Dear fellow shareholders,

This year’s AFN Convention served as a vital platform for the Alaska Native community, focusing on critical issues such as customary and traditional hunting and fishing, state and federal legislative matters, and education. During the Convention, delegates engaged in discussions about strategic opportunities and challenges, while enjoying inspiring keynote speeches and insightful reports from political leaders. Expert panels presented valuable information, and participants shared experiences, strengths, knowledge, stories of resilience, and aspirations for the future. It was wonderful to see so many Ahtna shareholders at AFN, sharing in the discussions and participating in this important event. The Ahtna shareholder reception was a great success as well, providing a warm and welcoming space to connect and visit with one another. Thank you to all our shareholders who make our shareholder reception a “must attend” event each year. To those for whom this may have been your first time attending, we hope you enjoyed the experience and look forward to seeing you at future receptions! It is truly heartwarming to come together to discuss AFN Convention business as well as to share information that is important to our shareholders.

We are proud to congratulate Ahtna, Inc. Chairman Nicholas Jackson on receiving the prestigious Citizen of the Year award from AFN at this year’s Convention. This well-deserved honor recognizes Chairman Jackson’s lifetime of service to the Ahtna people, Alaska Native communities, and the State of Alaska. He has been a vocal advocate for customary and traditional hunting and fishing rights, actively protecting the subsistence lifestyle of the Ahtna people. His traditional knowledge, combined with a modern understanding of environmental changes, has made him a trusted leader and mentor for Ahtna shareholders and Alaska Natives. Chairman Jackson’s life has been defined by his service to others, from his military service to his advocacy for the protection of Ahtna lands and resources. Today, as Chairman of Ahtna, Inc., he continues to be a guiding force, always with an eye on the future while honoring the past. It was a powerful and emotional moment to witness the Ahtna people standing alongside Chairman Jackson as he received this richly deserved award. Seeing so many of our shareholders on stage in support of our Chairman was a testament to the strength of our people and the deep respect we hold for Chairman Jackson’s lifelong dedication and service. We are fortunate to have such a dedicated and selfless leader, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to him for this remarkable achievement. You can read more about the award and our Chairman here.

Also in October, I had the honor of signing a historic agreement between Ahtna, Inc. and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to manage 17(b) easements, marking the first-ever compact between an Alaska Native Corporation and the BLM. Before embarking on this path, we consulted closely with our Tribes and gained their full support, ensuring that this agreement aligns with the values and priorities of our people.

These easements provide public access through Ahtna’s privately owned land to public lands, and the agreement gives Ahtna the authority to directly oversee their upkeep and protection. By managing the 17(b) easements, Ahtna can ensure sustainable public access while safeguarding our lands from environmental damage and unauthorized use. These efforts will including improving trail maintenance, enhancing signage, and reducing trespassing, creating benefits for both Ahtna shareholders and the public. This partnership exemplifies Ahtna’s ongoing commitment to responsible land stewardship and preserving our lands for future generations. Read more about the agreement on page 6.

After decades of work, we are happy to announce that Ahtna has achieved a historic milestone by successfully reacquiring 5,408 acres of land near Gakona that was once home to the infamous High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP). This land, of great cultural and traditional significance, was originally sold to the U.S. Air Force in 1989. After nearly four decades of dedication and strategic planning, including the establishment of the Ahtna Land Fund, Ahtna was able to repurchase the land. The reacquisition represents a meaningful return of ancestral lands, fulfilling a long-held goal of the corporation and exemplifying Ahtna’s ongoing commitment to protecting our lands for future generations. You can read more about this effort here.

Early this September, I visited the Denali National Park (DNP) Headquarters for a productive meeting with Park Superintendent Brooke Merrill, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve (WRST) Superintendent Ben Bobowski, and their teams. For our Glennallen headquarters team, our goal was to establish a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the DNP like the one we have with WRST, which has facilitated collaboration on various projects such as the reopening of the Ahtna Cultural Center. We also met with Denali Borough Mayor Chris Noel, who shared updates about the local school in Cantwell, and Tribal Liaison Danielle Stickman, who is working on incorporating traditional place names into the DNP’s 20-year interpretive plan. We also discussed various land planning efforts underway, DNP projects & priorities, and WRST updates. Our visit concluded with a short hike alongside Superintendent Merrill and her team, further fostering our collaboration. This hike was my first real hike inside the park, and to say I was astonished by the natural beauty and peaks of Denali would be an understatement. Meetings like these are vital in furthering Ahtna’s priorities by building relationships with key federal entities and opening doors for ongoing discussions on how best to serve the Ahtna people. These partnerships help ensure that Ahtna’s cultural and environmental interests are protected while creating opportunities for collaboration on important projects that benefit our shareholders.

Tsin’aen,

Michelle Anderson, President
Ahtna, Incorporated