Dear Shareholders & Descendants,
This year’s 50th Annual Meeting of Shareholders was an incredible experience for the entire Board, and we hope that it was as enjoyable for all of you! We were thrilled to be able to return to an in-person Annual Meeting to celebrate our 50th Anniversary. On behalf of the Board, a sincere “thank you” to those of you who attended and to the amazing staff who helped facilitate the day’s activities.
A true highlight of the Annual Meeting for me was Mary Kelsay and Geneviève Salamone’s “For Our Sisters’ Red Dress Showcase” during the reception. Their collaboration highlighted the importance of speaking out about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG). The presentation was powerful, and it was an honor to be able to host these amazing women.
We are pleased to announce that next year’s 51st Annual Meeting of Shareholders will take place in Seattle on October 14th, 2023. More details to come as we begin planning for next year. Bringing the Annual Meeting to the Pacific Northwest has been a goal of the Board’s for quite some time, and we are excited to make it a reality next year.
It is also my distinct pleasure to share that during our 50th Annual Meeting, after all votes were counted, TAC shareholders elected three individuals returning to the Board. Dr. Gary Ferguson II and Kyle Foster were reelected to the Board, and Patty Lekanoff-Gregory was elected to rejoin our board. Congratulations to all three of our Directors, and a big “thank you” to Melvin and Nichole for running. We are grateful to all our candidates for their time and willingness to serve the shareholders.
As Skoey explained, TAC is withdrawing from the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN). The Board made the difficult decision after a very controversial resolution on Area M bycatch passed over the objections of the Aleut Caucus, and without the opportunity for us to meaningfully participate. We appreciated hearing from shareholders throughout the Annual Meeting on that decision, and we will continue to advocate in all spaces we can for our people and our region.
The cold and darkness of Alaska winter are settling in, but I hope that you’ll be surrounded by the warmth and light of loved ones during the holidays. As I look back on the year, I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished for our people. The current really is changing, and the future before us is bright with opportunity.
On behalf of the entire Board of Directors, I wish you safe and Happy Holidays!
Sincerely,
Jenifer Nelson
Chairman of the Board