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First Alaskans Institute Advancing Alaska Natives...for the Next 10,000 years...

The Institute does this through community engagement, information and research, collaboration, and leadership development.

At this year’s Statewide Elders & Youth Conference, we’re bringing three generations into one conversation about the Ala...
10/15/2026

At this year’s Statewide Elders & Youth Conference, we’re bringing three generations into one conversation about the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. We’ll hear what leaders were working to secure when it was negotiated, what it means to lead an ANCSA corporation today, and what young people hope to see over the next 50 years.

ANCSA Across Generations
Tuesday, October 20 | 9:45–10:30 a.m.
Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center

✨Willie Hensley (Iñupiaq) on ANCSA’s beginnings
✨Kristel Komakhuk (Alutiiq and Iñupiaq) on leading an ANCSA corporation today
✨Tatiana Taanka Korthuis (Yup’ik) on ANCSA’s future
✨Moderated by Hallie Bissett (Dena’ina)

Elders and youth, come listen and learn from one another. Our corporations belong to all of us, and so does their future.

Not registered for the Elders & Youth Conference yet? Register today at bit.ly/2026EYC

This panel is a shared effort of First Alaskans Institute, Alaska Native Unity, the Alaska Native Chamber, the ANCSA Hall of Fame, and Alaska Native Media Group.

The 43rd Annual Statewide Elders & Youth Conference starts this Sunday, October 18-21 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorag...
10/15/2026

The 43rd Annual Statewide Elders & Youth Conference starts this Sunday, October 18-21 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage.

Swipe through for everything you need to know:
➡️ Keynotes from Emil Notti and Qangyuk Natalia Schneider
➡️ Our Conference Guides
➡️ A peek at the daily schedule
➡️ Theme days (optional and just for fun!)
➡️ 10 dance groups sharing their songs with us
➡️ Can’t-miss events like Chin’an Night: Natives Got Talent and the Teen Dance
➡️ How to register

This year we gather under the theme K’ets’e kk’ʉdaa neehʉghleł, “We are approaching change,” and honor Denaakk’e (Koyukon Athabascan) as our Language of the Year.

Here's a link to our full digital agenda: bit.ly/2026-EYC-agenda

Tl’eeyegge Hʉt'aane Kkaa Dedzaanh Sozelts'eeyh (Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Denaakk’e) from all of us at First Alas...
10/12/2026

Tl’eeyegge Hʉt'aane Kkaa Dedzaanh Sozelts'eeyh (Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Denaakk’e) from all of us at First Alaskans Institute! ✨

Every day, we get to work alongside Indigenous people from across Alaska, doing work that honors our cultures, our languages, and our communities. We feel lucky to call this our job.

Today we celebrate the strength, knowledge, humor, and determination of Indigenous peoples everywhere. We honor the ones who came before us, the ones carrying our ways forward now, and the generations ahead.

How are you celebrating today?

10/08/2026

Our team set the bar. Now it’s your turn to raise it! Natives Got Talent is back at Chin’an Night on Monday, October 19.

Bonus: Each talent is captioned in Denaakk’e (Koyukon Athabascan), our Language of the Year ✨Which is your favorite?

Ready to show us how it’s done? We’d love to see you share your talent, culture, or creativity with Elders, youth, and community. Here’s how to audition:
🎤 Send an audition video to [email protected]
🎤 Audition in-person on Sunday, October 18 at 5:30 PM at the Dena’ina Center

Want a seat in the audience? Tickets for Chin’an Night: Natives Got Talent are $5. Get yours here: bit.ly/NativesGotTalent

This event is open to Elders & Youth Conference attendees. Be sure to register to attend if you haven’t yet: bit.ly/2026EYC

FAI is honored to announce the awardees of the 2026 Howard Rock & Ted Stevens Smokehouse Gala!✨Howard Rock Alaska Native...
10/06/2026

FAI is honored to announce the awardees of the 2026 Howard Rock & Ted Stevens Smokehouse Gala!

