A quarterly newsletter from Sealaska

Transcription

1 2012 Quarter One A Growing Tradition Shareholder A quarterly newsletter from Sealaska Sealaska Celebrates 40 Years of Corporation with a Conscience First annual report reveals founders' intentions still true today 2012 marks the 40th anniversary of Sealaska Corporation. As we anticipate the release of our 2011 annual report, Sealaska dusted off the inaugural edition, First Report to Shareowners, and dug in to see where we ve been and how far we ve come as a Native corporation. Just a year after the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971, Sealaska was incorporated and its founders leapt into action. Because the hearts and minds of our people are as great a resource as dollars, minerals, crops or goods, we pledge to remain what we started out to be: a corporation with a conscience, wrote John Borbridge Jr., first president and chairman of the board, in his president s letter. In 1972, there were just under 16,000 tribal member shareholders. Today, there are more than 21,000. We have much to celebrate as we look over the past 40 years. Business continues to grow annually, and tribal member shareholder employment rates are higher than ever before. Sealaska Heritage Institute, Sealaska s nonprofit organization, has given more than $11,253,446 in scholarships to tribal member shareholders. The corporation has supported the careers of some of the most influential Southeast residents, including the late Walter Soboleff Sr. We are excited to see who the leaders of tomorrow will be. Sealaska has also expanded and diversified its business. In the first annual report, the corporation laid out its plan to pursue the traditional backbone businesses [such as] timber and fisheries. Today, Sealaska s subsidiaries operate in several sectors, including manufacturing, government, services, investment and natural resources in Alaska and around the world. As we look ahead to the next 40 years, we hope you, our tribal member shareholders, will join us in supporting the corporate values as described by John Borbridge. Using these values of dignity and respect, Sealaska is truly a company with a conscience. Help us continue to make Sealaska strong. Visit our website and like us on Facebook for more on our 40th anniversary. Don't miss the 40th Anniversary Annual Report due in May! Sealaska Contributes 12 Logs Toward Shakes Island Renovation Project Sealaska directors approved the donation of 12 logs for the Wrangell Cooperative Association (WCA) Shakes Island renovation of the Chief Shakes Tribal House. years sealaska honoring our past and our future structure. With this generous donation of 12 logs, we feel assured we will be able to complete the important cultural restoration of Chief Shakes house. Image courtesy of Sealaska Heritage Institute, from the Linn A. Forrest Collection WCA would like to thank Sealaska for the generous log donation, said WCA President Dawn Hutchinson-Stevens. From the beginning, the biggest challenge has been finding logs large enough to replace the corner posts of the When Sealaska steps forward with its logs, the end result is not in dollars, said Sealaska Chair Albert Kookesh. The end result is where that community stands after they rebuild.

2 INSIDE SEALASKA 2 CEO Letter Chris E. McNeil Jr., President and CEO As Sealaska s land entitlement legislation moves through Congress, we have seen increased attempts to skew public opinion with incomplete and distorted information. Regardless of the unfair attacks, we continue to push for Congress to fulfill its promise to the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people by reconveying some of the lands that were unjustly taken from us over the past century. You can help us right this wrong. Supporters across the nation agree with what we know to be true: The passage of the legislation will help buoy the Southeast economy while providing unprecedented environmental protection to the Tongass National Forest. Since 1992 Sealaska has invested $20 million in forest management practices. We have improved access to forage for wildlife by thinning forestland, strengthened trees by pruning in more than 3,000 acres of forest, and hand planted 1.6 million seedlings to spur forest regeneration. The legislation is also critical to Southeast Alaska s regional economy. Sealaska s timber program is an important contributor to Southeast s economic viability. Region-wide, Sealaska and its contractors directly employed approximately 363 full and part-time workers in To date, supporters include 42 tribes, pueblos and national organizations; 119 Southeast businesses; hundreds of tribal member shareholders and several civil rights leaders and organizations. You can join this growing list of supporters and become part of our movement