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Alaska Federation of Natives

ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES CONVENTION

AFN delegates want revised subsistence policies

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski shakes hands with Vincent Tocktoo from Shishmaref at the 2009 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Oct. 24, 2009, at the Dena'ina Center in downtown Anchorage. Tocktoo's wife, Molly, in the wheelchair, just recently came out of the hospital.

AFN delegates voted Saturday to call for a 14-point overhaul of subsistence hunting and fishing regulation in Alaska. The proposals include a push for the federal government to assume responsibility for regulating subsistence on 45.5 million acres of Native-owned land.

ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES CONVENTION

Feds seek to reshape hunting and fishing rules

Alissa Joseph from the YK Delta and Alice Oksoktaruk originally from McGrath now living in Wassilla wear parkas made by Verna Dommek and head pieces made by Dora Bucher in the 2009 AFN Parka Parade on Friday October 23, 2009. The Alaska Federation of Natives convention runs through Today Saturday at the Dena'ina Center.

The Obama administration is launching a rapid, sweeping review of the way the federal government manages subsistence hunting and fishing in Alaska, Interior Department officials said Friday.

Producer looking for Inuit actors

Andrew MacLean, whose short film "Sikumi" ("On the Ice") has won awards at the Sundance Film Festival and elsewhere, is holding auditions in Anchorage for an expanded version of the movie. Prior acting experience is not needed.

Artists like bigger space at AFN craft fair

Sonny Grant, a Tlingit from Juneau works on a soap stone polar bear at the crafts fair during the 2009 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention on Friday October 23, 2009 at the Dena'ina Center. Grant's bear is just coming back off the ice pack before summer so it is a fat bear from the winter's seal hunting.

There's a new and more expansive look at the Alaska Federation of Natives annual Arts and Crafts Show, which concludes today in the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center.

Changes planned for Native contracting program

Federal regulators told at least 100 AFN delegates attending a breakout session Thursday that they are about to make revisions to the controversial federal-contracting program behind the huge growth of many Alaska Native corporations this decade.

AFN convention speeches address history and change

Willie Hensley, one of the founders of the Alaska Federation of Natives, and his daughter Elizabeth Hensley, closed the first night of the AFN Convention speaking not only of the fight over subsistence hunting and fishing rights, but also about the spiritual battle against social ills that the community still struggles with.

THE VILLAGE BLOG

Live-blogging from the AFN convention

The Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention got under way this morning in downtown Anchorage. Reporter Kyle Hopkins is live-blogging on our rural blog, The Village. Come back for updates through the day.

AFN convention to touch on village issues

Follow the AFN convention on TV, radio, online

AFN convention to touch on village issues

The Suurimmaanitchuat Dancers from Barrow performed their crowd-favorite Elvis dance on the final day of the First Alaskans Elders & Youth Conference. The conference is held each year just before the start of the Alaska Federation of Natives Conference, which begins Oct. 22, 2009, at the Dena'ina convention center.

The Alaska Federation of Natives convention launches this morning in Anchorage, promising a complex look at the law and politics surrounding basic village needs.

Follow the AFN convention on TV, radio, online

PORTRAITS FROM THE AFN CONVENTION

Alaska Native youths talk about the future

Thousands of Alaska Native young people and elders from across the state filled the Dena'ina Center Monday and Tuesday for the First Alaskans Elders & Youth Conference. We talked to a sampling of teenagers Tuesday about the conference, their futures and how they feel about village life.

Subsistence rights expected to headline AFN convention

Quyagikpin Tauqsiqavich, by artist Priscilla Naunugagiaq Hensley Holthouse, is part of the Virtual Subsistence exhibition at the MTS Gallery in Mountain View through Nov. 14, 2009. The garment is described by the artist as being constructed using solely materials that contain and transport the food upon which I subsist in Alabama. Listen to one of the artists describe the show at adn.com/thevillage.

Alaska Native leaders expect rural subsistence hunting and fishing rights to be a major theme this week at the state's largest gathering of indigenous people.

Options to follow Alaska Federation of Natives convention

The state's largest gathering of Alaska Natives begins this week at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage.

Committee scrutinizes Alaska Native corporation contracts

WASHINGTON -- Alaska Native corporations "provide some benefits to their shareholders," a Senate oversight committee found, but it also determined that the advantages the companies enjoy under U.S. Small Business Administration contracting rules create "the potential for waste, fraud and abuse."

Native no-bid contracting sows tension in US Senate

Land going to Alaska Natives

The federal Bureau of Land Management has filed public notice to convey more than 554,000 acres to a handful of Alaska village and regional Native corporations.

Interior city to host AFN convention in 2010

The Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention is returning to Fairbanks.

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 convention picks Anchorage over Fairbanks

Kicaput Dancers from Anchorage perform during Quyana Alaska I  at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center Oct. 23, 2008.

The Alaska Federation of Natives has decided to forgo Fairbanks next year and hold its annual convention in Anchorage.

AFN wants an energy emergency declared

AFN salutes Emmonak man for public service

2009 Keynote Address

Willie Hensley, one of the founders of the Alaska Federation of Natives, and his daughter Elizabeth Hensley, give the keynote address at this year's AFN Convention. [enlarge video].


VIDEO

Chevak Tanqik Dancers

The Chevak Tanqik Dancers performed on the first night of Quyana Alaska, Oct. 22, 2009.

PHOTOS

Scenes from the AFN

Images of the 2009 Alaska Federation of Native convention in Anchorage, and the days leading up to it.

RURAL BLOG

The Village

Blogging about life and politics in rural Alaska.

READER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS

Life in Rural Alaska

Post your photos from the Bush and check out what others are sending in.

WEB SITE

Alaska Federation of Natives

Read the issues and programs the AFN is focused on, and find a link to the live streaming of this year's convention.

2008 VIDEO

The high cost of rising fuel prices

Emmonak. Nightmute. Elim. Alaskans from across the state talk about what rocketing gas and fuel costs have meant for their villages and hometowns. [enlarge video].


AUDIO SLIDE SHOW

Elder Eskimo Dance Diva

On the first night of Quyana Alaska at the 2006 AFN, 87-year-old Yupik' elder Mary Ann Sundown made a surprise appearance.

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