AGP Executive Report

Election Fight: The Trump administration is suing to block certification of Alaska’s Senate results if Republican Dan Sullivan loses, citing possible confusion over a second candidate with the same name. Culture Keepers: Bethel photographer and educator Katie Baldwin Basile received the Denali Award for decades of work documenting Alaska Native life and preserving KYUK’s archive. Rural Priorities: Southwestern Alaska House candidates debated fisheries, rising costs, transportation and schools, while Alaska Native education specialists stressed that cultural learning and academics belong together. Community Voices: “Sol de Medianoche,” a newspaper serving Alaska’s Spanish-speaking community, is bringing local stories to readers in their own language. Alaska on the Map: Chickaloon’s Ron Clarke won “Jeopardy!” after a lifetime of eclectic work as a wildlife biologist, fisherman, radio DJ and political aide. AFN Gathering: Alaska Native leaders called for unity amid generational change, with subsistence, salmon declines and the cost of living among attendees’ concerns.

Native Education: Alaska Native educators at Anchorage’s Elders and Youth conference said students shouldn’t have to choose between academic success and cultural identity. Tlingit and Haida have opened culture-based early education programs in Craig and Klawock and are raising funds for a tribal education campus in Juneau. Subsistence and Rural Life: AFN attendees highlighted declining salmon runs, limits on subsistence and rising costs that compound for rural communities, urging leaders to turn convention resolutions into action. Community Voices: Sol de Medianoche, Alaska’s bilingual newspaper for Spanish speakers, publishes monthly news and information for a community that lacked a local source after the Mexican Consulate left the state. Arts and Heritage: UAF marked Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Elders’ stories, dance and traditional arts; Alutiiq Museum staff also received statewide honors.

Live Music: Liam Purcell & Cane Mill Road bring Appalachian bluegrass to the Alaska SeaLife Center on Oct. 29, blending respect for tradition with fresh musical influences. Alutiiq Culture: Alutiiq Museum exhibits manager Alexandra Painter and longtime curator Amy Steffian received statewide honors for work preserving and sharing Sugpiaq history, including the museum’s new exhibit hall. Indigenous Traditions: UAF marked Indigenous Peoples’ Day with Elders’ stories, dance and traditional arts, while the Alaska Federation of Natives celebrated its 60th anniversary this week.

Schools: Southeast Alaska educators say overcrowded classrooms and years of state underfunding are forcing cuts to teachers, electives, support staff and student services across the region. Alaska Native Culture: The Alaska Federation of Natives marked its 60th anniversary as elders and youth gathered in Anchorage to share stories, language and cultural knowledge. UAF’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration also featured elders’ stories, dance, games and traditional arts. Local Business: Anchorage’s Naataq Gear has a new home after relocating from Nome, and now makes medical workwear with Alaska Native Medical Center. Community Leadership: Eight tribal and nonprofit leaders have been selected for 2027 sabbaticals, with grants supporting time for rest and reflection. Typhoon Recovery: A year after Typhoon Halong devastated Western Alaska communities, AVCP leaders are urging continued support for housing, infrastructure and culturally led recovery.

Voter Privacy: An Alaska judge allowed a lawsuit over the state’s transfer of unredacted voter rolls to the Justice Department to proceed, saying the move may have violated state privacy protections. Young Filmmakers: Two Wrangell freshmen are taking their documentaries to film festivals: one captures a community totem raising, while the other explores an Alaska family’s Russian heritage. Alaska Heritage: Holland America is planning heritage tours for its 80th Alaska season in 2027, including trips on the White Pass & Yukon Route Railroad and Riverboat Discovery. Native Culture: The Alaska Federation of Natives is marking its 60th anniversary with a convention this week, as elders and young people gather to preserve Alaska Native culture. Village Challenges: A statewide fuel-cost spike has prompted $25,000 relief checks for three small villages, while Alaska communities face difficult questions about who will pay for relocation.

