A Report to the Member Tribes of the Tanana Chiefs ConferenceVol. 39, No. 2 February 2015

Dena’ Nena’ Henash - - Our Land Speaks

TCC Election Criteria

Page 4

In ThisIssue:

New TCC Health Director

Page 7

Student Art Contest

Page 9

The theme for this year’s 2015 Tanana Chiefs Conference Annual Convention is Stronger Together for the Next 100 Years.

“Today our region is still facing many significant issues such as the consistent challenges of our tribal authority, management of our lands and natural resources, and decline of King Salmon,” said TCC President Victor Joseph, “In order to achieve our goals and have a meaningful voice in management of all of our affairs we must work together with one voice one message, we are Stronger Together.”

This July will mark the centennial anniversary of the 1915 meeting of Chiefs

with Judge Wickersham, where the Chiefs sought to protect our land and way of life.

The theme is a way to not only commemorate the historic meeting, but to look forward to the next hundred years of working together for the advancement of our people and our tribes.

While this year’s TCC convention will honor the historical anniversary, the celebration will not end there. TCC will be partnering with Doyon, Limited, Fairbanks Native Association, Denakkanaaga Inc. and Interior Regional Housing Authority to commemorate the anniversary with a large celebration in July. The details of the celebration will be announced in the

future.“It is important for us to commemorate

this milestone in our history,” said Victor Joseph, “We have seen a lot of progress in the last century as far as the advancement of our people and I am looking forward to what we will accomplish in the future.”

Information on elections and resolutions can be found on page 4.

A special history video will be debuting at this year’s convention, which documents the 100 year history of TCC. (More information available on Page 7)

Village Dental VisitsPage 10

Stronger Togetherfor the next one hundred years

The Willow House Hotel Open to PublicWhile the Willow House Hotel in Fairbanks has always provided clinic and hospital patients a safe,

quiet, and comfortable place to stay, the hotel also offers affordable rates to the general public! The hotel is a great place to stay while visiting Fairbanks, offering free Wi-Fi, cable, continental breakfast, and courtesy shuttle service.

The rate at Willow House is based on Medicaid rates, which currently are $89.00 per night. Group rates may be available and there will be no seasonal fluctuation in rates.

For reservations or questions, please contact our friendly staff Toll-free: 1.800.459.2500

The Willow House Hotel1534 Lacey St.

Fairbanks, AK 99701www.tananachiefs.org/ /contact/fairbanks-locations/willow-house/

Singing and Dancing at TCC’s 2014 Convention.

The Willow House Hotel Open to Public

Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter2

Mission StatementTanana Chiefs Conference provides a

unified voice in advancing sovereign tribal governments through the promotion of

physical and mental wellness, education, socioeconomic development, and culture

of the Interior Alaska Native people.

VisionHealthy, Strong, Unified Tribes

TCC Executive Board Members

Donald Honea Sr./Ruby1st Traditional Chief

Trimble Gilbert/Arctic Village2nd Traditional Chief

Victor Joseph/ TananaTCC President

Julie Roberts-Hyslop/TananaVice President

Pat McCarty/RubySecretary/Treasurer

Donald Adams/TetlinUpper Tanana

Nick Alexia Sr./NikolaiUpper Kuskokwim

Nancy James/Fort YukonYukon Flats

Eugene Paul/Holy CrossLower Yukon

Pollock “PJ” Simon, Jr./AllakaketYukon Tanana

Leo Lolnitz/KoyukukYukon Koyukuk

Peter Demoski/NulatoElder Advisor

Gerald Patsy/NulatoYouth Advisor

Dear Tribes and Tribal Members,The opportunity of a new year allows us to reflect on

last year’s progress and time to prepare for what is in front of us.This past year, congress passed a budget that included the

remaining amount of our joint venture construction agreement with IHS, approximately $20 million of the total $30 Million, that we will receive on a reoccurring basis. The federal budget also included the directive to pay tribes 100% of their Contract Support Costs with the funding to do so. Contract Support Costs are the administrative burden that TCC incurs to carry out our service agreements with IHS and BIA. Unlike all other federal contractors, tribes and tribal entities have not been given these funds in the past. Additionally, TCC settled our 2009 through 2007 claims against IHS for a $16 million net to TCC, which will be used towards paying off the clinic bond. Doing so reduces the interest payments substantially allowing us to put more funding towards direct services. In November our tribal leadership met to review, revise and approve TCC’s 2015-

2020 strategic plan. The strategic plan was formed after TCC staff and I traveled to 26 of our tribal communities and met with tribal councils and members to ensure TCC planning is in alignment with our tribes. To be more efficient and to assure success in achieving our strategic goals, I re-organized our non-health programs into one department. Today TCC has three departments Administration, Tribal Client Services (TCS) and Health that work together to achieve the goals and directives of our Tribes. These are just a few of our accomplishments this past year as you can tell a lot of work has been done but we have a lot to prepare for.Our strategic plan will be our primary focus, but we still have to perform our day

to day work while preparing to respond to the many challenges we have to face any given day. Although we saw financial growth in 2014, the state budget has become a major concern that will likely have a significant impact on TCC and the villages. TCC currently supplements state programs at up to a 3:1 ratio with other funds. Our challenge will be meeting the state’s financial crisis created by much lower than expected oil prices. The state budget was developed forecasting the barrel of oil to be sold at $100.00, today it is being sold at less than $50 per barrel. Approximately 8 percent of TCC budget or $11.9 million is revenue we receive from the state. At this time we don’t know how this will impact us, but we are preparing for reductions and will try and minimize the impact on our tribes and you. The last council was dedicated to highlighting the Task Force’s work towards

protecting our tribal hunting and fishing activities. As you saw in last month’s newsletter, the Task Force made a lot of progress in 2014. The announcement by the Department of Interior to implement a co-management project on the Kuskokwim River is one that we would like to replicate on the Yukon River. To continue our progress the Task Force needs additional funding so I personally thank the tribal councils, tribal members and Doyon for the contributions to the task force strategy this past year which will allow for us to gain a meaningful voice in the management of our Fish and Game and traditional lands of our people. This July, TCC will be commemorating the one hundred year anniversary of the

July 6, 1915 meeting of the Tanana Chiefs and Judge Wickersham, where the Chiefs sought to protect our lands and way of life. As you know, this struggle continues to this day. As the leadership of our past demonstrated, we find strength when we come together. The theme of the TCC’s 2015 will be ‘Stronger Together for the Next 100 Years’.

