Our Advocacy

Calista is dedicated to the socioeconomic wellbeing of our Shareholders. Nearly 6 in 10 Shareholders live in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region, where job opportunities are limited and the cost of living is astronomical.

Through regional partnerships and advocacy efforts in Alaska and beyond, we seek opportunities to reduce the rural infrastructure gap and increase economic opportunities for our Shareholders and communities throughout Alaska. This includes advocacy for traditional hunting, fishing and gathering rights; reducing the cost of transportation, energy, and essential goods and services; and securing high-speed internet service throughout our Region.

Public Advocacy and Engagement Committee

Through its Public Advocacy and Engagement Committee (PAEC), established on December 6, 2017, Calista is committed to building partnerships with federal and state government allies who will help support the people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region. By advocating for policies that drive economic growth, we aim to expand Shareholder benefits, including increased job opportunities, workforce development, dividends and distributions. Beyond economic progress, we are dedicated to improving the social conditions of the region’s communities.

The PAEC seeks to increase the political influence of Calista by focusing on expanded advocacy efforts, public and Shareholder education and voter mobilization. By empowering the people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region and ensuring their voices are heard, the PAEC serves as a critical tool in shaping a prosperous future.

Committee Leadership

The current PAEC members include:

Regional Priorities

The PAEC has identified the following regional priorities to be addressed by political candidates:

• Addressing the ongoing challenges of low salmon runs and the closure of subsistence and commercial fisheries for king and chum salmon.
• Tackling the region’s infrastructure deficiencies, including the need for housing, broadband, energy, transportation, and improved water and sewer systems.
• Supporting the construction and maintenance of ice roads to enhance transportation within the region.
• Promoting sustainable resource development that respects and preserves the environment while creating economic opportunities for the region.
• Advocating for a full, statutory Permanent Fund Dividend to benefit rural communities.
• Securing housing and funding for law enforcement officers in rural areas to improve public safety.
• Backing the establishment of a Yukon-Kuskokwim Regional Tribal Government.