Sealaska Corporation is soliciting applications for the 2011-12 Youth Advisor position. The deadline to submit applications is Tuesday, March 1, 2011.

Read more about the Youth Advisor position and download the application.

This is the first notice to shareholders of the Sealaska Corporation Annual Meeting to be held on Saturday, June 25, 2011. The meeting will convene at the Haines City High School at 2800 Hornet Drive in Haines, Alaska. The meeting will begin at 1:00 PM Alaska time. Read more

Deadline to apply March 1, 2011

For the first time, students will be able to complete and submit scholarship applications and required documents entirely online. A new system founded by Sealaska Heritage Institute eliminates the burden of paperwork for students and staff, said SHI President Rosita Worl, noting the new system is much more convenient. To learn more go here

Sealaska is seeking congressional help in obtaining that last 85,000 acres promised to it in the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA).

The legislation, which amends ANSCA, will be reintroduced to Congress this year. It honors a promise to restore just four-tenths of 1 percent of Southeast Alaska’s 23 million acres to Sealaska and its tribal member shareholders. The return of this land has far reaching significance to the economy of Southeast Alaska and the development of sustainable businesses for the future.

Read the full article here

The Sealaska board of directors, management and staff would like to recognize and honor the service and sacrifice of tribal member shareholder United States Air Force Tech. Sgt. Leslie “Les” D. Williams. Sgt. Williams passed away Jan. 25, 2011, while serving in Bagram, Afghanistan.

We express our deepest sorrow for his loss and extend condolences to his family and all our brothers and sisters who knew him. Read Sgt. Williams’ obituary here

The US Arm Corps of Engineers recently honored Sealaska Constructors Midwest Region Operations Manager, Dan Janik with a Commanders Coin. The award recognizes Janik’s work during the construction of the Air Force, MQ1 Predator Beddown at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri. Read more

Sealaska Shareholder releases new CD

Sealaska tribal member shareholder Archie Cavanaugh has released his third CD, a new Pop Jazz album called “Alaska Jazz.” Cavanaugh sings Tlingit phrases on his CD, something that has never been done before on a contemporary CD. Cavanaugh and Bill Hudson designed the album cover artwork which Cavanaugh carved on a cedar panel. Tribal member shareholder Jodi Garrison completed the design of the CD cover. Please visit www.archiecavanaugh.com to listen to the songs, purchase the CD or get more information about “Alaska Jazz.”

Sealaska tribal member shareholder descendant Jared Donovan Jackson Palmer of Anchorage, AK graduated in October 2010 from Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. During training he earned an expert marksmanship medal. He graduated from Infantry Training at Camp Pendleton on January 14, 2011. He is currently in the Marine Corps Reserves.

Palmer graduated from Dimond High School in Anchorage on May 13, 2010. He is the son of Howard Palmer and Karen Jackson of Anchorage. His mother is a tribal member shareholder of Sealaska and Goldbelt. Palmer is the grandson of Frank and Patricia Jackson, who are Tlingit Wooshketon from Hoonah, AK. He is proud to follow his grandfather Frank’s example who served in the Alaska Territorial Guard. His paternal grandfather was Douglas Palmer who served in the Army during World War II. His grandmother was Olivia St. Germaine, Inupiat, of Point Hope, Alaska.

2010 contributions to SHI help purchase artifacts

Sealaska Heritage Institute (SHI) recently acquired a rare cedar-bark Haida mat traditionally used as bedding or room dividers in clan houses, as well as two old halibut hooks. The recent purchase was made possible by donations to SHI through the Pick.Click.Give. program.

SHI is participating in Pick.Click.Give. once again. When Alaska residents apply for the Alaska Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD), they have the option to give a portion of their PFD to their favorite Alaska nonprofit organization, including SHI.

Sealaska encourages you to consider making a contribution to Sealaska Heritage Institute. SHI’s mission is to perpetuate and enhance the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian cultures. When you sign up for your PFD online, you will see the Pick.Click.Give. option. Select Sealaska Heritage Institute from the list of organizations and follow the steps to make your donation. You can visit Pick.Click.Give for more information and learn how to make a contribution with your PFD. Thank you for considering SHI this year.

Sealaska recently announced two new positions open at Sealaska headquarters in Juneau, Alaska. Sealaska is recruiting for an accounting and tax specialist, and a paralegal. Please visit the careers page to learn more about these two positions and others with Sealaska and subsidiaries.

College textbook “Cultural Anthropology, the Human Challenge”

Sealaska Heritage Institute President Rosita Worl contributed to the textbook, “Cultural Anthropology, the Human Challenge.” According to the publisher, this is the eleventh edition of the textbook that conveys how fascinating, how dynamic, how relevant the process of human discovery can be. Worl says, “You have to be analytical about your culture. At one time, before coming into contact with other societies, we were just able to live our culture, but now we have to be able to keep it intact while integrating it into modern institutions.”

Worl also recently contributed to “Salmon in the Trees.” She titled her writings, “The First People, Walking with Spirits.”

In addition Worl discusses in the book “Living Our Cultures, Sharing Our Heritage: The First People of Alaska.” This book features more than 200 objects representing the masterful artistry and design traditions of twenty Alaska Natives.

Did you know you can obtain real time information from Sealaska Heritage Institute? It’s easy, sign up for the eNewsletter to keep up to date with SHI.

Sealaska was proud to participate in a community event held in Hoonah in late December. Sealaska Natural Resources staff helped deliver firewood to elders and others. To read published articles on the event please visit www.ktoo.org and Juneau Empire

Applications due March 18, 2011
Sealaska is excited to offer internships for Sealaska shareholders, direct descendant of a shareholder or their spouses. Applications are available online. If you have any questions, please contact the internship program coordinator at 1.800.848.5921 or 907.586.9134.