Community Perspective
Tanana Chiefs Conference looks for partners
Published Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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Stumble It!Nearly a century ago, a group of concerned Alaska Native leaders gathered to stop the Alaska Railroad from going through sacred burial grounds near Nenana. The year was 1915, and the Native people that worked together on that single issue planted the seeds that founded the Tanana Chiefs Conference.
Tanana Chiefs Conference has grown since those early days, but the passion of that first meeting in 1915 lives on. TCC is a Fairbanks-based, Alaska Native, nonprofit corporation that is infusing new energy and entrepreneurial ideas with institutional and traditional cultural knowledge.
TCC officially incorporated in 1962, when leaders from 32 villages met in Tanana and agreed to work together to ensure Alaska Native people and Alaska Native land rights will be respected.
Our role shifted after the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act became law in 1971. ANCSA created 13 regional Native corporations that received land and money with the hope of addressing the social and economic needs of Alaska Natives. TCC played a role in forming Doyon Ltd. as the regional for-profit corporation in Interior Alaska. TCC then took the role of administering health and social service programs for the region.
Today, TCC manages the Chief Andrew Isaac Heath Center in Fairbanks and has a diligent, dedicated staff of more than 600 people who work toward meeting the health and social service needs of approximately 14,000 Alaska Natives spread across a region of 235,000 square miles in Interior Alaska. TCC serves more than 40 villages and has an operating budget of more than $80 million.
We are one of several Native entities based here that contribute to Alaska and Fairbanks socially, culturally and economically. According to a study by Fairbanks-based public policy research firm Information Insights, Alaska Native organizations in Interior Alaska bring more than $300 million dollars a year into our community. In fact, we bring more than $500 million a year to Alaska and create more than 9,000 jobs statewide.
Native entities in Fairbanks are creating economic growth and opportunity in Fairbanks and beyond through employment, annual spending and locally provided health care services.
I want to establish TCC as an effective service provider to our tribal communities as well as a viable economic force for the future growth of our region and state.
To accomplish these goals, we have to go about things differently. We want to form innovative and dynamic partnerships that will help TCC grow. It starts by working more closely with our sister Native organizations and expanding stronger relationships with the Fairbanks North Star Borough, the state and private industry.
An example of the type of partnership we want to develop is one we have with ConocoPhillips and BP on the Denali gas line project. We’ve assisted Denali in resource management on individual Indian Native allotments that fall in their project area and have facilitated meetings with tribal governments. TCC has independently been meeting with federal agencies for several years on a strategy to facilitate appropriate participation in the “fast-tracked” environmental review for a gasline project. All of the directly impacted communities along the proposed gas pipeline in Alaska are located in the TCC region and we are assisting to ensure that their concerns are addressed.
We have also started a for-profit venture called Dena Nena Henash Inc. DNH has three limited liability corporation partners: DNH Management, DNH Construction and DNH Fuels. The goal is to create ownership of projects we are involved with. For example, when a water and sewer project is funded in an Interior village, we will bid on the project as a contractor. This does two significant things. First, it creates local ownership and involvement on a project that can lead to long-term success. Second, the profit comes back to TCC and allows us to supplement our social service missions in areas where federal and state finding are decreasing. This can create more flexibility and efficiency in delivering our services.
Part of developing these partnerships requires TCC, Doyon Ltd., Doyon Foundation, Fairbanks Native Association, Denakkanaaga Inc. and the Interior Regional Housing Authority to start talking about what we do and looking at our region and state for areas where we can form partnerships to help make our community economically, physically and socially healthier.
Together, we can improve the quality of life in Fairbanks. Together, we make Interior Alaska a better place, just like those leaders who started TCC a century ago, by working together to assure positive change.
Jerry Isaac is President of Tanana Chiefs Conference.
Community Discussion
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Jerry Isaac is an honorable man and doing great things for his people. His visions are true and must be respected. Togather we stand in legitimate reasonings.
May I add, Mike, an incompetent federally funded contractor.
The only thing TCC is good at is milkin' money from the gov.
foxalaska - before you start the negative comments, look into TCC and what Mr. Isaac is trying to do. TCC is federally funded, he is trying to make the company more self sufficient by creating for profit entities.
Also, TCC isn't given money - as any non-profit goes they have to take it. It dwindles every year, that's why visionary leaders like Mr. Isaac are exactly what the Native people need.
