Quarterly Board Meeting Recap – Third Quarter 2024 
Tuesday, August 13, 2024

The Sealaska board of directors met on Friday, July 26 to welcome new board members and receive updates from the management team. The board focused on efforts for long-term strategic planning, led by the management team, with a goal of strengthening Sealaska’s internal team, vision for the future and community partnerships. This strategic planning will continue at the September meeting, with further discussion of future planning and management team structure on the agenda.

At Sealaska, both management and the board are committed to keeping our shareholders informed and engaged. Sharing recaps and important information following each board meeting helps ensure transparency and open communication. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at questions@sealaska.com.

Elections Debrief

The board was pleased to announce the election of two new board members: board-endorsed candidate Charles “Chas” Edwardson and independent candidate Monico Ortiz. Both bring invaluable experience to the leadership table, and their contributions were felt during this July meeting.

Voter turnout for the 2024 election was 1,542,401 shares, representing 59.98% of Sealaska’s  total of 2,574,533 shares. Yakutat was announced as the community with the highest voter turnout (85% of community shareholders). As part of Sealaska’s voter incentive program, Yakutat’s local Alaska Native Brotherhood/Alaska Native Sisterhood chapter will receive a $1,500 contribution from Sealaska to mark this achievement.

With the passage of Resolution One, Sealaska has updated the bylaws to align more closely with the intent of previous shareholder resolutions allowing for descendant enrollment. These bylaw updates will ensure that the number of shares is no longer limited, making it possible for all future generations to enroll with Sealaska. Resolution One passed during the Annual Meeting with 70.77% of outstanding voting shares voted in favor. 

Resolution Two, an advisory resolution, was included on the 2024 proxy statement without a board recommendation. The results show that shareholders are interested in reducing the board’s size; however, this resolution would need to come before shareholders again and pass the threshold of a majority of outstanding shares supporting before becoming a binding measure. The board will continue to evaluate the costs and benefits of potentially reducing its size to ensure a well-informed decision can be made about presenting this as a binding resolution in the coming years.

Management Updates:

The board was thrilled to be reintroduced to Nicole Anderson in her new role as Sealaska’s Corporate Secretary, who officially joined us on July 25. Anderson, whose Lingít name is Chooshdatláa, brings a wealth of experience from her previous role as the Executive Administrator at the Goldbelt Heritage Foundation. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Studies: Politics, Culture, & Society; a Master of Environmental Science; and is currently pursuing a doctorate in business administration and public policy. Her ability to create an atmosphere of cooperation and courtesy, coupled with her deep-rooted passion for equitable social change, makes her an ideal candidate for this important role. Anderson is committed to strengthening Indigenous knowledge and identity, and will serve as an advocate for traditional values in the boardroom and beyond.  Her additional expertise in communication, cultural history and tribal governments have already proved to be a valuable asset to the Sealaska team. 

This meeting provided a much-anticipated opportunity for the board to welcome this summer’s cohort of 34 Sealaska interns – each provided an introduction and had the opportunity to connect with the board and management. Internships are offered each summer to qualified shareholder students pursuing post-secondary education. The program has seen tremendous growth in the past five years, with opportunities including placement at Woocheen businesses in the Lower 48, overseas fellowships and “externships” with values-aligned community and tribal partners.

The board was provided with an update on the first floor renovation of the One Sealaska building that is scheduled to begin this winter.  The project should be completed before the summer tour season peaks. Once completed, the space will serve as an accessible central hub for Sealaska’s partners, shareholders and community.

“This winter and spring, the first floor of One Sealaska Plaza will undergo a long-overdue update,” said Sealaska board chair Joe Nelson. “Sealaska Heritage Institute’s transformation of the space around Sealaska’s headquarters is nothing short of incredible. The Walter Soboleff Center, the Arts Campus, the plaza and now the fab lab that is under construction in the Willoughby building are making a huge difference in the heart of the Capital City. The updates scheduled for the first floor of the Sealaska building will complement the art campus and plaza very well.”

Community Updates:

Sealaska was a proud supporter of this year’s canoe journey to Celebration, which included a stop for some paddlers on Sealaska land on Kichx̱aak’ (Shelter Island). Eight yaakw (canoes) came together for a final stop at Sealaska’s Kichx̱aak’ property on June 3 before making their way to the traditional site of Auk Village for the Celebration kickoff.

“It was an honor to witness the canoes arriving at Sealaska’s property,” said Desiree Jackson, Sealaska Vice President of Administration and Outreach. “This event highlights the importance of returning culturally significant places to Indigenous stewardship.”

View photos of the canoes landing at Kichx̱aak’ below, captured by shareholder photographer Connor Meyer.