Stories

Important Message to our Elders
March 13, 2020
A message to our Elders:
To help slow the spread of COVID-19 and to protect our Elders, the Tribe has made the decision to close Tyotkas Elder Center starting Monday, March 16. While Tyotkas will be closed, the staff will continue to prepare meals and will make arrangements for delivery to those we serve. For questions about the closure or to make arrangements for meal delivery, Read More

Important Message to the Families We Serve
March 13, 2020
A message to the families we serve:
To help slow the spread of COVID-19 and to protect vulnerable members of our community, the Tribe has made the decision to extend the spring break closure through March 20 for the Early Childhood Center and Yaghanen Youth programs. These programs include: Early Head Start, Head Start, and Yaghanen.
In making this decision, Tribal Administration is following guidance from state and federal health and public safety agencies. Read More

Important Message to Our Health Care Beneficiaries
March 13, 2020
Hello,
As many of you are aware, COVID-19 (caused by a new coronavirus) is now affecting many people in America. The Kenaitze Tribal Council and Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina Health Board (KDHB) are reaching out to you to provide accurate information about the outbreak and prevention measures to help contain this disease.
Currently, it takes about 5-12 days from the time a person is exposed to the virus to when symptoms show up. Read More

 
One of the best parts of Amanda Burg-Rice’s job as an Individual Skill Provider comes at the end of the school year.
“Schools have assemblies and talent shows. My favorite thing is seeing kids who would never have been able to manage participating, being able to allow themselves to be vulnerable enough to take part in those things,” Burg-Rice said.
Burg-Rice was recently promoted to Case Manager but has been an ISP for 14 years, Read More

Here’s an exciting opportunity for job seekers: We are expanding our Behavioral Health department’s youth services to additional schools and need nine new Individual Skills Providers and two new Case Managers. If you enjoy working with children and adolescents, this could be a great job for you! Learn more about these and other jobs here. 
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Soldotna woman celebrates smoke-free anniversary

Kandy Dushkin has overcome many challenges in her life. She can add quitting a 40-year habit to the list.
Dushkin recently celebrated a year of being smoke-free with a gathering at the Dena’ina Wellness Center.
“I had been trying since 2004,” Dushkin said. “… I’ve tried two weeks, a day, I even made it four months back in 2017.”
Dushkin said she started smoking when she was 15. Read More

Tribe launches Early Head Start program

Samuel Semaken is a bundle of energy.
On this particular Wednesday morning, that energy is focused on applying paint to paper. The lesson had started with painting ice cubes before moving to painting paper, and Samuel is loading his canvas with color. Throughout the lesson, Samuel’ sing-song “ha-ha” fills the room.
Samuel, age 2, and his family are participants in the Tribe’s new Early Head Start program. Read More

Tribe’s emblem gets an update

Kenaitze Indian Tribal Members and employees will soon have a new Tribal seal and updated logo adorning their correspondence and clothing.
Tribal Council Members recently unveiled the new seal. The most significant change is the addition of the Kenai River and Cook Inlet to the design. Tribal Council Chairperson Wayne D. Wilson Jr. said that is important for the Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina.
“That’s the biggest thing – because we’re the River People,” Wilson said. Read More

Annual General Membership Meeting paves path to the future while recognizing the past

Tribal Members re-elected two sitting Tribal Council Members, and elected a third candidate with past Tribal Council experience at Saturday’s Annual General Membership Meeting.
Incumbents Diana Zirul and Jennifer Showalter Yeoman were re-elected to serve two-year terms on the Tribal Council. Tribal Members also elected Mary Ann Mills, a current Tribal Court Judge and past Tribal Council member, Read More

Tribe pays off Wellness Center loan 16 years early

The tide indeed is coming back in.
As planning and construction for the Dena’ina Wellness Center progressed, the tribe focused on the concept of Naqantugheduł, the idea that the tide has turned, and with it, a return of the culture that had been eroded over the years.
Friday, July 27 marked a major milestone for the tribe as the Wellness Center construction loan was paid off in full. Read More