Press Releases
- Radio Interview on KNBA 90.3 FM with TCF
- TCF Hires New Program Assistant
- TCF Hires New Program Officer
- The CIRI Foundation Supports 25 Years of Educational Dreams Awarding over $12 million for post-secondary education
- The CIRI Foundation Publishes
- New Publication by The CIRI Foundation Celebrates Salmon Processing in The Cook Inlet Tradition
- Growing Up Native In Alaska
June 30, 2008
radio interview on knba 90.3 FM WITH TCF
Susan Anderson, President/CEO and Ricardo Lopez, Program Officer, will be interviewed about the foundation’s scholarship and grant programs on Monday, 30 June. They will be on the KNBA 90.3 FM Community Spotlight segment at 8:30am AK Time. Their interviewer will be Jennifer Canfield, a TCF recipient, who is working for KNBA this summer.
June 23, 2008
tcf hires new program assistant
The CIRI Foundation (TCF) is pleased to announce that Whitney Leman, a previous TCF recipient, is our new Program Assistant. She joined the team on Monday, 23 June.
Whitney comes to TCF from Eastern Oregon University (EOU) where she graduated on 14 June with a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Arts and a minor in Business. While at school she was the sports editor for the college newspaper, a program coordinator for the athletic department, and has worked for many summers in her Ninilchik family’s commercial set net fishing business.
Her impressive accomplishments include graduating class valedictorian at Ninilchik High School, being awarded the Lund Champion of Character Award at EOU in 2007, and staying on the Dean’s List much of her college career while playing basketball for EOU. Whitney notes, “The CIRI Foundation has made obtaining a college education possible for me. I am looking forward to being part of TCF’s team.”
You may reach Whitney Leman at The CIRI Foundation via: wleman@thecirifoundation.org or 907.793.3575.
MAY 27, 2008
tcf Hires new program officer
The CIRI Foundation (TCF) is pleased to announce a new team member has joined us who will help move the mission of TCF forward.
Ricardo Lopez joined The CIRI Foundation as Program Officer on 27 May 2008. He comes to TCF from the Rasmuson Foundation where he served for five years and was focused on the small grants program, conducting grant research, preparing information to the board, and working with external collaborative partners. A life-long Alaskan with family ties to the Bristol Bay region, Ricardo has also worked with the Alaska Federation of Natives and Bristol Bay Native Association. He holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences with an Art Minor from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
He is a long-time on-air host and producer for “First Voices,” a weekly public radio show featuring world and indigenous music on 90.3 KNBA. He serves on the boards of Child Care Connection in Alaska and on the national Native Americans in Philanthropy.
Ricardo was one of three foundation professionals selected for the national Emerging Philanthropic Leaders Fellowship coordinated through the Council on Foundations. He was also a member of the steering committee for Alaska’s “Ready to Read, Ready to Learn” statewide initiative.
Ricardo notes, “I admire the vision and clear purpose of The CIRI Foundation and believe in the mission. I know that each scholarship is an individual investment to strengthen our Alaska Native communities.”
You may reach Ricardo Lopez at The CIRI Foundation via: rlopez@thecirifoundation.org or 907.793.3575.
SEPTEMBER 12, 2007
The CIRI Foundation Supports 25 Years of Educational Dreams Awarding over $12 million for post-secondary education
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The CIRI Foundation has awarded over $955,000 in scholarships and grants during 2007, supporting 365 Alaska Native students working to achieve their higher education at universities and vocational schools across the world.
Since its establishment in 1982, The CIRI Foundation has contributed more than $12.6 million for the Alaska Native beneficiaries of CIRI to participate in post-secondary education and approximately $1.47 million through The CIRI Foundation Education and Heritage Project Grant Program toward other non-profit organization projects that further the goals of The CIRI Foundation by serving our people, Alaska Natives and Alaskans.
One of the founding board members, Margaret L. Brown, CIRI President and Chief Executive Officer notes “From the day it was created, The CIRI Foundation has invested in Alaska Native people and Alaska’s future. The CIRI Foundation grants and scholarships are helping to educate and inspire new generations of Alaskans to improve lives and prepare for the future.” Susan A. Anderson, President/CEO of The CIRI Foundation, personally knows the benefits of the scholarship program as she was one of the foundation’s earliest recipients. She notes, “Education in combination with knowledge of our heritage is the key to our future as Alaska Native people.”
As a non-profit affiliate of Cook Inlet Region Inc. (CIRI), The CIRI Foundation’s mission is to promote individual self-development and economic self-sufficiency through education and to maintain pride in culture and heritage among Alaska Natives who are original enrollees of CIRI and their direct lineal descendents. As part of its mission, The CIRI Foundation strives to support continued living traditions through selected heritage publications and media productions that enhance appreciation and understanding of Alaska Native cultures among all people. The CIRI Foundation will continue to serve Alaska Native people and Alaskans throughout the next quarter century with equal, if not more, focus on educational dreams and opportunities.
June 28, 2007
THE CIRI FOUNDATION PUBLISHES
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alaska's compelling history is featured in a new book published by The CIRI Foundation that gathers 120 articles and historic photographs published in the Anchorage Daily News weekly feature "Scrapbook" over the last six years.
"Alaska Scrapbook, Moments in Alaska History 1816-1998," includes brief articles covering a span of key events and poignant moments from 1816 to 1998. They highlight the history of the state's indigenous peoples and its many migrants. In addition to people, the features celebrate the construction of important facilities, passage of key legislation, and the anniversary of the founding of communities, corporations and organizations.
