Shauna Hegna: Alaska Native corporations serve tribal communities

The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) mid-year conference was supposed to be a time for gathering and celebration after being kept apart by the pandemic for several years. As Alaska Native leaders, we were thrilled to welcome our Indigenous friends from the Lower 48 to our beautiful homelands as we work toward common goals.

We will still do those things, because there will always be far more that we have in common with one another than there are attempts to divide us. However, we must recognize the unfortunate and unnecessary conflict that has been created at this conference through a continued effort by a handful of individuals that would harm Alaska Native people by marginalizing Alaska Native corporations (ANC). These actions have proven in the past to divide and weaken our broader Indigenous community.

Shauna Hegna

Shauna Hegna. Courtesy photo