The Hunter 2016 August/September

HUNTING INFORMATION

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BROADBAND SUMMIT

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Annual Meeting Notice............................................................. 2 U. S. Coast Guard Roll-in Ceremony............................................ 3 NANA Development Corporation............................................ 4-5 Shareholder Spotlight............................................................... 7 Shareholder Portal.................................................................... 7
August / September 2016 Volume 49 Published by NANA Regional Corporation, Inc.

Message from the President

Wayne Westlake, NANA President / CEO
Nayaaŋŋaq,
Growing up in Kiana, my family followed the seasons that are so important to our people in the region. A plentiful season of gathering berries, fishing, hunting, and preparing meant security moving forward, but there were lessons to be had— and growth to be found— even when sometimes our efforts were unsuccessful.
As hunters we understand that many people also depend on our efforts in the business world; we make a commitment to our communities to support and provide. We work together, always looking ahead and striving to do the right thing.
NANA’ s Board of Directors made the recent determination to not declare a dividend in 2016. This was a very difficult decision for the board to make and we know that many of our shareholders were relying on this dividend. We truly encourage all shareholders to attend one of the upcoming informal meetings in the region, Anchorage, Fairbanks, or
Seattle, to learn more, ask questions and hear about the company’ s performance over the past year as well as goals for the next.
As many of you know, the region suffered the loss of NANA’ s first President / CEO, Qipqiña John Schaffer. John exemplified the spirit of cooperation and hard work through his tireless efforts to provide opportunities to shareholders and the region. He was one of NANA’ s most dedicated advocates – he was truly committed to the people, culture and development of the region. His legacy is the basis for many of the company’ s greatest successes, from his work with Red Dog Mine to his commitment to the formation of our Iñupiaq Ilitqusiat. His tireless service to our country and communities was recently honored by the Alaska National Guard during the renaming ceremony of the Army Guards Aviation hanger in Kotzebue. John will be missed.
Past leaders, like John, were great advocates for the region. Their leadership and vision is still reflected in recent developments. I was
reminded of this when I attended discussions about high-speed internet in the Arctic. NANA had the opportunity to be a part of the first Arctic Broadband Summit, which examined the need for high-speed broadband Internet across the Arctic. Quality access to the internet is no longer an option – schools, health care facilities, NANA companies, and our partners operating in the region are limited by insufficient coverage. We live in a digital age and we are hopeful for the future of broadband Internet.
As Iñupiat, our culture shapes our corporation; even this newsletter, the Hunter, reflects the subsistence values of the NANA region. We know that there is success to be had and that the hard lessons learned— along with our determination and commitment to NANA shareholders— will help us find the path forward together.
— Wayne Westlake, NANA President / CEO
PRSRT STD U. S. Postage

PAID

Anchorage, AK Permit No. 444
PO Box 49 Kotzebue, Alaska 99752

NANA Mourns the Passing of First President / CEO, Qipqiña John Schaeffer

The NANA shareholder community is in mourning from the passing of a talented and transformative leader, NANA’ s first President / CEO, Qipqiña John Schaeffer. Our hearts, thoughts, and prayers are with his wife Maqik( Mary), his 9 children, 36 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and numerous family and friends throughout the region, state and world.

Qipqiña was a man of resolve, courage, and vision. He was willing to lead in times of uncertainty, and lived a life of service to his people and his nation. As a soldier, he defended the country he loved. As NANA’ s first President and CEO, he was committed to his people and the protection and advancement of future generations of Northwest Alaska Iñupiat.
NANA began in John and Mary’ s living room when they were home subsisting in Kotzebue in 1966. According to an account by Willie Hensley captured in the book " NANA: A Continuing History " by Richard Baenen, Willie had an important meeting in Fairbanks; he asked John to assist organizing a meeting. John and Mary invited a group of friends to their home where the group adopted the first Articles of the Northwest Alaska Native Association and the first officers were elected. Through the Northwest Arctic Native Association, John worked with others to safeguard ancestral lands, and set in motion the land claims movement that would result in the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act( ANCSA).
As NANA’ s first president, he established safeguards for subsistence so that the land would be protected for our people. He also guided the company through the development of the Red Dog Mine, which created a source of revenue to the region and shareholders.
Among his greatest accomplishments was his work to protect the Iñupiaq Values. When negative influences began to impact Northwest Alaska, Qipqiña and others sought the guidance of the Elders, and supported them as they worked to connect our people back to traditional ways through the Spirit Movement. The result of this effort was the formalization of the Iñupiat Ilitqusiat – that which makes us who we are.
Because of Qipqiña and other early leaders, the land and cultural knowledge of the NANA region has been preserved. He was a great Hunter for us all. His legacy will continue to impact the future of Alaska Natives, a future he worked a lifetime to ensure.
“ Under the stimulation of the controversy generated by the selection of Native lands by the state, the Eskimos of Northwest Alaska have united to preserve and insure the continued use and occupation of their traditional lands.”- Qipqiña John Schaeffer, President and CEO NANA Regional Corporation 1972-1984, first press release issued by the Northwest Arctic Native Association( predecessor of NANA Regional Corporation).