Tessa Baldwin, 17 and a member of the Statewide Suicide Prevention Council, fought through tears to tell her story about suicides in her life Saturday during a U.S. Senate field hearing on Alaska Native suicide at the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in downtown Anchorage.
AFN names award winners at convention
Here is the full list of award winners from this year's Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Anchorage this past week.
ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES CONVENTION
Voters in the Alaska Marketplace competition -- a contest to win seed money to start small rural businesses -- awarded Rebecca Wilbur the people's choice award at this year's Alaska Federation of Natives convention. She'll take home $6,000 from the competition.
ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES CONVENTION
Business tips for rural Alaska: computer farm, tourist kuspuks
Former Bethel Rep. Mary Sattler has a question: Why is it that when tourists go to Hawaii, they all come home wearing a Hawaiian shirt, but when visitors leave Alaska, they're not wearing a traditional kuspuk?
Photos: 2011 Alaska Federation of Natives convention
Rural blog: AFN Day 1 notebook
AFN remains undecided about 2012 convention location
The Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Committee has recommended the convention be held in Fairbanks next year, but a telephone poll of AFN board members seemed to indicate a preference for Anchorage.
ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES CONFERENCE
AFN urges Alaskans to drop party affiliation
Are you a registered Democrat or Republican? The board of directors for the Alaska Federation of Natives -- the nonprofit representing indigenous people in nearly 180 communities across the state -- recommends dropping your party affiliation. At least on paper.
Photos: 2011 Alaska Federation of Natives convention
Rural blog: AFN Day 1 notebook
ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES CONFERENCE
Young: Time for an Alaska Native in Congress
Alaska Rep. Don Young told Alaska Federation of Natives convention delegates today that he'd like to see an Alaska Native elected to the state's sole congressional seat. The AFN convention opened this morning at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage, with delegates from across the state in attendance.
RURAL BLOG
Iditarod champ Baker stresses hard work for village youths
"I won't pretend that living in rural Alaska isn't difficult at times," Iditarod champion John Baker told delegates to the First Alaskans Elders and Youth Conference in Anchorage today. "It just means that we have to work a lot harder."
Alaska's Natives gather for state's largest convention
Not only the largest annual gathering of Alaska Natives, the three-day Alaska Federation of Natives convention is the biggest regular convention of any kind in the state, the Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau said.
Hundreds attend Fairbanks service for Athabascan leader
Whether they had been scolded, encouraged, loved or touched in another way by her, hundreds of people mourned the loss of 102-year-old Athabascan matriarch Hannah Solomon on Thursday.
2010 ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES COVERAGE
AFN forum canceled, hopefuls work crowd
The day after Sen. Lisa Murkowski won the endorsement of the largest Alaska Native group in the state, her competitors spent Friday courting votes among individual villagers.
AFN finishes up today in Fairbanks
Village survival recurring motif at Native convention
Village survival recurring motif at Native convention
The title of the theme for the Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Fairbanks pretty much says it all: "Village Survival."
AFN finishes up today in Fairbanks
The Alaska Federation of Natives Convention concludes at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
JULIA O'MALLEY
Buying a last-minute gift? You might want to read this
Still need to cross a few names off your Christmas shopping list? We might be able to help. We asked readers for their gift-giving advice over the weekend, and here are 15 tips for gift-givers.
Crafts fair a hit at AFN convention
While kuspuks, mukluks and bead work abounded, so did people -- and shoppers -- making for some happy craftsmen at the Alaska Federation of Natives Arts and Crafts Fair in Fairbanks.
AFN backs Murkowski for Senate
The Alaska Federation of Natives voted to endorse Sen. Lisa Murkowski's write-in campaign Thursday, prompting a renewed attack from rival Joe Miller. Senate-race politics figured large on the opening day of the AFN convention in Fairbanks.
The Alaska Federation of Natives Convention is under way at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
RURAL BLOG: THE VILLAGE
Feds fumbled subsistence fix, AFN leaders say
The Obama administration has fumbled efforts to fix federal oversight of subsistence hunting and fishing in Alaska, according to a proposed resolution from the Alaska Federation of Natives board of directors.