Arts & Heritage: Cordova’s Rev. Belle Mickelson, a former science teacher turned Episcopal priest and musician, is profiled in Northerners, a new book celebrating Alaskans. Cultural Calendar: Juneau’s Celebration festival will return June 7–10, 2028, with dancers from Kake named the lead dance group. Native Voices: The Alaska Federation of Natives’ 60th convention opens in Anchorage with cultural showcases and discussions on subsistence, education, health and youth self-determination. Salmon & Subsistence: A Kodiak hatchery is raising wild Karluk River king salmon to help revive a run with only 93 returning fish last year; the project is significant to Alutiiq people, though some scientists worry it could cause harm. Education: Two Rivers HomeSTEAD, a K–8 charter school emphasizing hands-on learning and Alaska-based science, agriculture and design, has received final approval.

Salmon & Heritage: Kodiak’s Pillar Creek hatchery is raising wild Karluk River king salmon in a bid to save a run with deep Alutiiq significance. Just 93 kings returned last year; some scientists warn the effort could have risks. Native Voices: The Alaska Federation of Natives’ 60th convention begins Thursday in Anchorage, bringing cultural showcases and debate on subsistence, education, health and self-determination. It’s free and open to the public. Education: Two Rivers HomeSTEAD Charter School cleared its final approval hurdle. The planned K-8 school will emphasize hands-on learning, agriculture, sustainability and community involvement. Rural Living: As fuel costs spike statewide, an Alaska agency selected three small villages for $25,000 relief checks. Elections: Alaska Native writers from villages, hub communities and cities are urging a “no” vote on Ballot Measure 2, arguing the current election system gives rural voters more voice.

Rural Relief: With gas topping $25 a gallon in some Northwest Alaska villages, AIDEA sent $25,000 each to Ambler, Shungnak and Kobuk. Shungnak used its share to buy fuel for households, even as AIDEA pursues a mining road in the region. Native Culture: The Alaska Federation of Natives celebrates its 60th anniversary this week, following the Elders & Youth Conference. Youth and Elders are sharing cultural knowledge and stories, including memories of artifacts lost in Typhoon Halong. Indigenous Education: A new teaching certification is opening doors for Indigenous language educators in Alaska. Repatriation: Alaska Native families are working to bring home the remains of children who died at U.S. boarding schools. Village Relocation: Alaska communities facing relocation confront a pressing question: who will pay to move them?

Alaska Native Culture: Anchorage hosts the Alaska Federation of Natives’ 60th-anniversary convention this week, alongside an Elders & Youth gathering celebrating Native languages, history, art and community. Village Recovery: A year after Typhoon Halong devastated Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, many Yup’ik residents remain displaced as homes and infrastructure are rebuilt; questions over relocation and long-term support remain. Rural Living: With fuel topping $25 a gallon in Shungnak and Ambler, state development authority AIDEA gave three nearby villages $25,000 each—help that enabled residents to get out for hunting and fishing. Alaska Heritage: Archaeologists have uncovered what they describe as the Western Hemisphere’s oldest dwelling, at a 13,800-year-old Alaska site. Mushing: The Iditarod Hall of Fame’s latest class honors champions and women who helped shape the sport.

Community & Culture: “Northerners,” a new travelogue, profiles people making their mark in Alaska, while Salmonfest has pledged $15,000 a month to community giving. Native Voices: The Yaaruin Collective has launched a monthly magazine for Alaska Native children and families; students at Mount Edgecumbe High School also pressed state education officials for transparency and accountability. Arts & Heritage: Seward’s science symposium brings science, art and community together, and the Alaska Historical Society’s annual conference explores new directions in state history. Living Traditions: Unalaska honored a couple for lifelong service to the Russian Orthodox Church, while the Iditarod Hall of Fame’s new class recognizes champions and women’s mushing leaders.

Community Giving: Salmonfest has pledged $15,000 a month to Alaska organizations and community programs. October recipients include the Ninilchik Food Pantry and groups protecting Bristol Bay and the Kuskokwim River. Alaska Stories: Michael Engelhard’s new book, “Northerners,” brings together more than 50 essays on people who have made their mark in the state. Young Athlete: Healy hurdler Taylor Eddington was named 2025-26 Gatorade Alaska Girls Track and Field Player of the Year, training creatively at a school without a track. Campus Life: UAF’s Nanooks opened their home swim season with a 133-64 win over Azusa Pacific, fueled by a strong team culture. Native Culture: Anchorage celebrated Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and the Alaska Federation of Natives’ 60th annual conference is scheduled for Oct. 22. Western Alaska: A year after Typhoon Halong, communities continue rebuilding, with recovery expected to take years.