Frank_Costello you overlook that TCC started with free money and free land taken from working taxpayers. That has turned into a welfare program for free health care, housing, transportation, education, heat, 4-wheelers, boats, electricity, telephones, TV, travel and you name it. It is also for natives only ... not those working taxpayers paying for it. It is hard to imaging how some of the native leaders can sit and watch their culture willingly evolve into a welfare class of people.
Now, with great vision and stewardship, TCC wants to partner with more of these working taxpayers on a for- profit basis claiming they contribute to Alaska .... give me a break please. TCC contributes precisely nothing to Alaska or Alaskans., They are an exclusive club and working taxpayers are paying the bill. Like BigMikes sewer job …LOL.
8A contractors … now there is a real scheme bringing out most all of the sleaze bags. That has been going on forever and for the most part they are asked to just stay home and we will send you a check ...LOL. 98% incompetent. The remainder use some non-profit like TCC to gain that status instead of being competitive like they should. That in itself breads poor performance and sub-standard work. 8A contracts are right up there with cleaning the out house!
James - Your out of your mind!! "TCC contributes precisely nothing to Alaska or Alaskans." Hhahaha. If TCC moved it's operation out of Fairbanks, like WEIO and AFN did, you'd see such a great impact it would make your head spin. Why do you think the city of fairbanks and the borough KISS TCC's ass? Why do the banks try and keep the 80 million plus in their vaults. It's not because they are nice guys.
If you could do it, you would. Quit being a jealous little girl james.
I have very mixed feelings on this issue. I support Native efforts fully but TCC, in my opinion, is a racist organization and any jobs they do get will have Native preference and hurt non-Native job seekers. TCC's leadership is divisive and harmful to any effort to create harmony among all Alaskans. The leaders spend a lot of money at the 'top' and on gifts for each other. They are not required to follow 'normal' equal opportunity laws. TCC does live on tax dollars and there already are for-profit Native organizations that operate like most businesses and should be helping fund the 'non-profit' service organization. I fully believe that Native Americans should get health care which is mostly the only benefit they get but I don't agree with the racial hiring practices of organizations like TCC.
Frank_Costello-I know TCC well and also know some folk working there that has stolen huge amounts of building materials and Jerry(who I happen to like, but is a lousy manager) hasn't done a thing about it. It's crooked top to bottom-ask the folks in Galena.
James- free land?!!?!?!? FREE LAND!!!????? You have no idea what can of worms you just opened! The land was the Natives in the first place, and USA decided to “buy” Alaska from a country that did not own it- and the absconded with what land they deemed profitable. Just like every other time they saw gold, oil, or any other resource they thought was profitable, they did what they could to get the Natives the heck off that land.
Ok. So lets move on. Do you mean to infer that Natives do not work, or that they do not pay taxes? Which one. ‘cuz let me tell you a great many Natives work very hard, and they (just like everyone else) pay their fair share of taxes.
“TCC contributes precisely nothing to Alaska or Alaskans.,” now you are trying to say that the Native people that TCC aids everyday are not Alaskans too? Not to mention things that TCC does bring to the community which positively impacts more that just the Native people.
Man…I think you are full of 98% hot air, and maybe 2% brain. You want to go around talking about things which you have no idea, and spouting numbers you have no clue about. I will return the favor. I don’t even think I could tell you to go educate yourself- I don’t believe there is enough there to educate.
Sure, TCC has native preference in hiring. That certainly doesn't mean that a native is hired every time there's a job opening. Have you visited their offices lately? There are non-natives sitting behind a good portion of those desks. Out of curiousity, I stopped there last month when visiting Fairbanks, and the non-native employees are very well represented at TCC.
Native preference hire is only if the applicant is just as or more qualified than non-native. Or that is what I have always been told by many corporations and TCC as well. Interpeted differently by many who are in the final hiring group.
The Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, originally adopted by Congress in 1975, requires Native preference hiring for federal programs that are designed to benefit Native people. The Act is commonly referred to as "Public Law 638" or "PL 638". The federal agencies that comply with PL 638 are primarily the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Indian Health Service (IHS), and recently, the Bureau of Land Management.
