BRISTOL BAY NATIVE CORPORATION
More Than a Corporation: A Personal Take
Nearly fifty years ago, legislators, hearing and
heeding the sentiments of Alaska Natives,
imagined the Alaska Native Claims Settlement
Act (ANCSA). It was a moment to reimagine
how we think about indigenous people in
our country. Because Alaska Native people
had been heard, the authors of ANCSA had
us top of mind. From the start, ANCSA
sought to address the economic, social, and
cultural well-being of Native Alaskans. The
Act considered the importance of preserving
languages and cultures that were, in some
places, vanishing. The solution itself was
something entirely new. It proposed that if
we created corporate entities, Alaska Natives
could take charge of our destinies. We
could be at the same table as policymakers
and other corporations. We could own and
become stewards of our land and attain the
economic vitality to invest in our futures. It
was innovation at its best.
The differences between ANCs and other
corporations are profound, yet many people
don’t understand or appreciate them. Rightly
or not, the word "corporation" can have a
negative connotation. ANCs were created
to be good stewards of our lands, develop
responsibly, and provide economic benefits
to our shareholders. We want people to
understand the very real differences between
ANCs and traditional corporations.
So we’ve recently launched a new campaign—
“More Than A Corporation”—to remind people
of what we stand for. We thought of it as a way
to honor and celebrate the values we embody,
the ideas and ideals we hold dear, and the
things that genuinely shape our business and
drive our approach. Imagine the “C” in BBNC
indicates something else entirely, something
more fundamental to our identity.
In the pages ahead, you’ll read about these
values and ideals—courage, community,
creativity, commitment, and culture. These are
among the values that define us. They’re part of
our company’s fabric. Even more importantly,
they’re part of the fabric of Bristol Bay, of our
shareholders, and of our employees. So we
decided to give the floor to shareholders and
employees to offer their unique personal takes
on each of these values.
Have courage. Invest in community. Celebrate
creativity. Honor our commitments. And
cherish and celebrate our culture. This is who
we are. And we will always strive for more.
Thanks for your continued support.
JOSEPH L. CHYTHLOOK
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
JASON METROKIN
PRESIDENT & CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
2/
FY2020
ANNUAL REPORT