Dear Tribal Leaders,
Last month, I, along with members of our Executive Board and Interior Tribal leaders, had the honor of attending the White House Tribal Nations Summit in Washington, D.C. This summit provided a valuable platform to engage directly with the outgoing administration, including President Biden and Vice President Harris. We were able to thank their administrative staff for their efforts and accomplishments, including the Gravel-to-Gravel Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the successful Department of the Interior (DOI) self-governance agreement. These milestones are a testament to the progress we can achieve through collaboration. We look forward to meeting the new administrative staff as they are brought on board and building those relationships to ensure strong advocacy on behalf of our Tribes.
I also want to bring your attention to an important event taking place in February. The North Pacific Fisheries Management Council (NPFMC) will be hosting a meeting in Anchorage from February 3rd to February 12th. This meeting is critical for addressing the challenges we face regarding fisheries management and sustainability. TCC is offering to cover the travel expenses for one representative from each TCC village to attend. When we show up in numbers, we send a clear and powerful message that these issues matter deeply to us and our communities. I encourage you to take advantage of this opportunity, and I look forward to seeing many of you there.
As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting our Tribal communities, I am pleased to share that the Executive Board has once again approved an Economic Development Fund distribution for our Tribes this year. These funds can be used for any projects that promote economic development within your community. Additionally, we will be sending out a fund balance distribution, which provides unrestricted funds for your Tribe to use as needed. These distributions reflect our dedication to empowering Tribes with the resources needed to achieve their goals and address their unique priorities.
I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! I am looking forward to all that we will accomplish together in the coming year. Let us continue to work collaboratively to strengthen our communities and build a brighter future for generations to come.
Mahsi’ Choo,
Chief Brian Ridley
Tanana Chiefs Conference