✨Howard Rock Alaska Native Leader Award: Kakianaaq Rex Allen Rock Sr. (Iñupiaq) and John Aġnauqługaq Lincoln (Iñupiaq)
✨First Alaskans Institute Young Native Leader Award: Taylor Canaar Hoffman (Yup'ik)
✨Friends of First Alaskans Ted Stevens Award: Dr. Stephen J. Langdon
✨Special Recognition for Lifetime Achievement: Iġġiaġruk Willie Hensley (Iñupiaq)

Join us Saturday, November 21, at the Marriott Anchorage Downtown as we celebrate their work for our peoples, our lands, and our ways of life.

Read more about each honoree: firstalaskans.org/2026-hrts-smokehouse-gala-awardees

Today, September 30, is National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, also known as Orange Shirt Day.The...
09/30/2026

Today, September 30, is National Day of Remembrance for U.S. Indian Boarding Schools, also known as Orange Shirt Day.

The First Alaskans Institute team wears orange to honor residential school survivors and their families, and to remember the children who never returned home. The heavy and lasting impacts of residential schools are carried throughout our communities, across families and generations.

In remembering and honoring those who came before us, we also carry forward the work of healing and uplifting our children, cultures, languages, and ways of life so they continue to thrive long in the future. 🧡

The deadline to update your voter registration for the November 3 General Election is THIS Sunday, October 4! Be sure to...
09/29/2026

The deadline to update your voter registration for the November 3 General Election is THIS Sunday, October 4! Be sure to check your registration status, including your address, so that you’re eligible to vote. Check now at: myvoterportal.alaska.gov

09/25/2026

This conversation is in Denaakk’e, our 2026 Language of the Year! ✨

Hear more at the Statewide Elders & Youth Conference, October 18-21, as we gather under the theme, Kk’etse kk’ʉdaa neehʉghleł, “We are approaching change.”

👉 Denaakk’e Language Panel: Monday, October 19, 9:15am (Main Stage)
👉 Denaakk’e Language Workshop: Monday, October 19, 1:30pm (Kahtnu, Floor 2)

If you haven’t yet registered for Elders & Youth, sign up at: bit.ly/2026EYC

Enaa baasee’ to Dewey Kk’ołeyo Hoffman and Laurel Sullivan for bringing this skit to life! 👏

Dzaahn Hoozoonh (it’s a good day)! We are so excited to share with you the three winning designs for our Get Out the Nat...
09/18/2026

Dzaahn Hoozoonh (it’s a good day)! We are so excited to share with you the three winning designs for our Get Out the Native Vote sticker contest! We want to express our deep gratitude to each of the community members who took the time to craft beautiful, thoughtful, and funny designs. Although we could only choose three, each one submitted carried its’ own value and artistic voice, and it was a testament to how creative our community is to see the breadth of designs you all shared with us. Once more, enaa baasee’ (thank you).

We are excited to congratulate Megan Henry as the winner of the first place design! This beautiful sandhill crane returns to breed every year, just like we return to the polls every election to make our voices heard.

We also want to extend our congratulations to Savon Blanchard, our second place winner, and Shala Kerrigan, our third place winner. You can find all three of these designs at our outreach table at upcoming events, or at the Elders and Youth Conference from October 18th to 21st.

Natives Got Talent is back at Elders & Youth Conference! This talent show is part of our annual Chin'an Night, happening...
09/15/2026

Natives Got Talent is back at Elders & Youth Conference! This talent show is part of our annual Chin'an Night, happening Monday, October 19.

Want to share your talent, culture, or creativity with Elders, youth, and community? Here's how to audition:

🎤 Send an audition video to [email protected]
🎤 Audition in person on Sunday, October 18 at 5:30 p.m. at the Dena'ina Center

Auditions help us plan the program and make sure all performances are respectful and appropriate for our Elders, youth, and families.

We can't wait to see what you bring to the stage! Haven't registered for the conference yet? Register now at: www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-statewide-elders-youth-conference-tickets-1991736490459

Address

2525 C. Street, Suite 400
Anchorage, AK
99503

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+19076771700

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