Earlier this month, a federal judge issued an injunction that prevents Alaska Native corporations from receiving part of Tribal funding set aside in the CARES Act. Back in April, when Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, some of that funding was set aside to go to Native American and Alaska Native Tribal governments, and to Alaska Native corporations.
That set off litigation as Tribal governments in the lower 48 and in Alaska claimed that Alaska Native corporations do not qualify for funding because they are not Tribal governments.
Nathan McGowan, President and CEO of the St. George Tanaq Corporation, joined Coffee@KYUK to talk about the issue.
Calista Corporation was unavailable to have a representative at Coffee@KYUK, but said in a statement that "Calista Corporation has held two Tribal consultation calls with Y-K Delta Tribes. The first was in June, and another this past Friday [June 10]. Calista’s goal is to hold these calls monthly. And to reiterate our April 17 statement, should Calista receive any funding from Title V of the CARES Act, we will consult with Tribes on how to properly use this funding to the benefit of Y-K Delta communities and our shareholders."