Public Law 638 requires that federal contracts and grants to Indian organizations or for the benefit of Indians, give preference and opportunities for training and employment in connection to Indians, to the greatest extent feasible. Also, preference in the award of subcontracts and subgrants shall be given to Indian organizations and to Indian-owned economic enterprises. The non-profit Native corporations across Alaska are contractors for BIA and Indian Health Services under PL 638 and can therefore give hiring preference to Natives.3
A report released in December of 1991 and prepared for the Senate Select Committee on Indian Affairs of the United States Senate included a comprehensive listing of the government programs which are at least in part for the benefit of Native people. The report, entitled "Federal Programs of Assistance to Native Americans", lists the Survey of Indian Lands under the Bureau of Land Management as an opportunity to qualify under PL 638. Tribal organization contractors are now availing themselves of this opportunity to provide training and employment in the completion of the field surveying,monumentation and platting of the remaining Indian lands in Alaska.
TCC needs to talk to Ralph Nader for support. For decades he has supported many resouces we need developed, he is not "new" in supporting Alaska or development of Alaska's resources for Alaskans by Alaskans. Nader votes for Alaska even when our elected did not. Nader didn't join the band wagon in the last year like others running. Nader has decades of changes that improve our lives.
http://www.votenader.org/issues/
It is good to see that the nonprofits have finally realized that the federal monies should not be the bulk of the income for them to operate. Southcentral and Southeastern regional non profits started this years ago and have been able to become less and less dependent on government income. Self determination and self supporting should be the goal of any non profit, end the dependency on government money to operate. How often has one seen non profit programs in this town disappear when the government money dries up. For example, where is the shelter for run away teens since the funding ended? Gone.
TCC has helped many Alaskan people, non-natives also. I also know they have had some inside dishonestly problems in the past. However, moving to ideas such as for-profit arms in a non-profit organization is a great idea. Lately I have been noticing that every article that has anything positive to say about native people working hard, people like James comment with racist mean uneducated wise cracks. Trying to insinuate that natives were given free land and free everything else. Was my mom given the free tree that shed the rain drops off of her, as she birthed her daughter under that tree with no doctor out in the middle of the woods. It doesn't matter what the article is written about, James and others will still take it as a chance to throw down racist comments about Alaskan natives not working and handed everything. We could all see right through you James, you need to find out why you are on here making racist comments. I am on here, because of you James. I just got sick of all this crap people have been saying about natives. Every time something positive is said about how a program is set up to help, there is some of these comments. The thing is, my dad was tall, blond and blue eyed, and he was a native when he died in his own eyes and in ours. So I don't think being native is what's in your blood, it's how you live by respect and hard work.
TCC does creat jobs, jobs for their friends....
Oh and the clinic has huge flatscreen tvs that they watch the Goonies on to pass time. They should have used that smoking cessation grant money for the smoking prgram. Who knows the next time I pass threw there they will be serving popcorn.
fbksak1 you also have issues. Oh, and the hospital does not have televisions to watch? And I have seen them at other Drs. offices and Dentists' as well. Not only that as long as you have to wait there for an appointment or your prescription (mostly due to lack of staff I think), one should have SOMETHING to do while there. Adults can bring books or stitching (I do), but what about the kids? Don't be ridiculous- there is nothing wrong with a TV or with the old Goonies movie.
fbksak1
Did you expect a "Native Clinic" to have one of those old wooden tv's with an antenna?
Then you would have been thinking, "oh this must be the Native Clinic", lol!!
You said [Who knows the next time I pass threw there they will be serving popcorn.]
Dont you mean through there? Or did you literally throw yourself through the clinic?
I think the next time you walk THROUGH there, you should say "Hey, you darn Natives dont deserve a flat screen tv!" and see what they think about you.
fbksak1
The TV comment was so petty you should be ashamed of yourself and so far off the topic. TV - unbelievable comment!!!!
Fox Alaska, what folks should i ask in Galena? And what should i ask them ? Your comment makes no sense at all! I happen to think TCC is doing a fine job of running their non-profit organization under the direction of Jerry Isaac! I for one happen to think Galena should be the last people I would ask anything, most of the smaller villages in the Yukon-Koyukuk area are doing a far better job of running their village council's than they are, in my opinion!
LEGITIMATE TRIBE-is the word boys. The good guys are out and
trying to do whats right for everyone and thats is where we
all need to go as Alaskans.
