Native Corporations

Work proceeds on controversial land transfer in Southeast

A land conveyance that would transfer control of public land near Redoubt Lake to the Sealaska Corp. is scheduled to take a step forward this summer. But the prospect of transferring Redoubt Falls, where dozens of Sitkans fish for sockeye each summer, to private hands has raised strong concerns.

Murkowski defends Native contracts worth billions

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski said Tuesday she does not believe there is enough support in Congress to pass legislation that seeks to strip Alaska Native corporations of the advantage they enjoy in obtaining federal contracts worth billions of dollars.

Fairbanks satellite facility gets new operator

The operator of the NOAA satellite facility north of Fairbanks is changing. That will require 54 employees at the site to reapply for their jobs.

Contracting program faces an overhaul

Stung by the bad publicity from a series of media investigations into their finances, advocates for Alaska Native corporations on Thursday defended the federal contracting preferences that have benefited their businesses.

Alaska Natives gain tourism foothold off beaten path

Alaska Natives have established a solid foundation in the state's tourism industry, captivating visitors with their dances and songs, their art and a history as varied as the tribes themselves.

Agency issues revisions to Native contracting program

A federal agency is implementing what it calls the first comprehensive revisions in more than a decade to a program that gives Alaska Native corporations a significant edge in obtaining federal contracts.

RURAL BLOG

Revisions set for program benefiting Native corporations

A federal agency is implementing what it calls the first comprehensive revisions in more than a decade to a program that gives Alaska Native corporations an edge in federal contracting. The revisions were praised by three corporations.

Outside subcontractors get big share of no-bid Native contracts

Alaska's Native corporations have been under fire by members of Congress who want to strip them of special contracting advantages. But key questions about subcontractors have been unanswered in the debate.

Afognak Native Corp. response to ProPublica story

Read the original report

ProPublica alleges fraud from Native corporation's 8(a) contracts

ProPublica is the latest national media outlet to take a close look at Alaska Native corporations' receipt of 8(a) federal contracting benefits and the allegedly paltry benefits their shareholders have gained from massive no-bid deals. The main story focuses on the Ketchikan-based Cape Fox Corp. Continued on jump

ALASKA POLITICS BLOG

Obama targets safety, economy as top issues for Natives

President Obama told his second Tribal Summit today that great strides have been made in health care and education for indigenous Americans, but that much remains to be done, including improving safety and economic opportunities.

Obama: US will back UN on rights of native peoples

BUSINESS INSIDER BLOG

Bering Straits Native Corp. has change of presidency

Tim Towarak has resigned as president of the Bering Straits Native Corp. president to avoid any conflict of interest with his new position as chairman of the Federal Subsistence Board.

NIMA head gets fellowship as an 'emerging leader'

Wayne Don, CEO of NIMA Corp., the village corporation for Mekoryuk on Nunivak Island, has been awarded a Marshall Memorial Fellowship for 2011.

Koniag gets rights to subsurface minerals

An Alaska Native regional corporation has received title to mineral rights on 146,693 acres on the Alaska Peninsula.

Natives' super PAC meant new boost for Murkowski campaign

If Sen. Lisa Murkowski's re-election survives her opponent's challenges, she will in no small measure owe her historic write-in victory to the U.S. Supreme Court's most contentious decision this year -- a ruling she herself described as troubling, but which led to massive Native corporation spending on her behalf.

More U.S. Senate election coverage

Politico.com: Lisa Murkowski unleashed against Sarah Palin, other GOP foes

Bill would cut Native firms' contract advantages

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill of Missouri has introduced a bill her office says would curb waste and abuse by stripping Alaska Native corporations of advantages they enjoy in obtaining federal contracts.

Senator plans bill opposing Native corporation advantage

U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill plans to introduce legislation this week that would eliminate the advantage tapped by Alaska Native corporations in obtaining federal contracts worth billions of dollars.

CIRI needs utilities to support wind farm

The Cook Inlet Region corporation has asked the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce to pressure utilities to support its planned Fire Island wind farm project.

BUSINESS INSIDER BLOG

NANA pays $20 million in dividends

NANA Regional Corp. has distributed a $14-per-share dividend to its more than 12,000 shareholders, the Kotzebue-based regional Native corporation said.

New technology puts new life in coal-to-liquids discussion

Coal-to-liquids for Cook Inlet has been an on-again, off-again topic for some 20 years but has never happened. Now a new technology could bring synthetic jet fuel production to Southcentral.

Doyon proposes micro hydro plant for Denali Park

Doyon Ltd. wants to build a micro-hydroelectric project inside Denali National Park and Preserve to power Kantishna Roadhouse, a backcountry lodge the Fairbanks Native corporation owns 100 miles inside the park.

Calista named as co-defendant in woman's harassment suit

Calista Corp. has been named as a co-defendant in a pending workplace sexual harassment lawsuit that recently caused the toppling of the Native corporation's longtime chief executive.

Native corporation fires CEO; sex harassment suit pending

Calista Corp. puts CEO on leave, appoints interim chief