020
Sealaska is increasing its involvement in the education of shareholders and descendants long before they are eligible for a college scholarship. One example is our sponsorship of the Alaska Native Science and Engineering Program (ANSEP) Middle School Academy. ANSEP, as the program is known, is based at the University of Alaska. Over the past 20-plus years, the program has evolved into a…
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 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 1/17/2020
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 11/13/2019
Posted 11/13/2019
Accounting Intern Finds Career Confidence while Connecting with Tlingit Heritage By: Mikki Moriarty, 2019 Accounting Intern I have found more grounding and confidence in this field. My accounting internship with Sealaska has been amazing! During the work day I have been assisting with quarterly reconciliations, reconciling shareholder liability accounts, creating logical arguments in…
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 10/17/2019
Posted 10/17/2019
As part of Sealaska’s commitment to improving the way it communicates with shareholders, the company unveiled its new Shareholder Participation Committee in October. A diverse group of Sealaska shareholders met over the course of three days to help the committee identify goals to help support Sealaska and provide more effective channels to collect feedback from shareholders.
Posted 7/29/2019
Posted 7/29/2019
Molly of Denali YouTube channel. Follow the adventures of 10-year-old Molly Mabray. Molly of Denali is a new animated series that follows the adventures of 10-year-old Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl from the Gwich’in/Koyukon/Dena’ina Athabascan tribes in the fictional village of Qyah. The show is produced by Boston public television station WGBH and aired on PBS stations this month.
Posted 6/6/2019
Posted 6/6/2019
Vote online at MySealaska.com or vote your paper proxy. We hear from shareholders every year about questions on how to vote your proxy. Thank you for watching.
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 3/19/2019
Posted 3/19/2019
Sealaska is growing, and that growth is rooted in core businesses that are working to manage healthy lands, create exponential value and demonstrate sustainable stewardship. Our recent financial stability has enabled us to increase investments in what we care most about: our people and communities. This October, Sealaska invested in a local community program that directly betters elders in rural…
Posted 12/7/2018
Posted 12/7/2018
All around the world at precisely the same time, weather balloons are released and rise to the top of the earth’s atmosphere. Sensors attached to the 5-feet wide balloons take snapshots of the weather every few seconds – temperature, humidity, pressure, and wind speed – as they rise up to 100,000 feet and drift as far as 125 miles depending on wind speeds.
Posted 10/7/2018
Posted 10/7/2018
Sealaska is the first Native Corporation in Southeast to adopt a tobacco-free campus policy This year, Sealaska Corporation headquarters officially became a tobacco-free campus and is the first Alaska Native Corporation in the State of Alaska to implement such a policy. SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) commends Sealaska for protecting their employees, shareholders, tenants…
Posted 9/4/2018
Posted 9/4/2018
The Klawock community came together in late August and stood up a totem pole representing all branches of the U.S. military. The totem now stands in the newly named Veterans Memorial Totem Park. U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, a member of both the Senate Armed Forces and Veterans’ Affairs Committees, was a guest speaker at the event. “Alaska has more veterans per capita than any other state in the…
Posted 8/30/2018
Posted 8/30/2018
Summer in Juneau, Alaska, means another class of interns gets to experience Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) behind-the-scenes. Celebration, research projects, collections housing and youth summer camps gave Breylan Martin, Miranda Worl, Lyndsey Brollini, Leah Urbanski and Leanna Owen insight into SHI’s mission to perpetuate Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian culture every day. Beyond the day-to-day…
Posted 8/30/2018
Posted 8/30/2018
by McKenna Hunt, Sealaska 2018 communications summer intern Picture this. You’re trekking through the deep brush on Prince of Wales Island, fighting off the mosquitos, basking in the dry Alaskan summer sun, all the while stopping now and then to take comfort in the intrepid silence that comes with setting foot onto the resilient land of Southeast Alaska.
Posted 7/10/2018
Posted 7/10/2018
Sealaska directors unanimously approved a resolution to deed Sealaska land in Wrangell to the federally recognized tribe, Wrangell Cooperative Association. The land is the location of Kiks.ádi Totem Park, dedicated in 1987. The land transfer was made official at the 2018 Sealaska annual meeting in Wrangell, Alaska. “It has always been Wrangell and the Wrangell Native community that had…
Posted 6/7/2018
Posted 6/7/2018
Sealaska recently completed well-attended community meetings in nine Southeast Alaska and Washington communities. In mid-May, we visited with nearly a thousand Sealaska shareholders, sharing updates about Sealaska and taking the time to listen and learn about each community’s concerns and ideas. To everyone who welcomed us and shared a meal with us, we thank you.
Posted 5/1/2018
Posted 5/1/2018
Each year professionals gather in Juneau, Alaska for the yearly Innovation Summit that is designed to inspire new perspectives. Sealaska President and CEO Anthony Mallott was invited to present on this year’s theme, Driving Innovation through Diversity. Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people have lived on the land and waters of Southeast Alaska for thousands of years. Respect for the environment…
Posted 2/6/2018
Posted 2/6/2018
Sealaska Technical Services LLC (STS) announced today that its joint venture with Tetra Tech, Inc. was selected to provide program management and technical services in support of the ground & surface water monitoring program at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory. The Sealaska Technical Services led Joint Venture is a critical subcontractor on the N3B Los…
