![\"\"](\"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/CARES-Act.png\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Chugach Supports Alaska Native Corporation Inclusion in CARES Act<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n
The unprecedented coronavirus (COVID-19) is creating economic hardships for indigenous populations across the country, including the Chugach Alaska Corporation (Chugach) region and shareholders. In an effort to ease this impact across our Alaska Native communities, Chugach and other Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) have applied for funding under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This package includes $8 billion set aside for a Tribal Relief Fund, which would provide meaningful assistance to our vulnerable shareholder population and regional communities.<\/p>\n
Just recently, three Lower 48 tribes (Tulalip, Chehalis, and Maliseet) and three Alaska Tribes (Akiak, Mt. Village, and St. Paul) filed a legal complaint disputing ANC inclusion in the Tribal Set Aside funding. Some have gone as far as to demand the resignation of Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Tara Katuk Sweeney for her role in supporting the CARES Act.<\/p>\n
This action by a handful of misguided tribes is disheartening, and only serves to fracture what should be a united common purpose: To prevent COVID-19 from having a disproportionate impact on our vulnerable indigenous communities and families. Further, this legal complaint may delay the process of allocating and distributing funds, which will only serve to harm our communities.<\/p>\n
The CARES Act is unambiguous: Alaska Native villages, Alaska Native regional corporations, and Alaska Native village corporations are \u201ctribes\u201d under the law. Chugach simply asks that the CARES Act be applied as it was written and mandated by Congress.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe believe that \u2018a rising tide lifts all boats,\u2019 which is why Chugach supports relief funding for all<\/em> vulnerable populations and indigenous communities across the nation,\u201d said Chairman of the Board and Interim President and CEO Sheri Buretta. \u201cWe share a common goal with the Lower 48 tribes to ensure our communities overcome and continue to thrive through adversity, and we will continue to advocate on their behalf. We applaud Congress and Secretary Sweeney for doing the right thing by acting quickly to provide critical aid during this crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n Chugach is partnering with its regional communities as they navigate the effects of COVID-19. Prior to introduction of the CARES Act, Chugach issued early shareholder and Elder dividends, and authorized establishment of a Community and Tribal Support Fund to provide financial support to the tribes and communities in the Chugach region (see Chairman\u2019s Letter here<\/a>).<\/p>\n The corporation also established a collaborative Chugach Regional Resource Group, comprised of leaders from village and tribal organizations within the Chugach Region. This group meets weekly and offers a forum to provide aid and best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19, protect the health and economic wellbeing of people who live in the Chugach communities, and identify financial and other resources available.<\/p>\n As with all CARES Act funding recipients, Chugach and its regional tribes and village corporations are subject to an application review and approval process. We are working closely with fellow Alaska Native organizations and communities to strategize how the CARES Act funding will best serve our organizations, should they receive funding.<\/p>\n About the CARES Act:<\/strong> About Chugach Alaska Corporation:<\/strong> The unprecedented coronavirus is creating economic hardships for indigenous populations across the country, including the Chugach Alaska Corporation region and shareholders.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[47,71,390,205],"class_list":["post-3401","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-organizations","tag-alaska","tag-ancs","tag-cares-act","tag-h-r-748"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3401","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3401"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3401\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3403,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3401\/revisions\/3403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3401"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3401"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/covid19\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3401"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
\nThe CARES Act<\/a> clearly defines Alaska Native villages, Alaska Native regional corporations, and Alaska Native village corporations as \u201ctribes.\u201d Here is why:<\/p>\n\n
\n<\/strong>Established in 1972 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, Chugach Alaska Corporation exists to serve the interests of the Alaska Native people of the Chugach region with a focus on profitability, celebration of our heritage and ownership of our lands. Through responsible management of our lands, businesses and assets, we provide meaningful opportunities and benefits to our community of 2,600 shareholders. Chugach fulfills its mission through a range of investments and operating businesses that provide government, facilities and energy services. Visit www.chugach.com<\/a> for more information.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"