Calista Corporation Invites Nominee Haaland to Experience Alaska

Ownership, Oversight and Sharing Profits Sets Unique Native Structure

March 1, 2021

(Anchorage, Alaska) – Calista Corporation congratulates U.S. Representative Deb Haaland on her nomination as U.S. Secretary of the Department of the Interior (DOI). If confirmed, Haaland would be the first Native person to serve in this role and the first to serve as a Presidential Cabinet member, an appointment that is long overdue. 

DOI is a key agency with direct impact on the lives and lands of Alaska Native and American Indian peoples. Calista supports the nomination of Haaland as Secretary of Interior and urges both the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee and U.S. Senate to expedite confirmation.

Fish Camp Scene
Fish Camp

Alaska Native peoples and Tribes share fundamental commonalities with American Indian peoples and Tribes. Respect for Elders. Preserving cultural values. Protecting lands, waters, and traditional foods. We also share many of the same challenges, such as rural communities with inadequate infrastructure.

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 also created significant distinctiveness. Congress sought a new system different from the reservation system. For the first time, Native peoples had direct ownership of settlement lands and a seat at the table to make decisions, including respectful resource development on our lands.

Calista Corp. Interns 2018
Calista Corp. Interns 2018

Corporations formed under ANCSA have a purpose unlike any government-mandated structure in the world: engage in business while also improving the socio-economic conditions of Native shareholders. Our shareholders and board members are Alaska Native peoples, setting the vision of our own corporations.

We look forward to working with Haaland in her role as Secretary of the Interior and invite her to visit us in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta to meet some of her Yup’ik, Cup’ik and Athabascan cousins, learn about our region, and experience the beauty of our land, waters, and people. 

Congratulations to Haaland for once again making history.

###

Calista Corporation has over 33,700 Shareholders and is the parent company of more than 30 subsidiaries in the following industries: defense contracting, construction, real estate, environmental services, natural resource development, marine transportation, oilfield services, and heavy equipment sales, service and rentals. Since 1994, Calista has provided more than $5.5 million in scholarships to its Shareholders and Descendants. Since inception, Calista has declared more than $77.8 million in dividends and distributions, and $8.2 million in Elders’ Benefit Program distributions to Shareholders. Calista can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.