by visiting Sealaska.com and sending a letter to your member of Congress. See page 5 of this Shareholder for full details. The Tongass is a Native place and the heart and soul of our history and culture. Our bill incorporates conservation provisions, but we also believe we have a right to reasonably pursue economic opportunity so that we can continue to live and thrive on the land of our forefathers. Sincerely, Chris E. McNeil, Jr. President and CEO Sealaska Congratulates Tony Christianson Mayor of the city of Hydaburg and resource director for Hydaburg Cooperative Association, Tony Christianson was appointed to the Federal Subsistence Board. Sealaska applauds Christianson s commitment to providing an Alaska Native voice at a federal level. Sealaska Shareholder Appointed to North Pacific Research Board Sealaska is pleased to announce the recent appointment of Mike Miller to the North Pacific Research Board (NPRB). Congress created NPRB to recommend marine research initiatives to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, who makes final funding decisions. Miller was nominated by Alaska Governor Sean Parnell to Secretary of Commerce John Bryson. I would like to thank Gov. Parnell for nominating me, said Miller. At the same time, I m honored to have been confirmed by Secretary Bryson to represent the Alaska Native community. Incorporating traditional knowledge with Western science is necessary for proper management of Alaska s resources. Miller is a current Sealaska Heritage Institute board trustee and represents Sealaska on the Alaska Federation of Natives subsistence committee. He currently sits on the Sitka Tribe of Alaska tribal council. He sits as chair of the Indigenous People s Council for Marine Mammals, which is a coalition of tribal marine mammal commissions, councils and other Native organizations that formed for the purpose of identifying and addressing marine mammal issues of common concern.

3 INSIDE SEALASKA 3 New Hires Linda Wynne Tlingit, Keet Gooshit Hit HQ Title: Records Manager Duties: Responsible for maintaining the records of Sealaska Corporation effectively and efficiently Mckenzie Morris HQ Title: Accounting Associate Duties: Monthly, quarterly and year-end financial corporate and subsidiary reporting, responding to federal and state accounting information requests, assisting with requests from Sealaska s external auditors, and performing tax basis computations and accounting research Sealaska chair Albert Kookesh presented a $1,000 contribution to the Extreme Edge Foundation. Tribal member shareholder Joe Tompkins started the Foundation. Its mission is to foster human potential through athletics, education, performing arts and Wounded Warrior and Disabled Veterans programs. Tompkins mother, Betty Tompkin s accepted the contribution at the 66th Gold Medal Tournament in Juneau. William Andrews Tlingit, Deisheétaan HQ-Corporate Communications Title: Communication Administrator Duties: Responsible for administrative outreach and maintenance of communication materials Sealaska Chief Operating Officer Announces Retirement Thank you Sam Landol for your service Sam Landol Sam Landol, Sealaska s chief operating officer, has announced that he will be retiring this year. Landol has worked with Sealaska since February 2007 and is an adopted clan-member of the Tsaagweidi. Landol oversees operations, including subsidiaries in five different industries: manufacturing, remediation, IT, security and construction. Landol has helped drive much of the growth that Sealaska subsidiaries have achieved during his tenure. Sealaska Environmental, Nypro Kánaak and Sealaska Constructors, for example, have enjoyed significant growth in revenue during the last five years in large part due to Landol s support and oversight. In addition, he has helped to grow Sealaska s expertise as a diversity supplier. Landol led Sealaska s sustainability initiatives and all subsidiaries now have environmental certification under ISO He provides extensive mentoring to subsidiary and Sealaska tribal member shareholder executives. Landol is a valuable member of Sealaska s executive team and his vital strategic and operations expertise will be missed. Landol will continue in the role of COO through the recruitment process. Sealaska is completing a full and open search for a qualified candidate to help us fill this vital role at Sealaska. We have engaged Egon Zehnder, International to help us with this executive recruitment. You may review the position description at sealaska.com through the careers link and either apply through the Sealaska website or you may apply directly to Egon Zehnder, International by sending your cover letter and resume to Quynh.Trieu@ezi.net. In either case, Sealaska will maintain a high degree of confidentiality in the applications.

