Dear Tribal Member,

Please see below updated list of vacancies for Boards, Commissions and Committees. The meetings are generally scheduled on a monthly basis unless otherwise indicated in the Charter. Terms begin January 2023.

Please note that the deadline for submitting letters has been extended to December 7, 2022.

Current Board, Commission or Committee Members whose term expires in January 2023 are required to submit a letter of interest should he/she wish to continue to serve. If you have questions regarding your term, please contact Jessica Crump or the staff support for your Board, Commission, or Committee.

Below are the current Boards, Commissions, and Committees with vacancies:

Child Welfare Review Board – 4 seats

• Four (4) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Constitution Committee – 3 seats

• Two (2) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026
• One (1) seat serving a two year term ending January 2025

Court Code Committee – 2 seats

• Two (2) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Education Committee – 3 seats

• One (1) seat serving a one year term ending January 2024
• Two (2) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Elders Committee -2 seats

• Two (2) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Enrollment Committee – 2 seats

• Two (2) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Environmental Protection Committee – 3 seats

• One (1) seat serving a one year term ending January 2024
• Two (2) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Finance Committee – 2 seats

• Two (2) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Hunting, Fishing, and Gathering Commission – 3 seats

• Three (3) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Kahtnuht’ana Development Corporation – 1 seat

• One (1) seat open

Land Committee – 2 seats

• Two (2) seats serving a three year term ending January 2026

Nił Qenach’delghesh Board of Directors – 1 seat

• One (1) seat serving a three year term ending January 2026

TERO Commission – 1 seat

• One (1) seat serving a five year staggered term ending January 2028

Title IV-E Committee – 2 seats

• Two (2) seats serving a three year staggered term ending January 2026

Boards, Commissions and Committees provide advisory recommendations for the Tribal Council’s consideration regarding each of their respective areas with the exception of the TERO Commission.

Attached please find a summary of the responsibilities, duties, and term limits for each Board, Commission or Committee with current vacancies.

If you are interested in serving on one of the Boards, Commissions, or Committees, please send a letter of interest.

Letters of interest must be received no later than Wednesday, December 7, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. and may be emailed to jcrump@kenaitze.org or may be mailed to:

Kenaitze Indian Tribe
Tribal Programs Department
P.O. Box 988
Kenai, AK 99611

Please contact Jessica Crump, Tribal Member Services Supervisor, regarding further assistance at (907) 335-7204.

Chiqinik!

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Board, Commission and Committee Descriptions

Child Welfare Review Board – Three-year staggered term

The purpose of Child Welfare Review Board (CWRB) is to review any grievance filed by an un’ina after the Na’ini Family Services Supervisor has reviewed the actions of Na’ini Family caseworkers. The Tribal Council may, in its discretion, delegate additional authority to decide specific limited matters to the CWRB.

Constitution Committee – Three-year staggered term

The Committee’s purpose is to review revisions to the Constitution and to make recommendations to the Tribal Council and Membership. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Recommend revisions to the Constitution and participate in public meetings of the Tribal Members regarding the proposed revisions.
• Review of new and/or established Ordinances to ensure compliance with the Constitution.

Court Code Committee – Three-year staggered term

The Committee’s purpose is to review, revise and update the Kenaitze Tribal Court Codes, including related policies and procedures, to serve and empower the sovereignty of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and to make recommendations to the Tribal Council. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Protect the Tribal rights of Kenaitze Tribal Members, Alaska Natives and other community members who request the services of the Tribal Court.
• Review recommendations from the Title IV-E Committee.

Education Committee – Three-year staggered term

The Committee’s purpose is to provide culturally appropriate, Kenaitze Dena’ina support and guidance during the design, planning and implementation of a Tribal Education System and to make recommendations to the Tribal Council. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Review of the education-related programs and services offered and the Dena’ina Language and Culture Revitalization Project (DLCRP).
• Provide insight, knowledge and ideas of sharing, teaching and developing the Dena’ina language, culture and traditional knowledge.

Elders Committee – Three-year staggered term

The Committee’s purpose is to provide culturally appropriate advice and to make recommendations to the Tribal Council regarding the Tribe’s Elders Program. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Review of the proposed facility changes, programs and services offered at the Elders’ program.
• Review of the annual program and social activities planning to include budget implications.

Enrollment Committee – Three-year staggered term

The Committee’s purpose is to provide oversight for Tribal Enrollment procedures as defined in the Constitution of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s Enrollment Ordinance 2016-01 in a confidential manner and to make recommendations to the Tribal Council. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Review of the Tribal Enrollment applications to ensure that the Tribal Enrollment Regulations are being followed as defined in the Tribe’s Ordinance 2016-01.
• Presentation of approved applications for Tribal Enrollment to the Tribal Council for review prior to the Annual General Council meeting.

Finance Committee – Three-year staggered term

The Committee’s purpose is to provide advice and to make recommendations to the Tribal Council regarding financial matters and financial policies. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Review of financial audit reports and forward the auditor’s recommendations to the Tribal Council.
• Review of financial policies, annual draft budgets and budget amendments.

Hunting, Fishing and Gathering Commission – Three-year staggered term

The Commission’s purpose is to provide oversight for the Tribe’s traditional hunting, fishing and gathering activities and to make recommendations to the Tribal Council. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Review of the End-of-Year Fishery Report and the Annual Fishery Plan and Curriculum.
• Recommend policy, rules and regulations of the Tribe’s fishing, hunting and gathering and recommend equipment and facility requests to the Tribal Council.

Kahtnuht’ana Development Corporation – Three year staggered term

The Corporation shall exercise the full authority of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, IRA in all matters relating to economic development, business creation and expansion and exploitation of natural resources. The Corporation shall function as a separate and distinct entity from the government of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, IRA. In support of these purposes, the corporation shall:

• Develop such enterprises and business ventures as well as promote the development and growth of self-sustaining and profitable business;
• Manage and develop the natural resources of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, IRA in an orderly manner that will maximize their profitability to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe.

Land Committee – Three-year staggered term

The Committee’s purpose is to make recommendations to the Tribal Council regarding policies regarding all lands, air and waters customarily and traditionally used by Kenaitze people.  Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Research, identify and maintain an updated inventory of all Tribal lands.
• Monitor reports of the environmental impact and the cultural significance of sites on lands owned by the Tribe.

Nił Qenach’delghesh Board of Directors – Three-year staggered term

The Board is the governing body of the Nił Qenach’delghesh, an Intertribal Consortium established by the Kenaitze Indian Tribe and the Ninilchik Village Tribe to provide broadband deployment and delivery, as well as any type of lawful business, enterprise, or venture for the benefit of the Tribes, Members, and/or service areas.

TERO Commission – Five-year staggered term

The Commission’s purpose is to establish an employment rights program in order to use these laws and powers to increase employment of Tribal Members, Tribal Members’ spouses, Alaska Natives and American Indian workers and businesses and to eradicate discrimination against Alaska Natives and American Indians and to make recommendations to the Tribal Council. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Formulate, adopt, amend and rescind rules, regulations and guidelines necessary to carry out the provisions and the intent of the TERO Ordinance for Tribal Council approval.
• Hiring and oversight of the TERO Manager.

Title IV-E Committee – Three-year staggered term

The Committee’s purpose is to make recommendations to the Tribal Council regarding the Kenaitze Child Welfare program to ensure that the safety and welfare of Tribal children.  Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Provide clear guidance and work in collaboration with the Tribe’s administration, family services and court programs through development of policies and codes to ensure compliance with Title IV-E program.