Dear Tribes and Tribal Members,
We are excited to welcome Taa’ąįį Ch’igiiontà’ from Vashrąįį K’ǫǫ (Arctic Village) as the keynote speaker for our 2025 Annual Convention and Full Board of Directors Meeting this month. Taa’ąįį is a dedicated advocate for Indigenous knowledge, language revitalization, and community well-being. He will be joined on stage by his daughters, Na’ni’eezh and Ch’eelil, creating a powerful intergenerational presentation that highlights the importance of passing down traditional knowledge to future generations.
Last month, I attended the North Pacific Fisheries Management Meeting, where I provided testimony on bycatch and the urgent need for action to protect our salmon. I want to extend my gratitude to all our advocates who continue to show up and make our voices heard in these critical spaces. More details about this meeting can be found on page 9 of this newsletter.
Additionally, I attended the NCAI Executive Council Winter Session in Washington, D.C., where I, alongside members of our Executive Board, met with our Congressional Delegation. During these meetings, we continued to advocate on critical issues impacting our region, including Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) reform, pollock subsidies from the USDA, and the status of our large Solar for All grants from the EPA, which have been paused due to recent Executive Orders from the current Administration. These issues, among others, are at the forefront of our discussions as we work to protect funding and resources for our communities.
I understand that many of you have concerns regarding the current state of federal funding and how it may impact essential services. Please know that TCC is actively monitoring these developments. While the situation continues to evolve, we remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring that our programs and services continue uninterrupted.
As always, I appreciate your leadership, guidance, and the work you do for your communities. I look forward to seeing many of you at Convention and working together to build a stronger future for our people.
Mahsi’ Choo,
Chief Brian Ridley
Tanana Chiefs Conference