Ana Bassee’,Victor Joseph

President of Tanana Chiefs Conference

President’s ReportVictor Joseph, President/Chairman

3Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter

Resume Building Tips

•Bullet points, hiring managers want a quick simple reference to see if the applicants are qualified and don’t want to read a whole paragraph (note; hiring managers never have just 1 resume to review)•Always use a basic font, and size.

Cursive does give good presentation but it may be hard to read, and we want the hiring manager to easily read our resume. •Use a basic but modern font, like

Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman. And make your resume easy on hiring managers’ eyes by using a font size between 10 and 12.•Include all of your up to date

contact information; name, address, cell number, home phone, email address. You want to be accessible and easily contacted for an interview.•If you include an objective, tailor it to

the position you are applying for. You will be editing your objective to each job you apply for. •Use descriptive key terms that

companies might look for; Customer Service, Microsoft Proficient, etc. •Resumes don’t have to be in

chronological order. Re-organize your resume to show all of your experience you have for a job you are applying for shows first. E.g. if you are applying for a job as a laborer put all your past jobs that have labor experience first. •Use month and year dates of when

you began and ended each job i.e. 01/2014 to 02/2014•If you’re a recent graduate and/or

lack work experience you may include volunteer work you’ve done, include committees/boards you are involved in, include community service. You can also list accomplishments at your college/high school/vocational school such as whether you received a degree or diploma, GPA, awards received, and any activities/sports you participated in. •Use a resume template, I’ve always

had to tweak my resume templates to my liking but it’s a great starting point and gives you great direction. •Always use spell check! Have

a friend or someone in the HR department proofread it for you. Spelling and grammatical errors are mistakes made too often on resumes and can make a hiring manager cringe.

If you need help with resume building, or editing your resume,

Contact Donetta Tritt 452-8251 EXT. 3567

Toll-free in Alaska 1-800-478-6822, Toll-free out of Alaska 1-800-770-

8251.

UAF Launches University Wildland Firefighting Crew

Previously, University of Alaska Fairbanks taking Wildland Fire Science classes learned by watching PowerPoint presentations. This spring, students have the opportunity to put what they learn in the classroom to use on the fireline as part of the one of the first university crews certified to fight wildland fires anywhere in the country.“The UAF Wildland Firefighting Crew is

going to be one of the nation’s first fully nationally-certified wildland fire hand crews sponsored by a university,” says Tylan Martin, assistant professor of Wildland Fire Science at UAF Interior-Aleutians Campus. “The Crew gives students an opportunity to go on active fires and put the skills they’ve been learning in their classes, like digging line, using chain saws, and putting natural fire out, to use in the field. Not only will they get valuable on the job training, they will also be earning a paycheck and academic credit toward their degree in Wildland Fire Control.”The UAF Wildland Firefighting Crew

is open to anyone taking UAF classes. Students in rural Alaska can still be part of the fire crew by taking distance education classes. Many of the Wildland Fire Science classes are offered distance delivery via Google Hangouts.

Additionally, the College of Rural and Community Development offers audio conference classes that fill the general education requirements for an associates of applied science degree in Wildland Fire Control. “The CRCD Cross Regional Schedule is

a way for students in rural communities to take UAF classes without leaving home,” says Teisha Simmons, director of Interior-Aleutians Campus. “Students attend class by dialing into a conference call. They get the same interaction with their instructor and classmates as they would in a classroom, but without having to come on campus.”The UAF Wildland Firefighting Crew

teaches the skillset needed to strengthen village firefighting crews or organize a wildland fire hand crew. “For rural Alaskans, wildland firefighting

is a vital part of communities,” says Martin. “Crew members will get that strong sense of organization and discipline that comes with a Type 2 fire crew. When they’re done they’ll earn their degree so they can get well-paying jobs in the wildland fire industry or go back to their hometown and strengthen their Type 2 crews.”Crew members must have their wildland

firefighting “Red Card,” the minimum qualification to be on the fireline.

New Executive Director of ITTanana Chiefs Conference recently hired Joshua Peter

of Nulato as the new Executive Director of Information Technology. Prior to being hired at TCC Joshua was teaching as an Assistant Professor at the UAF Community and Technical College in the Information Technology program. Over fifteen years Joshua has built on his technical and interpersonal skills that opened many opportunities throughout each step of his IT career.

“I am truly appreciative to be working at TCC. It’s fantastic to be working with many people who I’ve known for many years and to finally be working alongside them is a blessing. To know that I’m in a position where I may continue to give back to the community is an immeasurable feeling.”

- Joshua Peter-

For any further information about the crew or to apply, contact Tylan Martin (907) 474-6334 or tjmartin5@alaska.edu.

Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter4

The three TCC Advisory Boards make recommendations to the TCC executive board and President. The President has the authority to appoint all individuals to the advi-sory boards, (Article 7, Section 3), but the President currently allows the subregions to democratically select representatives to each advisory board. All candidates must be Alaska Native.

2015 TCC Election CriteriaTCC Executive Board of Directors:

Subregional Positions:Upper Kuskokwim Subregion .................................... 3 Year Term 2015-2018 Currently Nick Alexia, Sr., NikolaiLower Yukon Subregion ............................................. 3 Year Term 2015-2018 Currently Eugene Paul, Holy Cross

Eligibility Criteria:• Must be a current village director, as authorized by tribal/village resolution.

