Alyeska president Brigham McCown gathered with Ahtna, Incorporated board members, leadership and staff at the Glennallen Response Base (GRB) on May 27 to sign a Declaration of Friendship between Ahtna and Alyeska. Ahtna is an Alaska Native Regional Corporation that was established by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) in 1971. TAPS crosses Ahtna land, and Ahtna is the primary baseline contractor for the GRB.

The relationship between Ahtna and Alyeska dates back to TAPS construction and the friendship agreement is reviewed and updated frequently to demonstrate the continued connection between the organizations. The Ahtna region includes a large swath of Interior Alaska and covers eight villages: Cantwell, Chistochina, Chitina, Gakona, Gulkana, Kluti-Kaah, Mentasta and Tazlina.

The gathering for the crew on shift and leadership featured COVID-safe afternoon refreshments and the new agreement signing. Ahtna was also presented with a gift from Alyeska for one of their scholarship endowments: an additional contribution from Alyeska’s Alaska Native Scholarship Program.

Many Ahtna board members discussed the opportunities their region has received through this partnership. Several generations have been able to stay in the area for careers, receive training or scholarships, and follow in the footsteps of previous generations that decided to work on TAPS.