Mushing Legacy: Iditarod champions Aliy Zirkle and DeeDee Jonrowe joined the Hall of Fame’s 2026 class at an Anchorage gala, recognizing two of Alaska’s most celebrated women mushers. A Sitka Welcome: An Indian exchange student reflects on a year in Alaska, finding that small gestures from a host family and new classmates mattered as much as the big adventures. Indigenous Education: A new Alaska teaching certification is opening doors for Indigenous language educators. Cultural Roots: Archaeologists say a 13,800-year-old Alaska site holds the oldest known dwelling in the Western Hemisphere, while an Alaska Native family’s effort to bring home children’s remains from a U.S. boarding school underscores the continuing work of remembrance. Alaska in Books: Michael Engelhard’s “Northerners” explores what it means to be Alaskan.

Language & Education: Alaska has opened a new teaching certification pathway for Indigenous language educators, creating more opportunities to bring Native languages into classrooms. Living History: Alaska Native families are working to bring home the remains of children who died at U.S. boarding schools, while a new book, Northerners, explores what it means to be Alaskan. Culture on the Road: Alaskans in the travel industry are sharing stories of the state’s history and culture with visitors. Deep Past: Archaeologists in Alaska have uncovered what they say is the oldest known dwelling in the Western Hemisphere, at a 13,800-year-old site. Community Traditions: Indigenous Peoples Day events across Alaska celebrated Native culture, food and fellowship; Filipino American History Month also highlights the state’s Filipino communities.

Indigenous Education: University of Alaska Southeast has launched a first-of-its-kind master’s program to help Indigenous language speakers become fully licensed teachers, supporting language revitalization and opening new classroom opportunities. Culture & Community: A new effort will help bring home the remains of Alaska Native children who died at a U.S. boarding school, while the Yaaruin Collective is launching a monthly magazine for Alaska Native children and families. Local Life: Ketchikan’s Malasakit Matters initiative will train Filipino youth to help relatives navigate health care, drawing on the family’s existing role in supporting loved ones. Education: Anchorage’s school board is taking applications from district staff for an interim superintendent, while the state has approved the planned HomeSTEAD Charter School near Fairbanks for a 2027 opening. Alaska’s Past: Archaeologists say a 13,800-year-old Alaska site holds the oldest dwelling yet found in the Western Hemisphere. Books & Identity: Michael Engelhard’s new essay collection, “Northerners,” explores the many lives and stories that shape what it means to be Alaskan.

Subsistence Access: A proposed National Park Service rule would let qualifying Anaktuvuk Pass residents use off-road vehicles for subsistence activities in Gates of the Arctic, recognizing a traditional way of life. The public has 60 days to comment. Education: A state committee says Mt. Edgecumbe High School needs clearer communication and better student support after nearly 100 students — about a quarter of its enrollment — left last year. Arts & Giving: Salmonfest marks its 15th anniversary with a “Season of Giving,” pledging $15,000 through December to Alaska organizations and initiatives. Western Alaska Recovery: A year after Typhoon Halong devastated Kipnuk and Kwigillingok, many residents remain displaced, schools are still closed in flood zones, and the villages are rebuilding essential boardwalks.

Native Families: Yaaruin Collective has launched a monthly magazine for Alaska Native children and families, adding a new publication focused on the state’s young readers. Student Voices: Students at Mount Edgecumbe High School urged the State Board of Education to improve transparency and accountability. Faith and Service: Unalaska recognized a couple for lifelong service to the Russian Orthodox Church. Arts and Heritage: A Seward symposium brought science, art and community together, while a Fairbanks student is connecting cultural traditions with Tlingit art. Community Recovery: Western Alaska villages continue rebuilding a year after ex-Typhoon Halong, with recovery still uncertain.