(Article 7, Section 4)• Must be residents of the State of Alaska and Alaska Native Members of mem-

ber villages of the corporation. (Article 4, Section 1)• Except for the President, full-time employees of the corporation shall not be

eligible to serve as director or officers of the Corporation. (Article 4, Section 2)

SUBREGIONAL ADVISORY BOARD ELECTIONS

TCC Advisory Boards

Yukon TananaSubregion..............................................3 year term (2015-2018) Currently Andrew Jimmie, MintoYukon Koyukuk Subregion...........................................3 year term (2015-2018) Currently Glenda Huntington, Galena

TCC Regional Health Board

Upper Kuskokwim Subregion (McGrath)......................1 year term (exp. March 2016) Currently VacantYukon Flats Subregion..................................................3 year term(2015-2018) Currently Charleen Fisher, ChalkyitsikYukon Koyukuk Subregion............................................3 year term (2015-2018) Currently Gertie Esmailka, Huslia

TCC Education Council

Upper Tanana Subregion..............................................2 years remaining (2015-2017) Currently VacantLower Yukon Subregion.................................................3 year term (2015-2018) Currently VacantYukon Koyukuk Subregion..............................................3 year term (2015-2018) Currently Maurice McGinty

Interior Athabascan Tribal College Board of Trustees

Secretary/Treasurer ........................................................3 year term (2015-2018) Currently Patrick McCarty, RubyELIGIBILITY CRITERIA• Officers must be members of a member village of the corporation and eligible

to be selected as a Director of a member village. (Article 5, Section 1)• On March 19, 2009, the TCC full board of directors adopted Resolution 2009-

30 “Barrier Crimes” directing TCC to come into compliance with federal and state background check requirements. The TCC President will have regular and foreseeable contact with Indian children and is a full time TCC employee and therefore must pass the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Preven-tion Act (ICPA) and the State DHHS background checks.

• Potential candidates must turn in a completed and correct background check application to Heather Rogers in human resources by February 10 to guarantee background checks will be completed by February 28. Individuals contemplat-ing running for TCC President should turn in a background check application now to ensure the ability to make corrections to mistakes in the lengthy appli-cation. All background check applications will be confidential and only Human Resources will have access to the application and the names of individuals. Those individuals that fail to pass a background check will not be eligible can-didates for the TCC President position.

Officer PositionsFULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS

1 Seat .........................................................................1 year term (2015-2016) Currently Julie Roberts-Hyslop, Tanana* The AFN Village Representative seat is not affected by the TCC Bylaws; however, we notify villages of AFN candidates who declare their written intent as a candidate, for informational purposes.

AFN Village RepresentativeFULL BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS

Seat A..........................................................................3 year term (2015-2018) Currently Janet Woods, ChairpersonSeat B..........................................................................3 year term (2015-2018) Currently Robert Walker, Anvik

* Must be eligible to serve on TCC Board of Directors- Employees of TCC or IRHA are not eligible to serve as IRHA Commissioners (Article 7, Section 7) * The election of the IRHA seat is not affected by the TCC Bylaws pertaining to the declaration of candidacy requirements; however, we notify villages of IRHA candidates who declare their written intent as a candidate for informational purposes.

IRHA Board of Commissioners

Individuals who want to declare themselves a candidate for any of the above seats must submit a written, signed and dated letter of intent between 8:00 AM-February 5, 2015 and 5:00 PM-March 6, 2015. We recommend that you confirm receipt of your letter of intent with the TCC Executive Secretary prior to February 28th. We may not know of the submission of your letter of intent; but we can confirm the receipt of your letter of intent.

Individuals may submit a letter of intent for AFN Village Representative and IRHA Commissioner Seats but they must be nominated from the floor to declare them-selves a candidate.

Letter of intent (see example) must be received by fax, mail or delivered in person no later than 5:00 PM on March 6, 2015 to:

Tanana Chiefs ConferenceATTN: Norma Dahl, Executive Secretary122 First Avenue, Suite 600Fairbanks, AK 99701FAX # (907) 459-38841-800-478-6822 ext.3112

We recommend that you confirm the receipt of your letter of intent with the TCC

Executive Secretary prior to 5:00 PM March 6, 2015; TCC may not know of your submission of your letter of intent, but we can confirm that it was received.

Any questions, please contact Natasha Singh in the Legal Department at 1-800-478-6822, extension 3178.

DECLARATION OF CANDIDACY

EARLY CALL FOR RESOLUTIONS MARCH 9th, 2015

All resolutions must be submitted by MONDAY, March 16th, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.

Resolutions can be submitted by mail, fax, e-mail or delivered in person to:

Tanana Chiefs ConferenceATTN: Chris Woodward, Legal Department

122 First Avenue, Suite 600, Fairbanks, AK 99701

EMAIL: christine.woodward@tananachiefs.org

FAX: (907) 459-3953

5Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter

ABDC to Provide Tax Assistance to Villageshe Alaska Business Development Center, Inc. (ABDC) is a nonprofit corporation that provides business consulting

and tax related services to rural Alaska residents. ABDC travels directly to rural Alaska communities to provide hands on assistance to those in need.

In the months of February and March, ABDC will be visiting the following communities to provide tax assistance.

February 15th-21stFort YukonArctic VillageVenetie

Feb.15th-19thFeb.19th-20thFeb.20th-21st

GraylingShagelukAnvikHoly Cross

Feb.15th-17thFeb. 17th-18thFeb.18th-20thFeb.20th-21st

KoyukukNulatoKaltag

Feb.15th-16thFeb.16th-19thFeb.19th-21st

February 22nd-28thAlatnaAllakaketHughesHuslia

Feb. 22ndFeb. 23rd-25thFeb.25th-26thFeb.26th-28th

RubyTananaMintoBeaver

Feb.22nd-24thFeb.24th-26thFeb.26th-27thFeb.27th-28th

February 27th-March 1stMcGrathMarch 6th-8thGalena Nikolai

The 29th Alaska legislative session is now in full swing with legislators, staff, and Alaskans from across the state descending onto the Capitol in Juneau. In anticipation, TCC staff has been preparing over the last few months to take part in this year’s legislative session by meeting with State Officials, identifying budget requests and defining legislative priorities. The 2015 session runs from January 20th to April 19th. The 2015 session will undoubtedly be