TCC has been around a while.They should grow and expand there will be and always are non-native in the key positions.They make jobs for natives also but you need to be related to the administration.They pay well for little work also.So its hard to get in.Doyon is a fine representation of disenfranchisement of natives.The real postions are held by non-natives in their drilling ops,and other positions.But whenever Native men are running something they are targets immediately even by their own people
I think TCC is one of the best Native operations in the country and I've seen allot, there's something to be said about how good it was for the Feds to let Alaska Natives have Corporations instead of "sovereign nations" on "reservations", after all you HATERS should be GLAD these Natives up here aren't on a Federally recognized Reservation- then you would see CASINO'S........ooooo, scary.
An excellent clinic, they even see Natives from the lower48 and give them eye care. : )
A lot of the discussion on these issues represents a class struggle the middle class has eroded Fairbanks used to have a pretty tidy little niche for itself for years were work and jobs were closely controlled and "elite" middle class got the bacon and Natives got crumbs and were only hired to meet legal requirements.Everyone was happy then.I would prefer a local company getting contracts verses an outside controlled entity.You know the Alaskan storehouse mentality were resources and jobs in Alaska are fair pickings for outsiders.Local companies getting local contracts a big plus for the local area.Now lets see if they will put a lot of energy into job training for their constituents who are out in the villages that is the acid test.
joebtflsk- Do you actually have proof of allllll this extortion or did you just make it up because your jealous?
They are NOT the "mafia" they are just trying to make money like any other business (this IS America= CAPATALISM, if you don't like it then move to North Korea), is Doyon or TCC making a buck only wrong because they are Native?
Would you rather have a casino in Fairbanks, or a Native corporation?
American business landscape has been corrupt since its inception long before there were any thought of Native Corporations.Look at Ted and Don they were supposed to represent fine Alaskan values.They are tucked deep down in the back pockets of the oil regime.But thats business in this here country they havent lost their smile at all in fact its gleaming more now.They love this country.
"TCC MANAGES HEALTH CARE THROUGH CHIEF ANDREW ISAAC". Have you tried getting an appointment there lately? And if you're a woman and need an annual exam, it ain't gonna happen. Just WHAT does TCC do with its money for health care. Maybe Doyon should take over management of health care.
"no better than the rest"
where are the comments about THE REST?
Sooooo Native corporations are the only crooked companies in Alaska?
Or does it only matter when natives are corrupt or break laws?
You think all those mining, oil, and fishing industries in Alaska are squeaky clean with the bulk of their profits going to other states (or countries)? and they don't leave much behind here except pollution and cheap wages.
lol, Your top politicians are in the paper almost every week with some type of scandal or accusations, some of which are bound to be true.
So don't act like Native corporations are nothing but "mafia organizations" raping the public of tax money (the government's been doing that for years) because they help more people than any of you HATERS ever will.
If they really are taking all the tax money then DO SOMETHING besides WHINING.
lol, there is a BRITISH petroleum refinery right next to town, I guess it's ok for a foreign company to make millions of dollars here refining fuel just for the military and we still have some of the highest gas prices in the country, we live in an oil rich state so what gives?
You guys just want to pick on natives, you can't justify racism.
"big"mike- you are DEFINITELY confused if you think Flint Hills resources is a Native company (I forgot, that refinery USED to be owned by BP, they only own the Prudhoe Bay refinery now, lol.)
Flint Hills Resources is an independent refining and chemicals company, based in Kansas. So the money might not go to a different country but it still LEAVES THE STATE and the gas prices still keep climbing.
So stop MAKING THINGS UP just because YOU don't like Natives, I just made a mistake and am not just telling a lie because I don't like the color of somebody's skin.
yep, you're pretty stupid big mike.
don't bother responding to a comment if you don't know what the comment is really about- I was talking about the North Pole refinery (that USED to be owned by BP) you (bigmike) said-
"There is no BP refinery in Alaska."
Sorry- there is a refinery in Prudhoe bay OWNED BY BP (BRITISH petroleum)
There are other refineries (5) and only (2) of them are owned by Petro Star (which just happens to be the ONLY Alaska owned refinery in the state).
So you maybe you shouldn't call people a moron or a democrat without knowing what you're talking about in the first place, it makes you look pretty stupid (but gives me a good laugh).
