Sealaska April Board Meeting Recap

Gunalchéesh to those who were able to attend our April 9 Community Business and Shareholder Information Meeting in beloved Ḵaachx̱an.áak’w. Our booths were filled with the great smiles of over 74 shareholders and their families attending. During the event, shareholders had the opportunity to learn about Sealaska’s businesses, engage with Sealaska leadership — including the full board — and enjoy the gathering over food and festivities. Below are some updates and highlights of our time together.

Sealaska’s board and leadership team toured the Wrangell Cooperative Association’s Cultural Center, where they observed ongoing community carving projects. The tour, led by Mike Aak’wtaatseen Hoyt, showcased the work of dedicated local carvers and apprentices who are replicating Wrangell’s original totem poles. Several of the logs used in these efforts were donated by Sealaska, reflecting our commitment to revitalizing and strengthening cultural heritage and traditional ways of life. We appreciate Mike Hoyt for sharing Wrangellʼs goals raising the beautiful replicas of their older totem poles and are excited to witness the representation that will be going up over the years. We encourage our shareholders as well as the broader community of Wrangell to be involved and invested in this tremendous artistic endeavor.

We held a formal board meeting in Wrangell on April 11 at the Nolan Center, marking the second board meeting of 2025. The board approved grant proposals for the 2025–2026 cohort of Sealaska’s Language Program. This program is supported by a $10 million endowment created in 2019 to revitalize Southeast Alaska Indigenous languages by awarding grants to advanced language learners. The endowment generates $500,000 in annual grants distributed across multiple programs and cultural educators through a competitive application and evaluation process. The board also approved several log donations, including contributions to the Haines Totem Restoration and Sitka Public Safety Totem projects. Additionally, the board approved the 2025 Spring Distribution, totaling $17.7 million. For a full breakdown, visit: https://sealaska.com/stories/sealaska-announces-spring-2025-distribution-of-17-7-million

Sealaska met with local leaders, including the Wrangell Cooperative Association, to better understand their community’s needs and explore future opportunities for collaboration. Thank you, Wrangell Cooperative Association, for sharing your words with us during our visit. We are committed to working with our communities and their leaders to make sure our goals are aligned. In 2024, we worked with Wrangell in providing $11,330 in scholarships and $399,478 in distributions.

In 2025, Sealaska is committed to working with and supporting our community partners more than ever. We’re proud of the connections we’ve deepened so far this year and look forward to continuing this work in communities across the region. As we plan for the months ahead, we’re excited to strengthen existing partnerships and spark new ones that help build a future grounded in Indigenous knowledge, cultural pride and long-term sustainability. We hope you all enjoyed the herring eggs with family and friends!