a memorable one in Juneau. Alaskans recently elected Governor Bill Walker and Lieutenant Governor Byron Mallot. TCC looks forward to working with the new administration to build the tribal state relationship. However, the admiration was elected at a time in which Alaska is facing enormous budget woes due to the falling price of oil across the globe, and unfortunately the State will be forced to make some difficult decisions over the next several years. We can expect that most of the conversation and decisions made this year will be reflective of the State’s revenue situation. TCC will be actively following budget and legislative dialogue in an effort to save rural programs. Over the past few years TCC has

diligently worked to establish lasting relationships with stakeholders in State government, including the House, Senate, Commissioners and staff in various departments. Each year TCC establishes core priorities which will be the focus of our advocacy throughout the year and during session. These priorities have included issues such as energy relief, Tribal partnership for management of fish & game, increased infrastructure,

education & schools, employment, and public safety. We also work closely with Tribal leaders and legislators to request Capital Improvement Projects (CIPs) in our communities. Over the last few years TCC has successfully received state funding for projects across the region at the direction of the Tribes. This year, we have already had

many conversations with the Interior Delegation and the rural legislators about our region’s priorities. On December 12th the TCC executive board invited legislators to a 2014 Interior Delegation Winter Gathering where the tribal and state leadership shared ideas and expectations for this coming session. On December 29, President Victor Joseph met with Commissioner Valerie Davidson and on January 21 he met with Lt. Governor Byron Mallott. We will continue to build these relationships and share the concerns and goals of our region and rural Alaska.Because all state programs are in

jeopardy this year and rural Alaska is at risk of losing vital funding, TCC has partnered with Kawerak, Bristol Bay Native Association, and Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida. Together we will lobby to protect rural Alaska. One of the roles of TCC is to assist

Tribes in advocating and staying involved in our State government. Updates on recent advocacy efforts will be published here in The Council as well as on the TCC Website, www.tananachiefs.org to keep Tribal Members informed. If you have any questions or need assistance contacting a State department or your legislators, please feel free to contact greg.bringhurst@tananachiefs.org

Current Senators & Representatives of the TCC

Region: Senator Click Bishop (District C),

907-465-2327Senator Donny Olson (District T),

907-465-3707Senator Lyman Hoffman (District S),

907-465-4453Rep. Dave Talerico (District 6),

907-465-4922Rep. Bryce Edgmon (District 37),

907-465-4451 Rep. Neal Foster (District 39),

907-465-3242Rep. Nageak (District 40),

907-465-3473

The Alaska Legislature’s Website www.akleg.gov

Governor Walker and Lieutenant Governor Mallot’s Official Website:

www.gov.alaska.gov

“BASIS” (Bill Action Status Inquiry System), for information on past

and current bills: www.legis.state.ak.us/basis/start.asp

Find your area’s Legislative Information Offices at http://akleg.gov/lios.php

Legislative Session begins in JuneauGreg Bringhurst, TCC Communications Manager

Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter6

Solid Waste Management in the VillageSolid waste management is a challenge in

rural Alaskan villages. As our communities grow and we continue to buy western goods the challenge becomes bigger. However, there are several precautions that one can take to reduce the amount of solid waste;• Do not burn trash on the ground;

instead use a burn box at the landfill, which burns the trash at a higher heat, producing less toxic smoke pollution.

• Separate hazardous waste; such as batteries, paints, solvents and fluorescent light bulbs to keep the surface water and groundwater from contamination.

• Recycle used oil; this is a great

way to heat community buildings and get rid of hazardous waste that would otherwise leak into the ground or require transport fees for back-hauling out of the community.

• Recycle plastic bottles and aluminum cans; this is great way to make a little bit of money from waste and keep this trash from the landfill.

Keeping as much trash out of the landfill as possible through recycling and back-hauling can extend the life of the landfill. Developing a road and building a landfill costs a lot of money. While many landfills have burn boxes, they are not being used often because there is no paid operator to burn the trash. Even when there is a paid

La’ona DeWilde, TCC Solid Waste Technicianoperator, there is still the issue of people lighting the trash on fire on the ground at the landfill.While they may think that this helps by

reducing the amount of trash, it is actually very harmful for the community. The trash burns slowly and at a low level of heat, which releases large amounts of toxic chemicals from the burning plastics and other man-made materials. People could directly inhale the smoke and fly ash or it could settle down on nearby berries and plants. When an animal, like a moose, eats those plants, it is ingesting dioxins, which people could also end up ingesting when they eat meat from that animal. When ingested, dioxins can cause many health problems such as cancer.

EHR Upgrade to Impact Pharmacy ServicesBeginning February 1, 2015 TCC Health

Services will be completing a major computer software patch that will impact the Electronic Health Record (EHR). This necessary upgrade will eventually help the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center (CAIHC) improve the delivery of services to patients.

How will this improve services?• Improved tracking of chronic

illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.

• Improved communication between healthcare providers to provide for better coordinated and safer care

• Help CAIHC meet compliance with new federal guidelines on medical documentation and billing

• Setup computer systems so that in the future, patients can access their own medical records online.

How will this impact services at CAIHC?While this essential upgrade will bring

forth many exciting improvements, it

will affect some of the services currently provided at CAIHC. The biggest drawback will be that patients will immediately notice is a slowdown in pharmacy prescription processing times. On average, patients will have to wait 2 hours for prescription refills. This could last anywhere from 6 months or more. We will keep patients updated as we learn more about the anticipated timeline.Pharmacy staff will be required to

complete several additional steps to complete a prescription refill with the new EHR patch. Those steps include: creating a visit in EHR, entering a purpose of visit, and adding the purpose of visit to the patient’s problem list. It is estimated that this will take 90 seconds per prescription refill. The pharmacy processes an average of 350 prescription refills per day.

