Alaska Federation of Natives 2008

Researchers propose putting whales up for bidding

Hoping to defuse a three-decade-long feud over whale hunting, three academics are making an audacious proposal: The world should put a price on killing whales, and allow conservationists and whalers alike to bid on the right to take them.

Quyana night schedules

A longstanding and popular feature of AFN Conventions is the annual showcase of Alaska Native music and dance called "Quyana Night" - which is actually two nights.

Native groups oppose attorney general choice

An Alaska Federation of Natives committee voted unanimously to oppose Gov. Sarah Palin's pick for attorney general Wednesday.

AFN wants an energy emergency declared

The Alaska Federation of Natives on Saturday called on the state and federal governments to declare an energy emergency in rural Alaska, and to cap the price of heating oil and gasoline in villages across the state.

AFN convention picks Anchorage over Fairbanks

AFN salutes Emmonak man for public service

Bush tries energy alternatives

In Ruby, villagers anchored a turbine in the Yukon River last summer and generated electricity for their community.

Bingo makes even strange places feel like home

After long days at AFN meetings about politics and fuel shortages, the city's bingo halls are busy stages for reunions.

Audio Slide Show: Reconnecting over bingo

Fuel costs top the list of AFN village worries

Fuel costs top the list of AFN village worries

In the Norton Sound village of Koyuk, it takes gas to catch fish and hunt for seals and birds. Melvin Otton, a carpenter and village council president, estimates that fuel costs have doubled in the past year, meaning two or three hunters sometimes pool their money for a single trip.

Visionaries look to the past for rural Alaska's future

Many entrepreneurs are reaching into Alaska's more self-reliant past -- back when oil wasn't cheap and ubiquitous -- to help rural Alaska survive its deepening energy crisis.

Quyana night schedules

First Alaskans sets stage for AFN Convention

Lynn Church lifted her arms and cut the air with her hands to the beat of the Eskimo drum. The 18-year-old's blue kuspuk swayed with the rhythm. Dreaming of becoming a respected elder, Church taught her Native peers Monday at the annual Elders & Youth Conference in Anchorage.