4 4 INSIDE SEALASKA Haa Aani, LLC Making Strides Sealaska President and CEO Chris McNeil, Jr. and Haa Aani, LLC President and CEO Russell Dick recently met with Deputy Secretary of the Interior David Hays at his office in Washington DC to share information with him about Haa Aani, LLC. This is a great opportunity to show federal leaders how Sealaska is investing and impacting the SE region. Hayes was briefed on current Haa Aani, LLC activity in the region. We were able to discuss a number of initiatives including the Sealaska land bill, mariculture in SE, and a larger focus on biomass to energy, said Dick. Our work in the region is capturing the attention of National leaders. Haa Aani, LLC mariculture coordinator, Anthony Lindoff has been invited to present at the National Shellfish Associations annual meeting in March. His presentation will provide an overview of Haa Aani, LLC s role in developing mariculture in Southeast. Early in March, Alaska Senator Mark Begich toured Sealaska s wood pellet boiler system. Through Sealaska and Haa Aani, LLC s leadership other commercial size buildings in the region are also considering wood pellet boilers. The Federal Building and Discovery Center in Ketchikan, AK has officially converted to a wood pellet boiler. We commend George Northcroft, GSA regional administrator and his team for their leadership in the conversion. The simple solution for GSA would have been to install replacement oil fired heating system. But instead GSA was open to considering new energy solutions. About Russell Dick Sealaska is proud to have Russell Dick as a part of the leadership team. Here are a few of his recent accomplishments: 2012 Annual Meeting Held in Juneau, Alaska 2012 marks 40 years for Sealaska Schedule 10 a.m. Webcast begins Registration Shareholder Fair 11 a.m. Candidate speeches 11:30 a.m. Lunch served 1 p.m. Annual meeting begins Sealaska will hold the 40th annual meeting of Sealaska shareholders on Saturday, June 23, 2012, in Juneau, Alaska. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. Alaska Daylight Time. Check the website for location. If you are not attending the meeting in Juneau, you can watch all the proceedings via live webcast. Find out more at Recognized at the Alaska Journal of Commerce s Top Forty Under 40 awards Elected to serve on the Foraker Group Governing Board Serves on the State Chamber of Commerce board of directors, connecting private businesses owned by tribal member shareholders or Sealaska to additional resources Elected to Hoonah s village corporation, Huna Totem Are You on the Lost Shareholders List? What you should do if you are Russell Dick In this edition of the Shareholder newsletter, we have published a list of tribal member shareholders whose contact information is outdated. This means mail sent to the listed tribal member shareholder has been returned. Please help Sealaska update your contact information by faxing or mailing a change of address form. You can find the form on the web at sealaska.com/page/forms.html. While you re updating your infomation, please consider joining the thousands who are already receiving their distributions via direct deposit. If you have questions, please contact the Shareholder Relations Department at

5 HAA AANÍ SEALASKA'S LAND LEGISLATION 5 You Can Help Send a note to Congress 1. Visit Sealaska s legislative action page at home and click on the blue Take Action button to ask Congress to move the legislation now. 2. Click the Tell a Friend link at the bottom of our legislative action page to encourage family and friends to do the same. Updates via Social Media 3. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to receive up-to-theminute coverage of the legislation. Overwhelming Support for Haa Aaní Support for Sealaska s land legislation continues to pour in from all corners of the country. Earlier this year, Sealaska tribal member shareholders from Florida and Connecticut sent letters to Congress, urging them to support S.730 and H.R We are honored to have the Northern California tribe, the Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community join the more than 42 tribes who support our legislation. We ended 2011 with more than 100 Southeast Alaska businesses pledging their support of the bill. Sealaska has been working to finalize the land settlement on behalf of tribal member shareholders for more than 10 