Will this impact village-based patients?The upgrade will have minimal impact

on village-based patients. However, if a village-based patient is visiting CAIHC Pharmacy, they will notice a slow-down in

prescription processing times.

What can patients do to lessen wait times?Patients who are seeking re-fills for

current prescriptions can lessen their wait time by calling in refill requests well in advance of running out of medication. Patients are encouraged to take advantage of our 24/7 Automated Call-in Refill Line at 459-3807, Option 1 for all your prescription refill needs. Using this option will allow Pharmacy staff to work on refills in the mornings, evenings, weekends and at lunch so that they may focus on patients being seen by the doctor during regular pharmacy business hours. We would like to apologize for this

slowdown in advance. We realize that your time is valuable and will do everything under our power to keep you from waiting in the pharmacy unnecessarily.

Light refreshments will be provided in the pharmacy lobby to make any unexpected waits a bit more comfortable

The Pharmacy will be experiencing a 2 hour wait time

for prescription refills

For prescription refills call the 24/7 Refill Line at

459-3807, Option 1

7Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter

It is difficult to prove how toxins travel through the environment and into the food web; therefore there is a lack of education and understanding of the harmful effects. The best thing to keep in mind is that it does move into the environment and if you are burning toxic waste at low heat near your subsistence foods, it will affect you now and in the future. Education about open burning and recycling is needed for people in rural communities.It is especially important that we keep

our youth educated, as they are our future leaders. TCC’s Office of Environmental Health worked with Fort Yukon Tribal Council and recently held a recycling

poster contest in Fort Yukon to promote their recycling program. They have been recycling aluminum cans and have started to recycle plastic bottles through the ALPAR program. They received grants to purchase recycling bins, which are located at the school gym, AC store, Tribal Office and airport. Students from 1st -12th grade participated in the contest and designed posters explaining the recycling program. Two winning posters were

chosen; one from 1st – 6th grade and another from 7th-12th grade. The winning classes got pizza.Huslia also had a similar poster contest;

however, 7th to 12th graders designed

a poster that would encourage people to stop burning trash in burn barrels in front of their house and open burning at the dump. Pizza Hut donated 20 pizzas to the Huslia poster contest and Wrights Air shipped them free of charge; thank you to these two businesses for the support of such an important environmental program.We are grateful to all of the students

in Fort Yukon and Huslia. You are all winners. If your community would like to learn more about the poster contest, and have one at their school, please contact TCC’s Office of Environmental Health. We would be happy to help!

Contact La’ona DeWilde 907-452-8251 ext.3430

laona.dewilde@tananachiefs.org

TCC to Debut Historical DocumentarySince 2013, Tanana Chiefs Conference

has been working on developing a video that will document the centennial history of TCC starting from the 1915 meeting of Interior Chiefs with Judge Wickersham. The film recounts how our organization

came to be, the struggles faced during its formation, how TCC plays an integral role in Alaskan history and where the organization stands today.This amazing story is told through

interviews with the Presidents of TCC.“It was imperative that we didn’t use just

any narrator to convey these events,” said Doreen Deaton, Communications

Director for TCC and Executive Director of the documentary, “We wanted this very important story to be told by the people who actually lived and experienced it.”Those featured in the film include current

TCC President Victor Joseph as well as past presidents Jerry Isaac, Al Ketzler Sr., Spud Williams, Will Mayo, Steve Ginnis, Melvin Charlie, Tim Wallis and John Sackett.The documentary will make it’s debut

during TCC’s 2015 Annual Convention in March. Those unable to attend the convention will still be able to watch the debut live on the TCC website.

TCC Announces New Health DirectorJacoline Bergstrom was recently appointed as the new Health Director for TCC. Jacoline has been fulfilling

the role of acting Health Services Director since March 2014. She began working for TCC in 2007 as the Quality Management Director and was promoted to Deputy Health Director in 2010. Her new position was approved and supported by the Executive Board of Directors.

Jacoline has gained a wealth of knowledge and experience during her years at TCC working closely with Administration, the Executive Board, the Health Board and the Tribes. Her experience has prepared her to meet the unique health service needs of our region. Jacoline has a Dutch Medical Degree (MD) with specialty training in public health and also holds a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) in Health Care Management.

Jacoline is excited to continue working to meet the goals and objectives outlined in the 2015-2020 strategic plan set by tribal leadership, to further expand and improve access to quality services for TCC beneficiaries.

Jacoline welcomes all ideas and input from beneficiaries to help improve and maintain quality care and services.

She is located at Al Ketzler Sr. Building, 3rd floor. (907) 452-8251 ext. 3141.

A Centennial History of Tanana Chiefs Conference;

1915-2015

Debuting in March 2015

Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter8

Tri-Valley junior enjoys first playing timeHEALY — Tri-Valley High School junior

BJ Yanuchi will never forget his first varsity basketball game. Neither will anyone else who was in the gymnasium that day.That’s because an unexpected act of

kindness by the Tanana High School basketball team brought sportsmanship to a whole new level.Yanuchi, a junior at Tri-Valley School,

is a student with autism. This year is his first season on the high school basketball team.Just joining the team was a huge step for

him.Yanuchi spends every lunch hour shooting

baskets in the school gymnasium. His dad thought maybe he could participate in team sports as a manager or help the team in some other capacity.But BJ wanted to join the team as a

player.With an understanding coach and

teammates, that was possible in Healy.“He likes it,” Jeff Yanuchi said. “But he

was very nervous.”The fast-paced action on the court is

challenging for BJ.“It’s hard for him to know where he is

supposed to be at any given moment,” his dad said. “His processing is delayed. But in his position, he knows how to shoot.”“We told him, ‘everyone has to work on

something,’” said his mother, Lori Yanuchi. “Everyone has their strengths.”“We were worried,” Jeff Yanuchi said.

