News Archive

Unalaska and 351st Civil Affairs Command Awarded Civilian/Military Partnership of the Year

Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) is a program which allows military Guard and Reserve units from all over the country to expend training resources while conducting real-world missions in locations conducive to their training requirements. This program allows them to receive world-class training, while also serving rural communities in a meaningful way.

Five years ago, the Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska submitted an application for IRT Civil Affairs support to assess public works opportunities and challenges in their community. In 2020, the Tribe received notification that their application had been approved. According to Tribe President Tom Robinson, “While in a meeting with Senator Dan Sullivan’s office I was encouraged to apply for the IRT program. I am so glad we did. Their engagement has brought our community leaders closer together and has been a very positive experience for us. We were, of course, excited when we learned Major Tulsi Gabbard was going to visit our community as a part of the IRT team.”

The award came on the heels of a Memorandum of Understanding between the local governmental entities. On August 27, 2020, Unalaska Mayor, Vince Tutiakoff; Qawalangin Tribe President, Tom Robinson; and Ounalashka Corporation (OC) CEO, Christopher P. Salts, Sr. signed a trilateral agreement. The first of its kind, the agreement is a commitment by the three entities to work together toward common goals to benefit the community. “I’m proud to serve this community. My family has called Unalaska home for generations. We all want the best for our people and community in the future. Agreements like this will get us there,” Mayor Tutiakoff stated.

Also present to witness were the 351st Civil Affairs team, which included Major Tulsi Gabbard, Congresswoman and former presidential candidate; Bernie Karl, President and CEO of Chena Power; Senator Joshua Revak, Alaska State Legislature; Givey Kochanowski, U.S. Department of Energy; Natalie A. Cale, OC’s General Counsel and Director of Ounalashka/Chena Power, LLC; Michael Deegan, Waste Management Executive; Chris Price, Qawalangin Tribe Environmental Director; and Ty Moore, CEO of Alaska Strategy.

COL Bradford Hughes, 351st Civil Affairs Command, Functional Specialty (FxSP) Chief, was pleased at the unique IRT opportunity. “It brought together some of the best and brightest within the FxSP to harness their collective influence and provide technical assistance to the community and stakeholders of Unalaska. The entire team had a wonderful experience, built readiness, and is looking forward to advancing this relationship into the future.”

Chris Salts, OC CEO, expressed gratitude for the award and enthusiasm toward the opportunities for shareholders and the community as a whole. “Unalaska faces great opportunities from geothermal power, from telecommunications and transportation, to remediation and community wellness. Given our remote location, unforgiving climate, and Alaska Native culture, we provide an unmatched training environment. We appreciate the IRT program and their involvement in our community.”

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The Ounalashka Corporation was formed in 1973 under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. OC is a for-profit corporation with businesses in land leasing and development, and is the major landowner in Unalaska, with residential properties as well as commercial clients in the fishing and fishing support industries, international shipping and logistics, sand and gravel extraction, retail and others.

See original press release here.

Attention OC Shareholders! Early-Bird Prizes have been drawn! See the full list below!

Elders

1st – $2,000 — Anna Jean Bereskin
2nd – $1,000 –Marlene Elizabeth McGlashan
3rd – $750 – Timothy Marion Carr
4th – $500 – John Bereskin
5th – $200 – Ernest Makary Stepetin

The Alaska Federation of Natives board of directors today decided that the 2020 Annual Convention will be virtual, citing on-going COVID-19 health and safety concerns. There will be no in-person component to the Convention, which was to be held in Anchorage at the Dena’ina Center this October.

Attention OC Shareholders:

·         The new local mandate for COVID-19 (Resolution 45) is below and summarized in the news release.

·         Council also made decisions about CARES Acting funding – an overall spending plan (Resolution 47); grants to non-profit organizations; and decisions about calculating grants for local businesses (Resolution 46). Copies of the resolutions attached.

There is a new application available for local businesses to apply for financial support through the City’s CARES grant program:

·         If a pre-application was made, no need to apply again

·         Link to online application: https://arcg.is/1v19Cm

·         Paper applications in vestibule at City Hall

·         DUE DATE IS NOON ON FRIDAY, JULY 24

·         Questions? Telephone the Planning Department at (907) 581-3100, or by email to caresgrant@ci.unalaska.ak.us.

Res 47 CARES Act spending plan AS AMENDED

Resolution 2020-45 Measures to Protect the Public Health

Res 46 CARES Nonprofit and businesses AS AMENDED by council

On June 16, 2020, Senators Murkowski and Sullivan, and Representative Young sent a letter to Attorney General William Barr and Secretary of Treasury Steve Mnuchin to re-enforce their support for ANCs receiving their much needed CARES Act funding.

See the full announcement below.

6-16-20 Congressional Letter re CARES Act

The deadline to apply for an Edna P. McCurdy scholarship for FALL semester 2020 is July 31^st.

Please note that an official transcript is required- your school can email to fernandez@ounalashka.com, or mail to:

The Ounalashka Corporation

P.O. Box 149

Unalaska, AK   99685

See full guidelines below!

2019 Guidelines Final

The Ounalashka Corporation is currently interviewing to fill a permanent full-time position, as follows.

Maintenance Technician II: Primary duties include Lead and participate in routine tasks, including light electrical work; plumbing, concrete work, framing, painting, roofing, etc. and be available for call outs.

Knowledge, Abilities and Skills: Considerable knowledge of the practices, methods, and techniques pertaining to residential and commercial building construction, maintenance and repair, and proper safety standards and precautions; considerable knowledge and experience in the repair and maintenance of oil-fired boilers, Toyo laser heaters and unit heaters.

Minimum Experience Required: High school diploma or equivalent; certificates, advanced degree and or technical training preferred. a valid Alaska driver’s license and the ability to drive a standard shift vehicle.

If you are interested in either position, please come to the Corporation offices or contact our office at (907) 581-1276 (e-mail: info@ounalashka.com) to learn more about it and pick up an application.

Please see attached for a release from the City of Unalaska.

COVID19 News Release #68 2020 06 03 – 2 positive cases (1)

Six months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese aircraft struck at U.S. Army and Navy installations at Dutch Harbor on Amaknak Island on the evening of June 3, 1942. Today is the 78th anniversary of the attack. Learn more about the events that took place.