For the last 50 years, the Big Twelve Alaska Native Corporations have been a significant driver of the State’s economy and equally impactful on their shareholders’ lives. Both in terms of receiving annual dividends and the employment opportunities that they provide, Alaskan natives have come to rely on, and actively support their region’s Native Corporations. While we have enjoyed supporting many of these organizations over the years by helping to produce their annual meetings, company shareholder picnics, and more, we have never seen more enthusiasm this year as Native corps around the state have been gathering and celebrating 50 years in business.
In honor of this landmark achievement, we are taking the opportunity to recognize and pay tribute to the significance and uniqueness to each of the 12 Native corporations that represent the entirety of Alaska.
AHTNA, INC.
Ahtna owns approximately 1.5 million acres in east-central Alaska, in the Copper River Basin. Ahtna consists of eight federally recognized tribes and represents more than 1,500 shareholders. Ahtna‘s investments consist of 15 subsidiaries that are involved in everything from government contracting and civil construction, to environmental remediation, and food service contractors. In 2021, due in part to Ahtna’s focus on growth and diversification, they enjoyed a continued multi-year revenue surge, finishing at the highest revenue point in its history of well over $300 million.
ALEUT CORP
The Aleut Corporation has more than 4,000 shareholders and currently manages and sells sand, gravel, minerals, and rock aggregates as part of its subsurface rights within the region.
In 2020, Aleut Corporation generated $277 million in revenue and employed more than 900 people.
ARCTIC SLOPE REGIONAL CORP (ASRC)
In the last few years, Arctic Slope Regional Corp has established itself as one of the largest Alaska-based companies, and certainly one of the largest Native Corporations. ASRC represents some 15,000 employees nationwide, a growing list of 13,000 shareholders, nearly 5 million acres of pristine, mineral-rich land, and close to $4 billion dollars in annual revenues. Additionally, ASRC plans to pursue an aggressive growth strategy in 2022, with early indicators showing a strong future.
BRISTOL BAY NATIVE CORP (BBNC)
Bristol Bay has the unique moniker of being home to the world’s largest salmon fishery. In 2022, the summer’s wild sockeye salmon catch actually surpassed the previous year’s numbers and is contributing to a resurgence in tourism in the area. BBNC employs nearly 4,000 people worldwide and had an annual revenue of over $1.7 billion in 2021
BERING STRAITS NATIVE CORP (BSNC)
The Bering Strait region consists of the majority of the Seward Peninsula and Norton sound, home to 17 Village corporations, and nearly 2 million acres of land. Bering Straits Native Corp. manages this portfolio to achieve the $500 million in annual revenue it earned in FY 2022.
CALISTA
Calista Corp owns and operates a significantly sizable 6.5 million acres of mineral-rich land, firmly cementing its presence in the industries of resource development including oil, gold, and construction material mining. Last year, 2021 saw a company record of more than $700 million in annual revenue.
CHUGACH ALASKA
CIRI
CIRI is the largest private landowner in Southcentral Alaska, with more than 1.3 million acres of subsurface land available for oil, gas, and mineral leasing in the Cook Inlet region. CIRI is also well known for its portfolio of nonprofit service organizations that provide needed health care, housing, employment, education, and other social and cultural enrichment services for Alaska Natives. CIRI’s strength is not only its more than 8,000 loyal stakeholders but its commitment to progression and sustainability. Last year capped a banner year for CIRI with over $500 million in annual revenues.
DOYON, LIMITED
Overseeing a vast land base of over 12.5 million acres, part of which borders Canada to the East, Doyon, is the largest private landowner in Alaska, and even one of the largest in the entire continent of North America. Outside of this impressive statistic, Doyon also oversees a diverse portfolio that provides very well for its 20,000 shareholders, with close to $400 million in annual revenues.
KONIAG
The Koniag portfolio of companies is grouped into six broad sectors that include: real estate, natural resource development, energy and water, tourism, government services, and information technology. This broad interest base has led to Koniag’s best financial year on record, and continued growth moving forward. With tourism, among other things, on the rebound in the area, Koniag was proud to offer increase shareholder benefits for the Kodiak region, including a $2.1 million contribution to the shareholder settlement trust
NANA
At the helm of new CEO John Lincoln, NANA is proactively positioning itself as the industry leader it once was during the heydays of the Red Dog Mine. Known collectively as a model for responsible resource development practices, NANA is now seeking to become a leader in engineering and construction, resource development, facilities management and logistics, real estate and hotel development, and information technology and telecommunications.
SEALASKA
Sealaska stands as unique in the Native Corporation space as it prides itself on providing long-term benefit to its shareholders, in ways other than purely financial means. Sealaska stays true to its traditions of environmental stewardship through sustainably produced seafood, environmental remediation, plus advocating support for offshore wind energy development.
We have been so honored to have worked with so many of these great organizations and people over the years, and are excited as ever for another 50 years of Native Corporations in Alaska. We have been and continued to be, privileged to assist with producing annual meetings, employee functions, end-of-year celebrations, and most recently 50th-anniversary events & cultural recognition ceremonies.
For more info about how we can assist you and your team with meetings and events
please contact our Toast of the Town event team today.