“He has high expectations of himself.”But then, at last weekend’s Tri-Valley

Winter Basketball Tournament, something wonderful happened.Charlie Erhart, 18, is one of the captains

of the Tanana High School basketball team. During the Tri-Valley/Tanana game, he noticed Yanuchi sitting on the bench.He remembered seeing something on

sports television about what a difference

it made for someone like Yanuchi to play in a game.So he talked to his coach,

and mid-game, they touched base with the Tri-Valley coach.“I wanted his coach to put

him in, so we could get him the ball,” said Erhart, who had no trouble enlisting the rest of the team in his plan. “I thought it would be awesome.”At the time, Tanana was

about 30 points ahead of Tri-Valley and the game was almost over.BJ was tapped to hit the court, and

from that moment on, something magical happened. Everyone on the court — both teams — started passing BJ the ball.A gymnasium filled with spectators from

many different communities cheered him on.It took five tries. But on the fifth attempt,

BJ sunk a basket.“The rebound actually came to a Tanana

kid, who passed it to BJ,” his dad said. “It was so beautiful.”The crowd went absolutely wild.“I’ve never heard this gym so loud,” Tri-

Valley coach Daryl Frisbie said.The kindness of that visiting team

during a tournament left many audience members in tears.Suddenly, BJ Yanuchi felt like he was just

one of the guys on the team.“They saw that I was an inexperienced

player,” he told me later. “So they helped me. They were really nice.”That excellent sportsmanship continued

throughout the tournament.The next day, during a game against

Fort Yukon, BJ had to play the last four minutes because two players on the

seven-member Tri-Valley team fouled out.As the Fort Yukon coach

explained to me later, players guarded him, but not heavily.So they were totally shocked

when he actually made two baskets.Still, they never shut him

down.The coach told me they have

players like BJ on their team who only play in home games. They know how important it is to include those players in the

game.Fort Yukon already was

winning by a large margin. This cost them nothing but good will, and it was the right thing to do, coach David Bridges said.For the rest of the tournament, players

happily greeted BJ in the hallway, with high-fives, saying, “Hey, nice shot!”Players from those two teams even

cheered him on during another game, chanting his number, “Twenty-two! Twenty-two! Twenty-two!”It was a life-changing weekend for BJ.“I have friends now in Tanana and Fort

Yukon,” he told me.During the championship game, Healy

fans cheered for Fort Yukon, which eventually won the tournament. BJ sat in the stands with his new friends.“He doesn’t want to see himself as

disabled,” his dad said. “He’s doing something now the regular kids are doing. All he wants to do is to be normal.“Now he’s up there sitting with his peers.

He’s a regular kid. That’s all he wants to be.”This is not something that will happen

every game, Frisbie said.But this one-time event helped bring BJ’s

own team closer together.“Words can’t describe how the game

ended last night,” tweeted one Healy player, who then gave generous kudos to Tanana players.“His teammates take ownership of his

success,” Frisbie said. “They share the joy.“This will be a game they’ll remember.”“Not only is BJ getting something out of

this, all these other kids are learning about the human experience,” Jeff Yanuchi said.“These other teams? They are class

acts.”It was no surprise the Sportsmanship

Award went to the team from Tanana.“It makes me proud to be their coach,”

Tanana coach Sam Burkett said.

Courtesy of Kris Capps with the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner

BJ Yanuchi, third from left, stands with his new friends, the Tanana High School basketball team, after they were awarded the sportsmanship award.

Charlie Erhart, captain of the Tanana High School Basektball Team and his coach Sam Burkett. Kris Capps/News-Miner

9Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter

‘Why it’s Cool to Stay In School’ Art ContestThe TCC Education Department is

sponsoring an art contest for TCC tribal members attending school within one of the TCC villages or in Fairbanks. The art contest offers an exciting opportunity for young individuals to express their talent and creativity while supporting the value education in their lives. The contest applies to students in grades K-12. Three winners will be chosen for each of the following grade levels; K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.The theme for the art contest is ‘Why it’s

Cool to Stay in School’. Artwork created by the students must reflect the theme of the contest.The winners will receive the following

prizes: K-5- Digital Learning Tool,

6-8-Beaded Gloves (made to fit winner), and 9-12-iPad. The winner’s of the contest will also have their work published in The Council Newsletter and have it presented at TCC’s Annual Convention. Student artwork will be retained for use in brochures and other publications produced by the TCC Education Department.

Submission Requirements:• Art must be 8.5 by 11 inches• Art must represent the theme ‘Stay

in School’• All artwork must be original • Students must fill out a contest entry

form

Submission Deadline is February 27th, 2015

The official rules and entry forms are available by contacting the

TCC Education Department (800) 478-6822

ava.vent@tananachiefs.org

Additional information on the TCC Education Department can be found

at www.tananachiefs.org

TCC hosts first GILA Training of 2015TCC’s Athabascan Self-Sufficiency Assistance Partnership (ASAP)

Department hosted a GILA (Let’s Go) training. TCC holds the training each year for tribal members for immediate employment. This year’s training included workshops on Financial Planning, Tax Education, Customer Service, Handling Stress, Support Services, Family Self-Sufficiency and how to utilize online services to find employment.Presentations at the conference included Guest Speaker DJ Vanas,

a Motivational Speaker and Leadership Expert, who has presented to organizations such IBM, Walt Disney, NASA, the Secret Service, the American Cancer Society and hundreds of tribal communities. Ray DeWilde of Huslia also spoke to attendees about Relationships,

Culture, Values and Pride.

