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Yakama Chief Accepts Thanks From Alaska's Largest Tribal Organization

 Yakama Chairman JoDe Goudy speaks to a crowd AT THE  Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Fairbanks, Alaska.
Emily Schwing
/
Northwest News Network
Yakama Chairman JoDe Goudy speaks to a crowd AT THE Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Fairbanks, Alaska.

Alaska’s largest statewide native organization honored the Yakama Nation during their annual convention Thursday. The Yakama Nation loaned the Alaska Federation of Natives $225,000 to establish itself 50 years ago.

AFN started in 1966 with loans from one Alaskan tribe and from the Yakama Nation. AFN leadership believes it’s a “sacred obligation” to honor the Yakama Nation for their help.

Yakama Chairman JoDe Goudy told a crowd of hundreds that he came to Alaska to advocate for collective understanding.

“Who are you? Where do you come from?” Goudy asked the crowd. “It is only in the pursuit of these answers that we will understand where we are going collectively as peoples, as nations.”

AFN advocates for 185 tribes across Alaska. Their convention has drawn national dignitaries, including the National Congress of American Indians president, of Washington’s Swinomish tribe.

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Copyright 2016 Northwest News Network

Emily Schwing
Emily Schwing comes to the Inland Northwest by way of Alaska, where she covered social and environmental issues with an Arctic spin as well as natural resource development, wildlife management and Alaska Native issues for nearly a decade. Her work has been heard on National Public Radio’s programs like “Morning Edition” and “All things Considered.” She has also filed for Public Radio International’s “The World,” American Public Media’s “Marketplace,” and various programs produced by the BBC and the CBC. She has also filed stories for Scientific American, Al Jazeera America and Arctic Deeply.