Our Steady Growth
“We should be reimbursed for the land that the United States Government has taken away from us… Alaska is a young and growing state, and we would like to be able to invest our money and grow with it.”
Raymond C. Christiansen, Calista’s first president, during a 1969 Congressional field hearing
Path to Progress
Calistem Angliurallra (cha-LIS-tem UNG-leew-gha-ll-gha) means the “steady growth of Calista.” Calista’s early leaders embraced optimism but the path forward as a profitable business was not easy.
1970s: Getting Started
In 1972, following passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA), leaders from our Region’s villages incorporated Calista, meaning “worker” in Yup’ik.
Milestones & Key Achievements:
- Enrolled 13,306 original Calista Shareholders
- Conducted intensive research on the Region’s renewable and non-renewable resources
- Helped the 56 Y-K villages select their ANCSA surface lands and establish Village Corporations
- Made substantial investments in real estate, tourism, fisheries and other industries that could provide jobs to Shareholders
1980s: A Rollercoaster Decade
Oil prices crashed and many Alaska businesses including Calista had financial difficulties. In 1988, Congress amended ANCSA to protect Alaska Native ownership of ANCSA shares and allow future generations the opportunity to enroll.
Milestones & Key Achievements:
- Paid first Shareholder distributions
- Established Nordic-Calista Services, an oilfield services contractor, as a joint venture
- Formed Calista Professional Services, the precursor of Yulista Holding
- Initiated mineral exploration at Donlin Creek
1990s: Recovery and Growth
Calista emerged from its financial struggles in the previous decade and began to stabilize and achieve growth.
Milestones & Key Achievements:
- Signed mineral exploration agreement for Donlin Creek gold prospect
- Established the Calista People’s Fund (now Akilista) as the company’s primary investment portfolio
- Established scholarship program for Shareholders and Descendants
2000s: Transformation
Calista entered the new millennium with a financial boost from a large 2001 land
exchange with the federal government, known as the Southwest Alaska Land Acquisition (SWALA).
Milestones & Key Achievements:
- Earned first multibillion-dollar contract with the federal government
- Created Elder Benefits Program distributions following vote by Shareholders
- Resumed annual distributions to all Shareholders in 2008
- Secured mineral royalties and job and career opportunities for Shareholders in the Region through Donlin Gold exploration
- Formed a Shareholder Relations Committee
2010s: Business Stability
By 2010, Calista operated 13 subsidiaries and had entered Alaska’s top 10 businesses based on gross revenue.
Milestones & Key Achievements:
- Expanded Yulista operations and acquired Brice Inc. family of businesses
- Completed federal permitting for Donlin Gold Project
- Opened enrollment to Descendants following Shareholder vote
- Began new Akilista distribution to Shareholders based on investment performance
- Reorganized Calista subsidiaries into holding lines to accommodate future growth
2020 and Beyond
Calista faced the challenges of a global pandemic and economic slowdown with resilience and determination, continuing to generate record growth in revenue and total distributions to Shareholders.
Milestones & Key Achievements:
- Achieved record growth in revenue and total distributions to Shareholder
- Acquired full ownership of Nordic-Calista Services
- Secured additional key permits for Donlin Gold Project
- Received federal grant to provide fiber-optic internet for 7 Y-K communities