A Step toward Village Internet ConnectivityRecent developments with the

construction of microwave communication towers in the Interior have brought several villages closer to broadband Internet. DRS Technical Services has been working steadily toward their goal of having several sites up and running by the end of January. From their microwave tower hub on Pilot Mountain, the villages of Galena, Koyukuk, Nulato and Kaltag will have their village clinics and schools connected with a reliable broadband Internet connection. This will reduce network latency, which will allow for a more responsive and reliable Internet experience. Recognizing the importance of

broadband Internet being easily available for village residents is a priority of TCC. To further this goal, DRS has partnered

with TelAlaska to allow them to transport cell service and Internet connectivity on the DRS microwave tower infrastructure. This partnership will provide an option for residents to subscribe to broadband Internet wireless services to their homes in the near future. Once the January villages are online, TelAlaska will begin testing their wireless services in Nulato before offering consumer broadband Internet to village residences. This is a partnership that DRS anticipate to be beneficial in providing connectivity to all of our villages where they are able to build their microwave towers out to.Over the 2015 season and with work

scheduled through Fall 2018, DRS Technologies has microwave tower deployment plans over a significant

portion of Interior Alaska. While they increase Internet connectivity, this opens up possibilities for rural community residents. With the unlimited opportunities available through the Internet, village residents can experience the benefits of expanded information access, public safety, economic development, healthcare, education, communications, and telecommuting. To see this type of communications expansion for the Interior is exciting for everyone involved in this endeavor.

Josh Peter, Executive Director of IT

Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter10

TCC Health Employee Award Winners

Award winners from left to right: Anita Clark, Laverne Alexander, April Maynard, Wanda Prada, Vanessa Ketzler, Dr. Tamara Huntington,& Robert Lucas.

In November 2014, TCC held its annual Health Staff Meeting, where employees from TCC’s Health Department, and one outside of health, who reflect a certain high standard of dedication are selected to be honored. This year’s recipients were Dr.Tamara Huntington with the Above and Beyond Award, April Maynard with the Best Customer Service Award, Robert Lucas with the Can’t Function Without You Award, Vanessa Ketzler with the Creative Problem Solving Award, Anita Clark with the Dedication to Mission Award, Wanda Prada with the Mission Impossible Award and Laverne Alexander with the Dr.James Award.

Congratulations to the award winners!

Village Dental Visits

The below schedule indicates when a TCC Dentist or Hygienist will be

visiting your community.

DATE VILLAGEFeb. 9th-13th Allakaket

Dot LakeHealy LakeCircle

Feb. 16th-20th AllakaketTananaTanacross

Feb. 23rd-27th GalenaTokTananaAllakaket

March 2nd-6th NenanaKoyukukHusliaTanana

March 9th-13th NenanaEvansvilleHusliaGalenaKoyukuk

March 16th-20th NenanaNulatoMinto

March 23rd-27th GalenaNulatoMintoNenana

File your Indian Status Exemption with your Taxes

Alaska Native and American Indian people are exempt from the requirement to purchase insurance under the Affordable Care Act if they can show evidence of:

Enrollment in a federally recognized Tribe;• Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

(ANCSA) shareholder status (village or regional), or;

• Eligibility to receive services from a Tribal health clinic or IHS Facility.

• Now you can claim your Indian Exemption when you file your taxes.

Now you can claim your Indian Exemption when you file your taxes.

IRS Tax Form 8965, titled “Health Coverage Exemptions,” can be used to claim the Indian Exemption. Form 8965 may be used to report a coverage exemption granted by the Marketplace or to claim a coverage exemption on your tax return. In addition, if for any month you or another member of your tax household had neither health care coverage nor a coverage exemption, these instructions provide the information you will need to calculate your shared responsibility payment.

This tax form can be found at www.tananachiefs.org along with a

how-to guide on filling out the form.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONSQ: What if I already have health care coverage?A: If you have health care coverage through Medicaid, Medicare, Denali KidCare, Veteran’s Benefits, an IHS facility/tribal health care provider or your employer provides health insurance, you have met the requirements of the Individual Mandate and do not need to purchase additional health care coverage to avoid the tax penalty. You do not need to complete the Indian Status Exemption paperwork if you have health care coverage. However, the Indian Exemption is a lifetime exemption and can be used anytime you have a gap in health care coverage.

Q: If I don’t buy insurance, will I still be able to get health care services at my IHS/Tribal health facility?A: Yes, you will still be able to get care at your IHS/Tribal health facility. The health care services provided at IHS/Tribal health facilities are not changing. However, you will need to apply for an exemption.

Q: How do I enroll in a Tribe?A: Tribal enrollment rules are different for every Tribe. Contact your family’s Tribe(s) to learn about what is required for enrollment. Tribal addresses can be found at www.ncai.org/tribal-directory. You can also contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Alaska Regional Office, at (800) 645-8465, option 1.

11Tanana Chiefs Conference • The Council Newsletter

Are you SAD?What is SAD?

Many Alaskans are afflicted with SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder every year. It is a disruption of mood that occurs most often during the winter months when there is less daylight. It may be diagnosed when depression affects you during the change of seasons. Two types are known – fall onset, called “winter depression” and summer onset. It is thought that a decrease in daylight may contribute to the winter onset type, though there are no studies to confirm this theory.

It is unclear how the decrease in daylight causes SAD. The thought is that the cause of SAD is a decrease in Serotonin or Melatonin in the brain. The lack of daylight causes a shift in the hormones the body produces.

Symptoms of SADSymptoms of SAD

include: Depression, Sluggishness, Fatigue,

Increased sleeping, Weight gain with cravings for carbohydrates, Irritability, Feeling less cheerful, Socializing less, Relationship difficulties and Difficulty coping with life as a result of these changes.SAD is Treatable!

If you feel you may have SAD, please contact your Primary Care Provider (PCP) for an appointment to discuss this. Your provider may want to run some blood tests to make sure you do not have any other conditions that could cause the same symptoms.

Treatments that are known to be helpful for SAD include:

1. Light therapy – also called phototherapy

2. Antidepressant medications3. Psychotherapy

Light therapy involves a specialized light, as well as things like a balanced diet and adequate exercise. More serious cases may require medication or therapy. “Full spectrum” light is not necessary and tanning beds are not useful for this condition.

Exercise is important for everyone with depression. 30 minutes, 3-5 times per week.

Many people try supplements for this condition. Please consult your Primary Care Provider before trying any supplement.

For those of us in Alaska, it is not always easy to get enough natural light, especially during the long winter months. Lights during the morning hours, especially upon rising, boost serotonin levels and help reduce melatonin production. Lights are recommended and may be reimbursable by some insurance plans.

