Much of the convention’s focus was on all that’s happened during the pandemic, from floods of funding to new policies and programs for Indigenous communities.
of this pandemic,” said AFN co-chair Joe Nelson Sr. “Often it’s our communities that are the most vulnerable.”
“While we were expected to fail, we swam together and thrived,” said Dr. Anne Zink, Alaska’s chief medical officer, recalling collaborations between state, tribal and corporate entities that proved vital for mitigating viral transmission and improving survival rates across the state.“This is not saying we’re celebrating, but we should be grateful for the statistics we’ve had,” said Gov. Mike Dunleavy of the state’s experience with COVID during his remarks.
Dunleavy was joined by his wife, Rose, and two of their three daughters, who sat beside the stage. He highlighted their ties to the Northwest Arctic Borough, including the daughters’ jobs at the Red Dog Mine and tribal membership. “Like the salmon, Mary has a most purposeful journey,” Hoffman said. “She will intuitively make her way home.”
“Across our nation we are suffering from a lack of unity. We are very, very divided right now in our country,” Peltola said. “I’m so uplifted in this moment because I see the promise of tomorrow,” Peltola said before receiving a standing ovation from the thousands who packed into the convention center’s main hall to hear her speech.