Azachorok Incorporated, an Alaska Native Village Corporation representing Mountain Village is calling Calista Corporation to increase resource royalty allocations and for Calista to invest in housing for homeless shareholders (and descendants).
Azachorok Inc. Board of Directors unanimously passed Resolution 23-06 a request to “Increase Resource Royalty Allocations to Alaska Native Village Corporations” from 30% to 40% to support more ways to provide revenue to many village corporations that rely on 7i7j revenue sharing for operations.
Chairman & President Loren Peterson says, “Currently the bulk of revenue sharing is derived from ASRC and NANA and the resources for their revenue will eventually run out leaving Alaska Native Village Corporations with limited funds unless we begin to see other revenue sources increase.”
Azachorok is also looking into feasibility studies for renewable resources that would include extracting subsurface resources.
Peterson further states, “If we were to extract subsurface resources and we are doing all the work, it only seems fair to request a more adequate allocation with at least 40% royalty allocation for all subsurface investments.”
The Azachorok also passed resolution 23-05 titled “Investment in Housing for Homeless Shareholders.”
“We recognized that although it is not the responsibility of Alaska Native Corporations to resolve homelessness among Alaska Natives, but we can no longer stand idle and witness urban municipal governments fail to provide pragmatic solutions for our people,” says Chairman and President Loren Peterson. “It’s heartbreaking to see urban municipalities with adequate resources fight over how to curb homelessness in Alaska with very little progress over a long period of time.”
The issue of homelessness is complex and it is an epidemic facing our country. There’s been an increase in homeless populations and is apparent when you travel to the Lower 48.
“Here in Alaska, it’s also related to the stigma of Alaska Natives that makes it more challenging to integrate into Western civilization and contributes to the epidemic. We feel that government is supposed to protect the vulnerable in society and our leaders can do a better job if they put politics aside,” says Peterson.
“Alaska Natives face more challenges with employment opportunities and housing which contributes to homelessness among our people. There’s stigma in the professional world where employers may view Alaska Natives as more of a risk when hiring. It’s harder to get good paying jobs and landlords don’t want to rent to those who don’t have steady income to pay rent. That is why we decided to seek help from within rather than wait around for urban governments that seem to be kicking the can down the road rather than coming up with concrete solutions. The time to act is now,” Peterson says, who is also a landlord with investment in real estate.
Azachorok Incorporated is an Alaska Native corporation established in 1973 pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Azachorok Incorporated represents 495 shareholders who reside in Mountain Village, Alaska and all over the state.
