Glennallen,

AK

Transcript

Ahtna, Inc.

Speaker 1: Since our formation on June 12, 1972 as a part of the Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act. Ahtna, Incorporated has made great strides in becoming a self-sufficient, successful villages that provides economic opportunity to our shareholders while still maintaining our unique cultural heritage. Much of the credit goes for Ahtna leaders who have been good business people as well as responsible care takers of the lands we have called home for more than 10,000 years. The stability and prosperity of our people is made possible with the help of a vitally important piece of legislation called The Native 8(a) Program.

Roy Tansy: Before the 8(a) Program our corporation struggled to provide benefits back to its shareholders and its community. Now as a successful government contractor, we are able to address the negative trends that have kept us as one of the most impoverished people in America.

Speaker 1: The Native 8(a) Program has allowed companies owned by Ahtna's shareholders to develop into successful businesses. The profits from these Native owned businesses are reinvested into Ahtna's villages which provides economic and cultural benefits, including shareholder dividends, shareholder hire, internship and training programs, business development assistance, The Ahtna Heritage Foundation Scholarship Programs, elder benefits, most importantly Ahtna continues to fight for our traditional hunting and fishing practices which we call Subsistence.The Ahtna Vision Statement is, Our Culture Unites Us; Our Land Sustains Us; Our People are Prosperous.

Roy Ewan: Twenty years ago there wasn't this many people people in college from my region, now there are a lot of us.

Valerie: I would have never been able to change careers and go back to school without the help of Ahtna.

Speaker 1: We look forward to a long and prosperous future.