years. We made the most progress to date, largely because of such an increase in supporters. Thank you. We are excited that the bill is now before the Senate committee. We believe that this is the year that Congress will finally fulfill the promise it made 40 years ago. For more information and other ways to help, please visit Sealaska s Land Management Program: Protecting Fish Habitat On February 9, Alaska state leaders listened to findings that prove the Alaska Forest Resources and Practices Act (FRPA) is successfully guiding land managers, such as Sealaska, to protect fish habitat throughout Southeast Alaska. The report was given by fisheries scientist and Sealaska partner Dr. Douglas Martin. Protected areas of land around streams, known as stream buffers, and windthrow are the primary ways Sealaska is protecting fish habitat. The act has two buffer requirements: a minimum 66-foot buffer and a wider buffer if stream banks are steep. These two buffers work in tandem to ensure fish habitat and water quality are protected. Our data shows that Sealaska is meeting or exceeding the buffer requirement of 66 feet and successfully protecting fish habitat. Windthrow refers to trees that have been uprooted or broken by wind. Details of a windthrow study conducted during almost a 20-year period on private lands throughout Southeast Alaska were also shared. The study compared 124 pairs of logged and unlogged sample sites and looked at how windthrow impacted the stream buffers at those sites. Martin explained that the data collected shows that windthrow has not negatively impacted fish habitat, and in many cases is good for fish, as it creates shaded area and pools for spawning salmon. About Dr. Douglas Martin Dr. Martin has been advising Sealaska on land management issues for more than 20 years. Based in Seattle, Martin started Martin Environmental in 1996 and works as an independent consultant and research scientist. He has conducted research, water quality monitoring, watershed analyses, habitat restoration projects, fisheries and aquatic biological surveys, technical reviews, and expert witness services for forestry, oil, hydropower, mining and port/municipal development projects in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Martin is also an affiliate professor at the School of Forest Resources, University of Washington. He serves as an advisor to graduate student researchers and collaborates with faculty on research grant proposals and the implementation of research projects. Martin received a B.S. in water resource management from the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point. He completed his M.S. and Ph.D. in fisheries science from the University of Washington.

6 SUBSIDIARY NEWS 6 Sealaska Executives Recognize Sealaska Environmental Services as Subsidiary of the Year For the second year, Sealaska Environmental Services (SES) is being recognized as the subsidiary of the year. Sealaska subsidiary peers selected SES for the recognition. This recognition is a direct result of SES employees who contribute to the daily success, said Derik Frederiksen, SES president and CEO. SES focused on lean processes to improve our efficiency in doing business both in the field and in the office's. SES was involved with three new contracts in Said Frederiksen, I m proud that we have built SES as a durable sustainable company. I keep coming back to the same conclusion: we are a company of high character, high caliber people and our accomplishments mirror the dedication and value that each of our employees bring to the company on a daily basis. Sealaska Executives Recognize Nypro Kánaak Guadalajara as Most Improved Subsidiary Sealaska executives have recognized Nypro Kánaak Guadalajara (NKG) as the most improved subsidiary in We are proud that this recognition came and we were not expecting it, said General Manager Alejandro Hernandez. There are many contributing factors to NKG s improvement, including an increase in sales and new customers. NKG was able to secure a contract with the cleaning supplies manufacturing company Clorox. The work included engineering and new product development, and NKG was able to increase its capacity and deliver the product on time. Sealaska tribal member shareholders should be excited that we have demonstrated that NKG is finding new customers, increasing sales and able to adapt in a profitable