Dear Tribes and Tribal Members,
I hope this letter finds you well, and that you and your families had a successful hunting season. As the leaves change colors and the air grows colder, I trust that you were able to gather what you needed before the long winter ahead.
In August, I had the privilege of meeting with U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Senator Lisa Murkowski, along with other Tribal Leaders. We discussed the urgent need for improved public safety in Rural Alaska, where many communities lack essential services.
I’m pleased to share that U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced nearly $70 million in grant funding from the Justice Department’s Office for Victims of Crime to support American Indian and Alaska Native victims of crime. This is a significant step to address our community’s challenges.
Last month I also had the opportunity to meet with Secretary Marcia Fudge of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). During this meeting, I strongly advocated for larger increases in HUD funding for rural communities. While I genuinely appreciate the increases that have occurred over the past few years, we must ensure that these increments are sufficient to cover the cost of inflation.
Furthermore, it’s essential to recognize that the cost to build a home in rural Alaska significantly differs from the cost in other parts of the U.S. Additionally, the regulations and requirements imposed by HUD on the construction of homes contributes to escalating costs. Our tribal communities have consistently identified housing as their number one need, and addressing this issue is critical.
Secretary Fudge has agreed to establish a committee dedicated to discussing and identifying solutions to these housing challenges. This is a significant step forward, and we are committed to working collaboratively to find cost-effective solutions that will benefit our communities.
October promises to be a very busy month for TCC and our Tribes. There are several meetings taking place this month in Anchorage including the TCC Executive Board of Directors Meeting, the Alaska Tribal Unity Gathering, the Lower Yukon Subregional Meeting, and the Yukon Flats Subregional Meeting. These meetings are scheduled to take place between October 16-21. These gatherings provide opportunities for us to strengthen connections, share knowledge, and collaborate on issues of significance to our region.
The community of Galena will host an Economic Summit this month, a testament to our Tribes ongoing efforts to promote economic development within their communities. We believe in the potential of our people and are committed to creating opportunities for growth and prosperity.
Behind the scenes, our dedicated TCC staff is hard at work preparing for our Special Full Board of Directors Meeting, scheduled to take place from November 1st to 3rd in Fairbanks. This meeting promises to be an important time for us to come together and make decisions that will shape our path forward and we continue to strive towards our vision of Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes.
Mahsi’ Choo,
Chief/Chairman Brian Ridley
Tanana Chiefs Conference