June 28-29, 2004, Hotel Captain Cook

Anchorage, Alaska

This Leadership Forum was a first of its kind event in North America; a conference to examine what a knowledge-based economy is and how a knowledge-based economy can be developed in rural Alaska and other parts of the world. The task was undertaken by a collaboration of the Denali Commission, AFN and Harvard University. This partnership grew and expanded to include key leadership from the Inuit in Greenland and participants as far away as Hawaii and New Zealand.

The basis for the collaboration was a sense that the time for blaming others or holding a "victim mentality" is behind us. Instead, the time for active, thoughtful discussions on what works, what doesn’t work, what’s possible and what's exciting in other parts of the world dominated the Forum. The maxim that the sum is greater than its individual parts was shown to be very real as the conference took on a life of its own, and an incredibly positive energy and sense of hope took hold.

Check out the 2004 Leadership Forum Video ~ Innovation, Culture & Rural Economies: Mapping the Future. Download the Forum Video here: [low] [medium] [high] * Trouble playing? Download QuickTime here!

U.S. Senator Ted Stevens and his wife, Catherine, played key roles in bringing the idea of the conference to fruition. Other key individuals who offered their support and help included: U.S. Congressman Don Young; U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski; U.S. Secretary of the Treasury John Snow; U.S. Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta; Alaska Governor Frank Murkowski; and other local, national and international leaders.

Steen Jorgensen, Director of Social Development for The World Bank, said the Forum offered new hope to Alaska’s indigenous peoples.

“If parents cannot hope for a better life for themselves or at least for their children, they have no stake in development and will not support it. However, when there is hope, when there is dignity, development efforts are sustainable. Much of what we have learned about development with dignity we have learned from working with indigenous peoples for their own social and economic development,” Mr. Jorgensen said.

“On the other hand, it is also clear that most Native peoples do not want protection. They want development- development that responds to their aspirations, development that they control and development that they benefit from; development rather than naïve culturally inappropriate protection by the dominant ethnic group,” Mr. Jorgensen said.

Feedback from more than 200 participants who attended the Leadership Forum indicated that the ideas and concepts presented by top-level government experts and private sector representatives were thoughtful and innovative.

“I would like to extend a token of appreciation to Julie Kitka and the many others who made the Forum a success. It was very important to have those discussions that addressed issues, which for one reason or another seem to be secondary to other "mainstream" issues,” said Mr. Paul Johnson, an economic development consultant from Anchorage. “I found the forum informative, highly organized and very relevant to the issues our elected officials must address. Thank you for the opportunity to listen and most importantly, to be heard.”

Another participant commented that the plenary session of the Forum was a “spectacular” success all the way around.

“Stimulated out-of-the-box thinking about economic development, culture and values,” Martha Ross of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs said.

“Thank you AFN. This was a top-notch Leadership Forum from start to finish,” A. Millie Stevens said.

“Excellent, the best (conference) I have ever attended in the 30 plus years of going to conferences; substance, content (and) commitment. All excellent,” a member of the Petersburg Indian Association said.

Select seminars on Alaska issues and development issues outside of Alaska took center stage during the two-day session.

Participants had the following comments about the seminars:

“This session (Best Practices of Tribal Governments) has opened my eyes, and I commend the panel for their work.” – Sonta Hamilton, Shagaluk Tribe.

Of the seminar called, “Cultural Strength: The Foundation for Native Economies,” one participant had this to say: “Excellent presenters (who) knew exactly what they were presenting. Our village corporations and regional corporations need to adopt the same method by putting culture first.” – Bobby Andrews.

“Absolutely excellent and fascinating. Again, my mind is overflowing with new ideas.” - Lilikala Kameeleihiwa of Hawaii, on the Alaska Native corporations seminar.

One of the overarching principles of the Forum was to lend credibility to the increasing awareness on the part of Alaska Native peoples that change is inevitable, and that change will, by necessity, bring global perspectives to the forefront in future decision-making.

A great work is ahead, and Alaska Native peoples look forward to achieving the tasks, whatever they may be.