way, said Hernandez. Haa Aaní, LLC Supporting Native Arts in Southeast Through a collaborative effort with Sealaska Timber Corporation (STC), Haa Aani, LLC is supporting local artists with carving materials. Haa Aaní, LLC team member and Alaska Coastal Aggregates general manager Bill Bennett takes requests and sends donations across the region. The program is really taking off, said Bill. I m just thrilled to contribute to the success of the program. One recent effort helped the community of Kake, Alaska celebrate 100 years. Kake students were provided carving materials and created canoe plaques that were presented to dignitaries attending the three-day event held in January Sealaska is proud to contribute to native art programs in the region. Thanks from recipients We are grateful to your program for offering this resource to our children, who would otherwise not be able to have this hands-on instruction and practice in traditional Tlingit carving! Gunalcheesh! M. Kimberly Getgood, Angoon Business Center Donated carving materials to Yak-tat Kwaan were presented to the Yak-Tat Kwaan Johnson O Malley (JOM) Education department. This allowed JOM students to watch and learn from carvers. Students carved six spears and 12 paddles that were used for the Jr. St. Elias Dance group. Cynthia Peterson, Yak-Tat Kwaan, Inc. business manager Thank you for the wood donated to the Lemon Creek Correctional Center Hobby Shop. Inmates who have earned the privilege to work in the Hobby Shop are frequently motivated to produce artwork to be donated to the community. The inmates currently working in the Hobby Shop expressed appreciation for the donated wood. David Wilson PO III, Lemon Creek Correctional Center This thank you is long overdue, but for the record we were grateful the day the donation was made available to Wrangell. Through Sealaska Timber Corporation, your efforts of providing carving materials to communities across the region is a blessing for Wrangell. Dawn Hutchinson, Wrangell Cooperative Association acting president Craig 5th grade instructor Deb Head teaching carving.

7 sealaska heritage institute 7 Worl Testifies on Subsistence, Native Languages Legislation SHI President Rosita Worl asked the Federal Subsistence Board to reverse its decision to reclassify Saxman, Alaska as non-rural. Testifying in January before the board, Worl said the panel used arbitrary and scientifically unsound factors when making its decision. Worl also testified in favor of state legislation that aims to protect indigenous languages, Senate Bill 130. If passed, S.130, filed by Senator Donny Olson, would establish an advisory council that would make recommendations to the governor on ways to support the preservation, restoration and revitalization of Alaska Native languages. Application for 2012 Latseen Leadership Academy Now Available Applications are now available for SHI's annual Latseen Leadership Academy. The academy is designed to provide engaging, culturally based education and activities for youth in support of their future academic and personal success with a focus on rigor, relevance and relationships. The goal of the program is to teach students the art of leadership through the development of self knowledge, and physical and spiritual strength. In a supportive learning environment, students will participate in cultural, artistic, athletic and academic activities. This year's academy will be held July in Juneau. The application deadline is June 1. Check Out Native Art Online SHI has added new art to its website, Art is also for sale at our retail store, Jinéit, in the lobby of Sealaska Plaza and online at Video of Formline Class Now Available Online If you missed Steve Brown s workshop in Juneau on Native formline designs, you can now watch it in its entirety online. SHI sponsored the workshop in January. There was a huge demand, and we were able to accommodate only 30 students. We hope to schedule more of these workshops for people who could not make this one (link to video library at news ). In Memory Sealaska pays tribute to tribal member shareholders who have recently passed on: Donald A. Barton Prince Rupert, BC (74) Doloresa Cadiente Juneau, AK (64) Andrew Denny Ketchikan, AK (66) Mabel Didrickson Anchorage, AK (100) Elizabeth Durley Anchorage, AK (87) Marguerite Fiorella Juneau, AK (91) Ricky T. Goodman Palmer, AK (49) Douglas J. Hayward