Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council
Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council (ONC) is the largest tribe in the Bethel, Alaska region. It is a federally recognized tribe and a governing body for the community of Bethel, Alaska.
 | |
| People | Yup'ik |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bethel, Alaska, US |
| Government | |
| Chief | Walter Jim |
| Website | |
| orutsararmiut | |
As of 2017, the tribe had 3,192 members, 1,801 of whom lived in Bethel. A majority of those not residing in Bethel instead resided in Anchorage, Alaska.
History
editThe Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC) is the largest tribe in the Bethel, Alaska region.[1] It is a federally recognized tribe and a governing body for the community of Bethel, Alaska.[2] Zach Brink served as the ONC executive director from 2011 to 2015.[3] In 2016, Gene Peltola Sr. was the ONC executive director.[4] Peter Evon also served as an ONC executive director before serving in as the Kenaitze Indian Tribe executive director of tribal administration.[5]
As of 2017, the tribe had 3,192 members, 1,801 of whom lived in Bethel. A majority of those not residing in Bethel instead resided in Anchorage, Alaska.[6] In the fall of 2018, the ONC received a two-year grant from the Administration for Community Living to help reduce the harm and maltreatment of Yup'ik elders.[7]
In 2021, the executive director was Mark Springer.[8] Springer was fired in late 2021.[9] On June 28, 2021, the ONC appealed the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation's about the Donlin Gold mine's water quality certificate.[8] According to a summer 2021 poll of 300 ONC tribal members, 76% opposed the Donlin Gold mine project, while only 10.5% supported it.[10] The mineral rights for the mine are owned by the Calista Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation that represents many Alaska Native groups including the ONC.[11]
In 2021, the ONC received US$17,000,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[12] Some of the funds were used to provide US$1,500 payments to eligible tribal members.[12]
Former executive director Zach Brink resumed the role from August 2, 2021 until late March 2022 when he resigned citing health reasons.[3][9] In July 2022, Brian Henry became the ONC executive director.[1] In 2022, Walter Jim was serving as the tribal chairman.[3] In July 2022, the ONC endorsed tribal member Mary Peltola's campaign for the 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election.[13]
Notable members
edit- Buzzy Peltola (1966–2023), public servant and naturalist; Alaska director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (2018–2022)[14]
- Mary Peltola (born 1973), politician, former tribal judge; U.S. representative (2022–present)[15]
References
edit- ^ a b McCarthy, Will (2022-07-15). "ONC has a new executive director. Here's his vision for the future". KYUK. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ "About ONC". Orutsararmiut Native Council. 2015-10-27. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ a b c MacArthur, Anna Rose (2022-04-20). "ONC is looking for a new executive director". KYUK. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ Demer, Lisa (May 11, 2016). "Longtime head of Yukon-Kuskokwim tribal group resigns". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2022-09-03.
- ^ Poux, Sabine (2022-06-11). "New head of tribal administration for the Kenaitze Indian Tribe". KDLL Public Radio for the Central Kenai Peninsula. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ "Orutsararmiut Native Council Juvenile Healing to Wellness Court Project". Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. 2017. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
- ^ Phelan, Amanda (2020). Advances in Elder Abuse Research: Practice, Legislation and Policy. Springer Nature. p. 62. ISBN 978-3-030-25093-5.
- ^ a b Ebertz, Olivia (2021-07-01). "Orutsararmiut Native Council to challenge Donlin Mine water quality certificate in court". KAKM. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ a b Kim, Greg (2021-08-09). "ONC Rehires Former Executive Director To Lead Organization". KYUK. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ "Tribal Citizens voice strong opposition to Donlin Gold in recent Orutsararmiut Native Council Survey". The Delta Discovery. 2021-11-10. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ Lee, Joseph (2022-07-20). "A Native Corporation wants to mine gold on the Kuskokwim River. Alaska Natives say no". Grist. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ a b Kim, Greg (2021-08-13). "ONC Receives $17 Million In ARPA Funding; Providing $1,500 Checks To Tribal Members". KYUK. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ MacArthur, Anna Rose (2022-07-19). "ONC and The Organized Village of Kwethluk have endorsed Mary Peltola for US House". KYUK. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
- ^ MacArthur, Anna Rose (July 10, 2018). "Gene Peltola Jr. Of Bethel Named To Alaska's Top BIA Position". KYUK. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
- ^ MacArthur, Anna Rose (July 19, 2022). "ONC and The Organized Village of Kwethluk have endorsed Mary Peltola for US House". KYUK. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved September 1, 2022.