Follow AFN convention on radio, TV, Web
The Alaska Federation of Natives Convention opens today at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks. Proceedings will be carried live on KNBA 90.3 FM, ARCS (the Alaska Rural Communications Service), GCI cable channels 1 and 15, and webcast at 360north.org and nativefederation.org.
Healing Mass conducted for victims of Alaska priest abuse
Three Alaska Catholic bishops walked the aisles of Sacred Heart Cathedral waving spruce branches dipped in waters from Alaska rivers and sprinkling the gathering of 150 congregants in a blessing rite.
AFN cancels Fairbanks forum for U.S. Senate candidates
With some board members believing the red-hot U.S. Senate race has grown "overexposed," the Alaska Federation of Natives voted Tuesday to cancel its Senate candidate forum in Fairbanks.
Return to storytelling could encourage young Natives to preserve languages
Alaska Native elders and young people are being encouraged to take the time to talk to each other to help preserve their languages and traditions.
Brigham Young troupe featured at conference
The Elders and Youth Conference, which takes place in advance of the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, is under way at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks.
ALASKA POLITICS BLOG
AFN calls off Senate candidate forum
The Alaska Federation of Natives board of directors voted today to cancel a U.S. Senate candidates forum that was planned for Friday afternoon in Fairbanks.
McAdams says Murkowski could play spoiler
AFN elders and youths aired live
The Elders and Youth Conference, which takes place in advance of the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, continues at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks today.
AFN Youth, Elders Conference coverage begins today
The Elders and Youth Conference, which takes place in advance of the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention, opens at the Carlson Center in Fairbanks today.
Community issues are tops on AFN convention agenda
Organizers of the upcoming Alaska Federation of Natives convention in Fairbanks say it will focus on community issues. The theme this year is "Village Survival!"
AFN Convention to be broadcast on TV, as webcast from Fairbanks
The 2010 Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Fairbanks this month will be broadcast on TV and as a webcast.
Indian Affairs official hears concerns of Alaska Natives
The new assistant secretary for Indian Affairs told tribal leaders that calls to revisit the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act have gotten his attention.
Native convention to return in 2011
The coveted Alaska Federation of Natives convention will return to Anchorage in 2011, officials announced Wednesday.
AFN co-chair named chairman of Federal Subsistence Board
Alaska Federation of Natives co-chair Tim Towarak of Unalakleet has been named chairman of the Federal Subsistence Board in Alaska.
2009 ALASKA FEDERATION OF NATIVES COVERAGE
AFN delegates want revised subsistence policies
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
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
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
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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
AFN convention to touch on village issues
The Alaska Federation of Natives convention launches this morning in Anchorage, promising a complex look at the law and politics surrounding basic village needs.
The Village blog: What has suicide meant to you, and what should be done?
Photos: Last day of First Alaskans Elders & Youth Conference
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.
The Village blog: What has suicide meant to you, and what should be done?
Subsistence rights expected to headline AFN convention
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.
The Village blog: What has suicide meant to you, and what should be done?
PHOTO GALLERIES
The annual convention of the Alaska Federation of Natives in October 2011, at the Dena'ina Convention Center in Anchorage.
Singers and Dancers from around the state performed Wednesday evening, Oct. 19, 2011, during Quyana Alaska I which is part of the annual Alaska Federation of Natives convention being held at the Dena'ina Center in Anchorage.
The First Alaskans Institute Elders and Youth Conference continued Tuesday, October 18, 2011, at the Denaina Convention Center in Anchorage. The conference is held each year in the days leading up to the Alaska Federation of Natives annual convention, which begins Thursday.
VIDEO
The First Alaskans Elders & Youth Conference continued Tuesday, Oct. 18, in downtown Anchorage, where kids from villages across the state huddled with elders to talk about Alaska's past, present and future. We asked some of the young delegates about why they're here and what's important to them. (Video by Kyle Hopkins)
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].
The Chevak Tanqik Dancers performed on the first night of Quyana Alaska on Thursday, October 22, 2009, during the AFN Convention in the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage. (Video by Bill Roth)
READER-SUBMITTED PHOTOS
Post your photos from the Bush and check out what others are sending in.
PHOTOS
Images of the 2009 Alaska Federation of Native convention in Anchorage, and the days leading up to it.
AUDIO SLIDE SHOW
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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