Metlakatla, AK (53) Corrine M. Heaton Bellevue, WA (73) Patrick Hollywood Spokane, WA (74) Esther B. James Sitka, AK (73) Sharolee A. James Bellingham, WA (52) Louella G. Johnson Federal Way, WA (91) Gerald L. Mallory Jr. Alton, IL (59) Adelia G. Nelson Kincolith, BC (87) John Alfred Nelson Craig, AK (53) Lillian E. ODaniel Sitka, AK (84) Byron Paul Juneau, AK (55) Marlene A. Rowan Craig, AK (76) Leonard Scott Bremerton, WA (65) Reginald Skeek Sr. Kake, AK (81) Evan M. Smith Juneau, AK (22) Robert Stadurs Ketchikan, AK (58) Harold L. Wheaton Sr. Juneau, AK (93) 2012 Celebration "Strengthen Yourself" Ayaniltseenáa (tinglit) Án hl is daguyáa (haida) Lip sha gotgyednshm (tsimshian) June 7 9 in Juneau, Alaska Celebration is a major dance-and-culture festival held every two years. First held in 1982, it has become the largest cultural event in the state, drawing thousands of people to the capital. Along with dance performances, it features associated events including an art show and market, lectures and traditional food contests. Celebration 2012 will be led by the Xudzidaa Kwáan Dancers of Angoon. Visit sealaskaheritage.org/celebration for details Deadlines for Celebration Events Juried Art Show and Competition: Applications due March 21 Native Artist Market: Applications due March 30 Toddler Regalia Review: Applications due May 4 Xudzidaa Kwáan Dancers of Angoon

8 In This Issue Sealaska Celebrates 40 Years of "Corporation with a Conscience" Page 1 Sealaska Contributes 12 Logs Toward Shakes Island Renovation Project Page 1 Letter from the CEO Page 2 Sealaska Shareholder Appointed to North Pacific Research Board Page 2 HR and Job Announcements Page 3 Sealaska Chief Operating Officer Announces Retirement Page 3 Haa Aanî, LLC Making Strides Page Annual Meeting To Be Held in Juneau, Alaska Page 4 Are You on the Lost Shareholder List? Page 4 Haa Aaní Land Legislation Page 5 Sealaska Directors Recognize Nypro Kánaak Guadalajara as Most Improved Subsidiary Page 6 Sealaska Heritage Institute News Page 7 In Memory Page Celebration "Strengthen Yourself" Page Board Youth Advisor Ralph Wolfe Reflects on the Role Page Q1 Sealaska Corporation One Sealaska Plaza, Suite 400 Juneau, AK toll-free Board Youth Advisor Ralph Wolfe Reflects on the Role Ralph Wolfe As I reach the second half of my term as Board Youth Advisor, a non-voting member of the Sealaska board of directors, I would like to reflect on what an extraordinary opportunity I've been given. In the past six months, I have seen on all levels how my corporation operates. I've attended meetings, built relationships with board members and staff, and communicated and expressed the concerns of my generation and other younger shareholders. I have gained a stronger understanding of the inner workings of my corporation, and the dynamic of imminent issues the board of directors persistently address. The greatest part of my experience has been communicating with the board of directors. The guidance and learning opportunities I've experienced with them have taught me a great deal about their dedication to our Native people and policies. I have seen and appreciate their sincere concern for the well-being of our corporation. I can also recognize the experience and knowledge each member brings to so many vital issues. This experience has strengthened my desire to continue to fight for the corporation my ancestors invested in. I am inspired to take on issues that will affect not only my generation, but also my son's generation and his children to come. I am greatly honored to have been chosen for this position and cannot count the numerous opportunities that have been presented to me while serving as your board youth advisor. VISIT PRESORTED FIRST CLASS MAIL U.S. POSTAGE PAID JUNEAU, AK PERMIT NO. 98 Our Philosophy is to protect and grow our assets and to use them to provide economic, cultural and social benefits to current and future generations of Sealaska shareholders and their descendants. Our VISION is to grow the company as a Native institution that maximizes its cultural capital by embedding Alaska Native values into its daily operations. The Sealaska Shareholder is published for shareholders free of charge by Sealaska Corporation. Subscription information for non-shareholders is available by writing the Office of Corporate Communications. w w w.sealaska.com Printed on 30% post-consumer recycled paper.