| Hello Friends, |
At Alaska Venture Fund, we believe the future is shaped not only by bold ideas, but by the places that nurture them – and the people rooted in those places.
Alaska is a Native place. Home to 229 federally recognized Tribes – nearly 40% of all Tribes in the U.S. – our state is rich in culture, language and knowledge. Indigenous peoples have lived here for more than 10,000 years, stewarding lands and waters through deep relationships, place-based economies and generations of reciprocal care.
Our approach to change is rooted in villages like Igiugig, Klukwan and Quinhagak, where we’re investing in the vision and self-determination of Alaska Native communities. These are places where cultural revitalization, food sovereignty, sustainability and climate resilience are not abstract goals, but daily work.
In this month’s newsletter, we shine a spotlight on one of the inspirational Indigenous leaders advancing this work: Shawna Hotch is one of three tribally elected leaders working in their communities and as part of the Alaska Venture Fund team. Shawna’s work exemplifies what is possible when leadership is rooted in place, grounded in culture, and focused on the future.
In a moment when the world feels increasingly uncertain, we are grounded by this truth: the answers are already here. They take root in the lived experience, long-held relationships and deep knowledge that lives within our communities.
Please drop us a line if you would like to talk to us more about any of our work–we would love to hear from you.
The Alaska Venture Fund Team
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| News & Views |
| Updates, stories and perspectives shaping our work. |
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| Leader Spotlight: Shawna Hotch |
| In Tlákw Áan (Klukwan), every child is a community treasure—and every generation has a role to play. Shawna Hotch is carrying forward her grandfather’s wisdom through her work as Alaska Venture Fund’s Tribal Liaison for Strategic Initiatives. Rooted in the Tlingit worldview and a deep connection to her homeland, Shawna is helping to shape a sustainable future in the Chilkat Valley—where culture, community and place are inseparable. |
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| Op-Ed: The Time is Now to Fight for Alaska’s Energy Future |
| Senior advisors for New Energy Alaska—an Alaska Venture Fund hosted coalition advancing the benefits of clean energy for Alaska—recently published an op-ed in the Anchorage Daily News calling on Congress to protect federal energy incentives that are delivering real benefits across the state. From energy cost savings and reliability to job creation and infrastructure investment, these investments are helping Alaskans chart a more affordable, reliable and secure energy future. |
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| New Report: Securing Our Energy Future: Perspectives from Alaskans on the Importance of Federal Clean Energy Incentives |
| Federal incentives approved in 2021 and 2022 have changed the playing field for clean energy and shifted what Alaskans believe is possible. A new report from New Energy Alaska, a coalition hosted by Alaska Venture Fund, describes the impact of these incentives–and why it is so critical we protect them. “We jumpstarted our oil and gas economy in the 1970s, providing revenues to build schools and infrastructure across our young state,” says New Energy Alaska Senior Advisor Lesil McGuire. “Fifty years later, it is time to jumpstart our clean energy economy—and provide reliable, affordable energy for our own needs in perpetuity.” |
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| In Case You Missed It |
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In How Alaska Native Youth Are Protecting the Land for their Future Ancestors, published last week, High Country News talks to four young Alaska Native leaders about their passion for the people and places they call home. Anaan’arar Sophie Swope says: “Our time here on this Earth is very short. We were gifted all of the things that we have by our ancestors, and we’re only borrowing this space on earth from the future generations.” |
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“The future is being shaped now, and Indigenous populations have assets and knowledge that are vital to creating preferred futures.” This is the central thesis of From the Margins to the Center: A Horizon Scan for Alaska Arctic Futures. Authored by Vision Foresight Strategy for Alaska Venture Fund in 2023, the analysis remains a relevant blueprint for navigating change by elevating Indigenous culture, self-determination, and innovation. |
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In Southcentral Alaska, the Native Village of Eyak is cultivating resilience through kelp farming. The community is building a “blue economy,” training its youth, and feeding Tribal members–exemplifying how federal grants are helping Indigenous communities achieve their vision for self-determination and thrive in their traditional homelands. |
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Our environment shapes us in big and small ways. Mount Spurr, a volcano 80 miles from Anchorage across Cook Inlet, is showing signs of unrest similar to those that foretold its last eruption in 1992. This Alaska Beacon piece breaks down what’s happening and how people are preparing themselves–and their dogs.
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This Is Alaska Video Shorts:
All Hands On Deck - Fishermen’s Story Totem Pole |
In this short video by Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, two Tlingit carvers create a totem pole telling the history of fishing in their village. “Salmon is the sustenance of our life,” says Kaach Yaas Gordon Greenwald.
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Alaska Venture Fund
Denali Tower North
2550 Denali Street
Suite 723
Anchorage, Alaska 99503 |
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| Alaska Venture Fund is a project of the New Venture Fund. New Venture Fund is a registered 501(c)(3) charitable organization. |
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