They also offer insight into the devastation caused by fires, floods and deaths of important leaders.
"The CIRI Foundation seeks to preserve and perpetuate the heritage of Alaska's indigenous peoples and the relationship between indigenous and new Alaskans. This book goes a long way toward showing the important role all Alaskans have played, placing this information in the broader context of the overall state's history," said Susan Anderson, president and CEO of The CIRI Foundation.
The articles are written by Dr. Stephen Haycox, University of Alaska history professor, and Alexandra J. McClanahan, M.A., CIRI historian. The editor is Veldee Hall, a young Alaska Native, who wrote the book's introduction.
The book is the culmination of a partnership between The CIRI Foundation, the University of Alaska Anchorage and the Anchorage Daily News. Over the last six years, this cooperative effort provided several hundred history lessons to Alaskans statewide.
"Alaska Scrapbook, Moments in Alaska History 1816-1998" is available from The CIRI Foundation or retail outlets. The price is $24.95. All proceeds from the sale of the book will benefit The CIRI Foundation, a private foundation established in 1982 to provide scholarships and enhance the heritage of Alaska Natives through programs that foster appreciation and understanding of Alaska Native cultures.
Other titles by The CIRI Foundation include:
"A Place for Winter, Paul Tiulana's Story"
"A Reference in Time, Alaska Native History Day by Day"
"Growing Up Native in Alaska"
"Na'eda, Our Friends"
"Our Stories, Our Lives"
"Putting Up Fish on The Kenai"
"Reflections on the Alaska Native Experience"
"Alaska Native Corporations: Sakuuktugut (We are working incredibly hard)"
March 4, 2005
NEW PUBLICATION BY THE CIRI FOUNDATION CELEBRATES SALMON PROCESSING IN THE COOK INLET TRADITION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(ANCHORAGE, AK) "Putting Up Fish on the Kenai -- A Guide to Processing Alaska Salmon in the Cook Inlet Tradition," by Hazel J. Felton is now available from The CIRI Foundation and select book stores throughout Anchorage.
"We are pleased to offer our newest book by Hazel J. Felton, a Dena'ina originally from Kenai and a shareholder of CIRI," said Susan A. Anderson, President & CEO of The CIRI Foundation. "It adds immensely to the public understanding of Dena'ina traditions, and it celebrates a woman who played a key role in Kenai area history."
The book is a "how-to" manual for smoking and jarring one of Alaska's most prized resources. It is also a tribute to Rika Florence Murphy, first recognized chief of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, who lovingly passed on her precise methods to Felton, her daughter. Many of the photographs featured in the book were taken at the "fish camp," which was introduced at Cook Inlet Tribal Council's Youth Camp located on the Kenai Peninsula in Ninilchik where this technique was taught to many of the young people at the camp.
In addition to its step-by-step instructions, the book includes detailed design plans for the constructions of an "urban smokehouse," providing city dwellers with a means to recreate these traditional techniques of processing salmon. The 96-page paperback book, 7 inches by 10 inches, contains many photos to illustrate the process, as well as historic and contemporary pictures, including a 10-page section of color photographs. It retails for $19.95, with proceeds from its sale going to The CIRI Foundation to support the foundation's cultural programs and scholarships.
Clare Swan of Kenai, Cook Inlet Tribal Council chairperson and Kenaitze tribal member, had this to say about the book: "This book is one more happy way for me to remember my friend Rika. It's a special gift to Kenaitze tribal members and others in our community -- truly, a tribute to this resourceful, caring, thoroughly modern Dena'ina woman."
Alan Boraas, professor of anthropology at Kenai Peninsula College, also commented on the book. He said: "The Dena'ina have been catching, processing, and sharing fish from the Kenai River maybe for as long as there have been salmon to catch. In this book, Hazel Felton describes the careful, exacting way her mother, the late Rika Murphy, and other Elders taught her about the proper way to process salmon. But this is far more than a 'how-to' guide. As their ancestors did, the Dena'ina infuse the salmon with a part of themselves" through the proper execution of 'putting up fish.' Later, when people travel from house to house the words, "I have some salmon for you" take on a special meaning as the produce of the land merges with the people's bond of kinship in the sharing of salmon."
The book is available at select bookstores, through Alaska Northwest Books (907) 278-8838, or by contacting The CIRI Foundation directly at (907) 263-5582.
ISBN number: 0-938227-06-8
June 22, 2000
GROWING UP NATIVE IN ALASKA
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Anchorage, Alaska - June 22, 2000 - Chris Cooke, Alaska's Democratic Party chair, has selected Growing Up Native in Alaska as his book to take for President Clinton when he meets with other party officials from across the nation this weekend in Los Angeles at the Association of State Democratic Chairs' bi-annual meeting.
President Clinton, who has scheduled an appearance during the Association meeting, will be presented with a book from each of the representative state chairs.
"After reading about Growing Up Native In Alaska, I bought the book. Many of this book's young people came of age during the Clinton era, and their stories are important for Alaska and the nation. The country needs to know that Alaska's diverse Native cultures are being lived throughout our state and not just preserved in museums," said Cooke.
Growing Up Native in Alaska features oral history interviews with 27 emerging Alaska Native leaders from rural and urban Alaska. In their own words they discuss what it means to be a modern Alaska Native, the struggle with identity, and how they view the effects of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
The book, which was authored by CIRI historian Alexandra J. McClanahan and published by The CIRI Foundation, is available in local bookstores or via www.ciri.com/tcf/publications.htm.