Event Abstract

The Alaska Federation of Natives is convening a leadership forum titled: Fostering Innovation, Economic Growth & Shared Prosperity. The conference will be held at the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage, Alaska on July 6 & 7, 2006. The theme was chosen because of our strong belief that we need to work to change the investment climate and create conditions that will allow our people and other Alaskans to enjoy the greater life opportunities that a strong, growing, vibrant economy can provide.  

AFN and forum sponsors invite all leaders to this inclusive forum to discuss the most pressing issues, learn from one another, seek new ways to work together, question conventional approaches and create new solutions to chronic problems that keep Alaska from reaching its utmost potential. To achieve a robust economy and a healthy society, we must gather both Native and non-Native peoples, from a range of industries and sectors, to envision it together and find ways to work toward that vision. 

We are pleased to announce that Hernando de Soto, world-renowned Peruvian economist and author of the Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else, has agreed to be our keynote speaker. He will address the theme of the Forum’s first day, “Elements of an Inclusive Economy.” A strategic dialogue with a diverse set of Alaska leaders from different sectors of our economy will follow his address. 

Ian Ayres, Yale law professor and author of Why Not?: How to Use Everyday Ingenuity to Solve Problems Big and Small, will kick off the second day of the Forum, focusing on the theme of “Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Our Future.”  Both days of the Forum will include a series of seminars relevant to the day’s theme, as well as a selection of pivotal issues, such as climate change and pandemic influenza.

We will seek to address six major areas of focus at this conference:

• Exploring examples of market-based approaches to economic development in rural Alaska, from Community Development Quotas and 8(a) government contracting, to fostering entrepreneurship and start-ups.  The forum will identify barriers, showcase successes and share how these models can be replicated and expanded. If an idea can work in one community, can it work in five? If it works in one region, can it work in three? We know we have some real success going on – how can we share insights and create even greater opportunity?

• Raising awareness of imminent external threats to Alaska livelihoods and futures. Avian Flu and Climate Change are having a disproportionate effect on Alaska, as compared to the lower 48. How can we move beyond our status as “sentries” to become proactive visionaries? How can we demonstrate that Alaskans have the wherewithal to not only survive, but also thrive in today’s changing climate?

• Revisiting the four pillars of a Knowledge Economy—Political Commitment; Education & Training; Information Infrastructure; and Innovation Systems — focusing on the vital role innovation plays as a fuel of economic growth across all sectors and industries. How can we create a stronger culture that supports innovation in Alaska?  Why should we?

• Clarifying the need for improved collaboration and stronger partnerships to create sustainable economies. How can we work together in better alignment? How can we use our knowledge and experience to create new economic alliances?

• Investigating how economic growth, paired with poverty-reduction strategies, can provide meaningful opportunities for the segments of our population who struggle with incomes below the minimum federal poverty level. How is globalization affecting our culture in Alaska? How can we implement new strategies to offer real hope?

• Discussing the importance of job creation and community investment as vital to rural Alaskans’ survival. What incentives must exist to attract businesses and encourage investments in remote regions of Alaska? What kind of jobs are we targeting, what kind of businesses and investors do we seek to attract? We want to explore options and develop an action plan.

We anticipate that senior U.S. Administration officials from the White House and Departments, members of Congress and industry sector leaders from within Alaska and beyond will participate in this two-day Leadership Forum.