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Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina

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Paid in full

August 6, 2018

Tribe pays off Wellness Center loan 16 years early

Members of the Tribal Council and Finance Committee pose July 27 with a ceremonial check at the Dena’ina Wellness Center. Pictured are Kenneth Oder, Council Chairperson Wayne Wilson Jr., Sharon Isaak, Council Member James O. Segura, Linda Ross, interim Executive Director Dawn Nelson, Council Secretary Diana Zirul, Ben Baldwin, Council Member Liisia Blizzard, Council Member Jennifer Showalter Yeoman, Director of Financial Services Michael Dixon, Council Vice-Chairperson Bernadine Atchison and Council Treasurer Clinton Lageson.

Members of the Tribal Council and Finance Committee pose July 27 with a ceremonial check at the Dena’ina Wellness Center. Pictured are Kenneth Oder, Council Chairperson Wayne Wilson Jr., Sharon Isaak, Council Member James O. Segura, Linda Ross, interim Executive Director Dawn Nelson, Council Secretary Diana Zirul, Ben Baldwin, Council Member Liisia Blizzard, Council Member Jennifer Showalter Yeoman, Director of Financial Services Michael Dixon, Council Vice-Chairperson Bernadine Atchison and Council Treasurer Clinton Lageson.

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. Tribal Council Chairperson Wayne Wilson Jr. and Treasurer Clinton Lageson signed a check for $9,462,511.19, covering the remaining balance on the $11 million loan.

“It’s an awesome day,” Wilson said after he and Lageson hand-delivered the check to First National Bank Alaska’s Kenai branch.

“I think it’s exciting that we’re paying off something we didn’t even envision being able to do when we started the project,” Wilson said.

Wilson said that when construction of the Wellness Center was under way, some wondered if this day would ever come – never mind that it came just four years in to the 20-year term of the loan.

“We had a strong vision, strong goals and a great plan, but there was still some doubt,” Wilson said.

Wilson emphasized that it has been a group effort for the tribe to be in a position to pay off the loan while still maintaining a healthy savings account. The early payoff will save the tribe $3.8 million in interest.

Wilson said one of the tribe’s concerns is sustaining services at the Wellness Center after the Indian Health Service Joint Venture expires. Joint Venture funding covers staffing costs for the Wellness Center for 20 years. The tribal council has made a motion to put the $834,829 per year that would have gone toward paying the loan into an account to be used for future projects which will continue to fund Wellness Center operations when the time comes.

“We need to be saving it for what happens in the future,” Wilson said.

As part of the Indian Health Service Joint Venture, Kenaitze Indian Tribe is wholly responsible for providing the facility. Because of this, Wilson explained, the Director of Financial Services and the Finance Committee have been exploring ways to manage the tribe’s assets that best maintain programs and services by passing a Treasury Policy, committing to long-term planning goals, and paying off the loan.

A number of factors allowed the tribe to be able to pay off the loan early. The tribe saw savings from careful budgeting, experienced greater-than-anticipated revenue growth, and favorable federal contract negotiations. Other factors include an increase in Medicaid payments, as well as an increase in other insurance payments.

Construction costs for the Wellness Center were just shy of $30 million; furnishing and equipping the facility was another $4 million. The tribe received a $20 million grant from the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development. Contributions also came from the Rasmuson Foundation, the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust, Cook Inlet Region Inc., and The Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

The Dena’ina Wellness Center had been decades in the making, with planning and design of the building beginning in earnest in 2009. In 2011, the proposal put forth by the tribe was one of three nationwide to receive a highly competitive Indian Health Service Joint Venture Award.

The tribe acquired the necessary parcels in Old Town Kenai, a significant location as it was an original village site of the Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina people.

Construction on the 52,000-square-foot building began in fiscal year 2011, and the Dena’ina Wellness Center began seeing un’ina in April 2014. The tribe marked the opening with three days of celebrations in June 2014.

Filed Under: Stories

Kenaitze Indian Tribe

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Kenaitze Administration • (907) 335-7200
Dena'ina Wellness Center • (907) 335-7500
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Kenaitze Tribal Court • (907) 335-7219

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Heidi King, NCAC II, CDCS

Recovery Support Manager/Counselor
Heidi has eight years of experience in the chemical dependency field. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Women’s Studies, from the University of Alaska. She is a nationally accredited Chemical Dependency Clinician, and a state accredited Chemical Dependency Clinical Supervisor.

Heidi has a background in providing residential chemical dependency counseling. She is certified as a Conflict Resolution and Relapse Prevention Trainer with the National Association of Addiction Counselors. She is also a certified Peer Supports Trainer and Supervisor through the Alaska Commission of Behavioral Health Certification.

When she’s not serving un’ina, Heidi teaches yoga as a certified and registered instructor. She also enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time with her child, spouse, and numerous pets, camping all over Alaska.

Heidi provides chemical dependency counseling services in group settings and individual sessions.

Heidi can personally relate to chemical dependency and is passionate about helping those seeking recovery supports. For Heidi, healing is community, and community is an important part of connection with one’s self. She sees the positive ripple effect that healing can provide throughout the community.

Fridrik Rafn Gudmundsson, MSW, LCSW

Recovery Support Manager
Fridrik has earned his master’s degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He studied massage therapy in Iceland, and became fascinated with the mind-body connection. He completed his undergraduate degree in philosophy with a psychology minor.

Fridrik has had the opportunity to live in four countries and to travel to many others. He counts finding and marrying the love of his life and adopting his son among his greatest accomplishments. He is grateful to be able to live in this beautiful and sacred part of the world and to serve the Tribe and un’ina, “those who come to us.”

When he’s not serving un’ina, Fridrik loves spending time with his family, hiking, kayaking, camping, fishing, traveling, and having fun. He enjoys learning, listening to music, and taking time for spiritual practice.

Fridrik provides assessments and individual, family and group psychotherapy at Chuq’eya Qenq’a, Birch Tree House.

For Fridrik, coming to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe felt like coming home. The more he learned about the Tribe and its history, as well as the history of the Alaska Native people, the more he knew he had found a place to be of service.

Teresa A. Ford, MSW, LMSW

Behavioral Health Clinician
Teresa earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Limestone University in South Carolina, and her master’s degree in Social Work from Campbellsville University in Kentucky. Teresa’s experience includes serving homeless and other disadvantaged populations, as well as work in outpatient rehabilitation, hospice, chemical dependency, adult and adolescent counseling, and prevention.

Teresa appreciates the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s traditional values. She sees them as a driving force in how we treat ourselves and others, and how we serve those in need of help.

When not serving un’ina, “those who come to us,” Teresa spends her time bonding with her family, creating and traveling. She also enjoys learning about Alaska Native culture, exploring new hobbies, and gardening.

Teresa provides individual, family, and group therapy services. Teresa takes a variety of approaches to therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Teresa has always been a helper at heart. Being able to overcome the things she experienced growing up in South Carolina empowered and inspired her to help others navigate through their life journeys.