Native leaders unite & speak out

Sarah Lukin, Executive Director, Native American Contractors Association

She is a Kodiak shareholder and a shareholder of the Afognak Native Corporation. She explained that NACA is a national Native organization based in Washington D.C. that advocates for the rights of tribes, Alaska Native corporations, and Native Hawaiians in government contracting, particularly in the SBA 8(a) program. Read full article...

Julie Kitka, President, Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN)

MS. KITKA said her testimony today speaks to the legal and equitable basis of the Small Business Administration 8(a) program and its importance to the Native people of Alaska. Providing background, she explained that the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) is Alaska's largest statewide Native organization. Read full article...

Barney Uhart, President, Chugach Alaska Corporation (CAC)

MR. UHART explained that CAC, which is the regional corporation for the Prince William Sound area of Alaska, includes five Native villages and the communities of Cordova, Valdez, Whittier, and Seward. The corporation was created in the '70s; its first businesses included fish processing, timbering, and minor construction and maintenance on TAPS. Read full article...

Maver Carey, President and CEO, The Kuskokwim Corporation

Seven years ago when she became CEO, TKC had a stock and bond portfolio and passive real estate investments that paid for administrative overhead and minimal dividend to the 1,100 shareholders. Since then TKC formed a holding company that has two 8(a) companies and non-8(a) subsidiaries that provide revenue back to the parent corporation. Read full article...

Roy Tansy, Jr. Chief Operating Officer, Ahtna Inc.

Mr. Tansy said that about 45 percent of Ahtna's budget is dedicated to shareholder benefits including scholarships, ten internships, and $3,000 death benefits to shareholders. The corporation has been able to addresses issues and protections such as the homesite program, culture preservation, and subsistence preservation. Read full article...