The other companies that own Alaskan refineries, making millions here but spending it somewhere else-
Kenai refinery (tesoro)
Kuparuk refinery (ConocoPhillips)
North Pole refinery (Flint Hills)
Prudhoe Bay refinery (British Petroleum)
Valdez refinery (Petro Star)
North Pole refinery (Petro Star)
So I ask again, why is it ok for out of state companies, and one foreign company, to own four(4) refineries in Alaska (you say NOTHING about that), and not ok for Native companies (LOCAL/ IN STATE) to own refineries?
Or do you just think that Natives should have nothing and "go back to where they came from"?
(Don't be AFRAID to be honest about how you REALLY feel)
LOL-
TEXANS own as many refineries an Natives do in this state and you good ol' Alaskan (Texan at heart maybe?) "talkers" don't even know it.
lol them Texans are kickin back counting their Alaskan oil money and ya'll are whining about LOCALS!
(just because they're Native, shows what you're REALLY all about)
lolol, there's a reason why I like to comment here so much.
Wow this thread is getting pretty disgusting.
CAIHC is better than a whole lot of IHS facilities. I am a "lower 48 Native" and have received better health care through CAIHC than most of my peers receive in the lower 48 IHS facilities. Yes, I have to wait a while for an appointment sometimes, yes, if one does not call in scrips early there is a prolonged waiting time. But I have overall received sufficient care there. As a matter of fact I have been mis-diagnosed in our fine Fairbanks Memorial Hospital's E.R. (they told me I was fine when I had appendicitis), my son was diagnosed properly at F.M.H. E.R. but not given the proper medication strength (he had MERSA)- CAIHC caught it, and upped the prescription. My other son breathing four times and was having heart problems from an alergy to the morphine drip he was on at FMH- and FMH was not responsible for catching the problem. What more can I say- I trust CAIHC more than FMH any day.
Now about whether or not the Natives are getting "trained" to do jobs...alaska works (alaskaworks.org) has provided a lot of training through various partnerships to "rural alaskans" (read villagers, Native people). And yes, TCC, Doyon, and FNA have provided jobs (and learning opportunities) to many. Sure, just like anywhere one goes to get a job (private industry, union, state, or civil service), if you "know somebody" you may have a better chance of getting an interview (and yes, maybe the job- if you are qualified OR trainable).
It would be really great if people would stop grumbling, stop bashing, drink less hater-aide, and last (but certainly not least) take a moment to educate themselves before opening their pie-holes.
Drink less or in some case stop the first drink!. Start growing up and be a model! Can someone translate this statement in a good way? At this phase the only bad thing I heard is TCC consumes large part of the village's grants to the TCC building emplyee's. Sorry empire but next time you see someone from a village your job depends on it. Again I rest my case.
I am a former employee of TCC/CAIHC and I can not say enough good things about them. I have worked for other Native and Non Native Corporations in Alaska and can not speak as positvely.
I wonder why Jerry didn't mention anything about the new BINGO hall their going to turn the Chena River Convention Center into?
Where does the money come from to start these for profit company's?
Just wondering. I hope it all works out best of luck TCC
what are you IMPLYING fbksgirl?
Why do people always think it's shady whenever Natives start any kind of business-
If they get money- it's free money from the taxpayers.
If they start a business- it must somehow be from money gotten in some type of scam or extortion.
If they kill an animal- they kill hundreds of animals without consequence or remorse
If they are in town- they're drunk (apparently natives are the ONLY people that drink in Fairbanks)
If any native speaks up against racism- they're racist (apparently natives are the ONLY racists as well)
Why is it that Natives can't run a business without getting accused of some type of wrong doing or another?
Since suing against businesses or people that discriminated, all things has gotten better for Alaska Natives in the last 50 years. Learn the US constitution and know your rights under the federal Indian laws.
ohhh ok so I guess that means BP doesn't make ANY money here then.......right?
(I thought there was "no BP refinery in Alaska"- YOUR words)
And I guess (from what YOU say) Petro Star is the ONLY fuel company in the country (Alaska included) with high fuel prices now?, hmmm interesting.
I read you loud and clear.
Keep on talking bigmike, all your trying to do here is bash Natives and calling me an idiot won't change that fact.
(it only shows how much of an ignorant bigot you are).
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