Sealaska

This 19-foot tall, 12-foot wide silo will hold 19 tons of wood pellets that will start heating Sealaska Plaza starting in November. (Photo by Casey Kelly/KTOO). A new addition to Sealaska Plaza went up over the weekend, and while it hasn’t attracted much attention yet, it’s certainly hard to miss. It’s a 19-foot tall, 12-foot…

Sealaska has named the new head of a subsidiary tasked with economic development in Southeast’s small communities. Russell Dick is the new CEO of Haa Aaní LLC, which will focus on resource extraction and other business ventures.Related Link: Head an extended interview and find links to related reports.

Lisa Murkowski’s defeat could impact the chances of Sealaska’s lands legislation passing. The Republican U.S. senator was the bill’s main backer in Congress. And primary winner Joe Miller has spoken against it. But the other two members of Alaska’s Congressional delegation say they’ll keep the measure in play.Related Link: See the latest returns, link to…

U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski released changes to her Sealaska lands-selection legislation Thursday (July 1st). The revisions are based on amendments that have been circulating among interest groups for weeks. But officials say more changes may be on the way. The original bill allowed Sealaska to select a significant amount of timberland on northern Prince of…

Sealaska shareholders re-elected four board incumbents in ballots counted at the Southeast regional Native corporation’s annual meeting. They also rejected a measure that would have weakened board powers. The meeting was held Saturday (June 26) in Craig.Related Link: Hear related reports and read more about the meeting.

Sealaska’s controversial land-selection bill could undergo major changes soon. Amendments circulating among interest groups suggest shifts in selected timberlands and future economic-development sites. But nothing’s finalized.Related Link: Read the bill as it stands now.

Sealaska’s earnings rebounded last year. The Southeast Alaska regional Native corporation’s newly-released annual report shows it made some money after a year of significant losses. But it’s not fully over the economic hump.Related Link: Read Sealaska’s annual report & hear a report about 2009’s dividends

Some Sealaska shareholders are pushing for a change in corporate decision-making. They say the current discretionary voting system favors board incumbents, and slows change. Managers of the Southeast regional Native corporation say the current system works well.Related Link: Read the proxy statement, and hear a report on 2009’s term limits vote.

Sealaska has started a new division to focus on economic initiatives in Southeast Alaska. It shares the name of the regional Native corporation’s lands-selection effort. But officials say it will have a wider focus.Related Link: Read the Haa Aani CEO’s job description.

Sealaska will distribute almost $8 million to shareholders in April. The Southeast regional Native corporation has about 20,000 tribal members, more than half living outside the region.Related Link: Learn more about Sealaska dividends.