First Alaskans Institute

As an Alaska Native advocacy nonprofit we focus on advancing our ways of life, ensuring our peoples are involved in decision-making at all levels and cultivating leadership from birth to Ancestor. We serve as a catalyst, convener and collaborator on issues impacting all Alaska Natives and Alaskans through hosting solutions-based gatherings on a diverse range of intense topics and areas of conflict across our state. As a small organization with a dynamic scope of work, our values-driven commitment to serving our community is inherent in all we do, including walking our talk by continually Indigenizing our operations. Our 100% Indigenous Board and staff operates with the understanding that when Alaska Native peoples are rooted in our ancestral ways of knowing and values-based living, we are healthier and more effective stewards of our lands and our cultures, languages, and peoples in perpetuity. Advancing statewide work in Alaska requires a multitude of perspectives, strategies, and experience, with utmost emphasis on relationships and trust. With our 20-year track record of organizing, convening, and overseeing a multitude of successful statewide projects, programs, and initiatives, our community’s needs are at the forefront of all we do, and the wisdom so generously shared by our statewide Indigenous community is centered in our approach. In order to advance our vision and mission, we seek to ensure our organization reflects who we are as Indigenous peoples and is in a strong position to support our community for generations to come.