Please talk to your provider if you feel you have symptoms of SAD or depression for an accurate diagnosis.

From Teresa Bormann, MD Family Medicine / Team Tudi

2015 TCC Youth OpportunitiesEmployment & Training’s Youth

Services program is gearing up for another busy spring/summer, with a lot of opportunities available for youth within the TCC region. The program is preparing to recruit at least 12 Youth Delegates from the region to attend TCC’s 2015 Annual Convention in March. The youth will have the opportunity to learn more about TCC’s operations, attend their respective sub-regional meeting and be exposed to exciting career developments. More details, including applications for youth, will be sent out soon. Please be on the lookout if you know of a youth between the ages of 14-18 who is currently attending school, please encourage them to take advantage of this opportunity.

Youth Services will also be providing a winter work experience for youth between ages 16-24 in their Tribal village. All Tribes who submitted a proposal have been awarded and there will be a total of 100 young people gaining work experience, career assessments, and focusing on short/long term goals. There is no income guideline for this project. For youth ages 14-21 who are interested in working this summer, it is highly recommended that they complete a youth application turn it in to TCC’s Youth Services to have on file. This is the same application as the winter work experience.

The 3rd Annual Alaska Youth Academy is scheduled to take place in Fairbanks on July 27th-31st, 2015. The academy is open for youth ages 15-18 who are interested

in learning about law enforcement, public safety and emergency response, in addition to teen pregnancy prevention. The first two academies brought in roughly 40-50 young people from throughout the region. This is a great opportunity for youth to learn about career opportunities, barrier crimes, as well as see various agencies partnering to increase public safety in Alaska.

As always, TCC is still offering a monthly driving course for youth between the ages of 16-21 who are interesting in obtaining their driver’s license. Each year, TCC Youth Services partners with the North Star Driving School to offer youth the opportunity to attend their driving education course, which consists of 8-hours of classroom time and a 6-hour road test. North Star Driving School also provides a vehicle to assist youth in obtaining their license. Youth coming from the village will have to make their own arrangements for travel, lodging and food. TCC will pay for the course, which can last anywhere from 3-7 days. Youth interested in this great opportunity must have had a valid driver’s permit for 6 months or longer with a clean record to take the course.

Interested in the above services? Have questions?

Contact Katina Charles, Employment & Training Youth Manager907-452-8251 ext.3353

Katina.charles@tananachiefs.org

Katina Charles, Employment & Training Youth Manager FNSBSD plans to honor Traditional

Chiefs DayThe Fairbanks North Star Borough

School District (FNSBSD) Board Diversity Committee adopted the Traditional Chiefs Day Resolution, which would set aside a day for teachers to educate students about the history of the traditional Tanana Chiefs who met with Judge Wickersham in July of 1915 regarding important Alaska Native issues. The resolution went before the FNSBSD School Board of Education on February 3, 2015 for adoption.TCC plans to make educational

information available regarding TCC history to FNSBSD employees to utilize in their curriculum. Information is currently available on the TCC website (www.tananachiefs.org/about/our-history) and a historical documentary video on TCC will be debuting at TCC’s annual convention in March, which will also be made available to school in the borough. TCC;s education department plans to bring this resolution to seven other school districts in the region.

The Council Newsletter122 First Avenue, Suite 600

Fairbanks, Alaska 99701

Phone: (907) 452-8251 ext. 3570Toll-free (Alaska): 800-478-6682

(Out-of-State) 800-770-8251Fax: (907) 459-3884

thecouncil@tananachiefs.org

www.tananachiefs.org

Letters to the Editor, other written contributions and photo 0submissions are welcome. However, space is limited

and program-oriented news has priority. We reserve the right to edit or reject material. Letters and opinions are not necessarily

the opinions of Tanana Chiefs Conference. Material submitted anonymously will not be printed.

Follow us:

TCC 2015 Calendars AvailableOur 2015 Calendars are now available to

pick up at the TCC Main Office in Fairbanks. If you live outside of the region, please

send your address to thecouncil@tananachiefs.org

and we will mail you a calendar!

Upcoming Meetings/EventsTCC Executive Board MeetingFebruary 6th • 9:00 a.m. • Fairbanks, AK Chief Peter John Tribal Building - 6th Floor

Western Interior Alaska Subsistence Regional Advisory Council MeetingMarch 3rd-4th • Fairbanks, AK • Pike’s LodgeTeleconference: 1-877-638-8165 • Passcode: 9060609

TCC Annual ConventionMarch 16th - 19th • Fairbanks, AK • Westmark Hotel

TCC Bazaar March 18th • Fairbanks, AK • Westmark Hotel8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.For more information or to reserve a table, call Stephanie Dickerson at 452-8251 ext.3242

Don’t get left out in the cold.

Join | ACT Free today

TCC Village Job OpportunitiesBilling Technician (Tok, and Galena)Physician (Tok) Edgar Nollner Health Center Director (Galena)Medical Coder (Koyukuk)Elder Nutrition Cook (Huslia)Family Visitor (Northway, Hughes)Tribal Administrator (McGrath)Behavioral Health Aide (Anaktuvuk Pass, Dot Lake, Circle, and Ruby)CHOP Subregional Prevention Coordinator (Fort Yukon, Galena, and Tanana)

Village Public Safety Officer (Minto and Ruby)Home Care Provider (Allakaket, Anvik, Beaver, Circle, Dot Lake, Evansville, Huslia, Northway, Nulato, Rampart, Tanacross, Tanana) Community Health Aide/Practitioner (Stevens Village, Allakaket, Circle, Alatna Clinic, and Chalkyitsik)Tribal Workforce Development Specialist (Alatna, Chalkyitsik, Eagle, Evansville, Rampart, Shageluk, Stevens Village, Tetlin, Venetie, Takotna)

If you have any questions regarding a job or want to apply, please contact the hiring supervisor or call

Donetta Tritt, Rural Recruiter at 452-8251 ext 3567.