Seven Native Writers to Split $70,000 & Showcase Native Innovation
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA - This morning, Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) President Julie Kitka announced the names of seven Native Insight Competition winners, who will receive $10,000 each. Their ideas will be published in Native journals and magazines across the United States, including Alaska Newspapers,
Indian Affairs,
Native American Times, Native Sun and
Native Legacy Magazine.
The Native Insight Winners’, Finalists’ and Semi-Finalists’ ideas will also be shared with members of the Obama Administration. “The Native community has a tremendous amount of knowledge and insight to share. We were overwhelmed by the quality and diversity of the essays submitted, and we are looking forward to helping take these great ideas to the public and the Administration,” said AFN President Julie Kitka.
Nearly 300 Native thinkers from across the nation submitted "Native Insight" essays about the economy and prospects for recovery. Women submitted 58 percent of the 280 eligible Native Insight entries, and men submitted 40 percent. Alaska Natives made up 32 percent of the applicant pool, with American Indians submitting 48 percent of the entries, and Native Hawaiians 16 percent.
The competition was open to Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians and American Indians of all ages. The 500-1,600 word essays were due September 15, 2009. Essays addressed one or more of three writing prompts focused on how the Native community can support economic renewal, what it will take for the American economy to rebound and what the American leadership can do to jumpstart recovery. Visit www.nativeinsight.org to read the winning essays and learn more about this exciting competition.
AFN partnered with the National Congress of American Indians, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement to reach Native communities across the nation.
The winning essays may be read here at nativetimes.com - visit the Business section and they are under the "features" tab and titled "Native Insight Competition Winner:…"
NATIVE INSIGHT WINNERS:
NATIONAL
Melissa Tantaquidgeon Zobel, "The Accomac Business Model"
The Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut
Old Mistic, Conn.
Samantha Johnson, "Native Americans & Small Business Ventures: Bright Hope for Economic Recovery"
Sault Sainte Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians
Phelps, Wis.
Jacquelyn Dyer, "Plan for a New Native American Century"
HOPI
Arcata, Calif.
ALASKA
Harold Frank Jr, "Renewing Our Future"
Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribe of Alaska
Ellensburg, Wash.
Methanie Ongtooguk, "America and the Whale: Strengthened Economy through Smaller Community"
Kotzebue/Fairbanks
Fairbanks, Alaska
Charles W. Ralston, "Alaska Native Corporations Can Provide International Benefits Through Marketing Carbon Offset"
Nulato Tribal Council (Nulato, AK) and Doyon Ltd. (Fairbanks,AK)
Arcata, Calif.
HAWAII
Lurline Wailana McGregor, "Economic Recovery - Hawaiian Style"
Native Hawaiian
Honolulu, Hawaii
NATIVE INSIGHT FINALISTS & SEMI-FINALISTS
FINALISTS
Erik Edwardson
Bradley J. Fluetsch.
Larry (Llarion) Merculieff
Joan Kane
Kyan Olanna
Roberta John
SEMI-FINALISTS
Robert J. Flowers
Lee Stephen
Emestine Andrew
Yuri M. Bishop
Z.A. Aki
Poka Laenui
Lawrence SpottedBird
Stephanie Lucero
Joy Harjo
Barbara Giammarino
Wilda L.M. Asimont
Kahseuss Jackson
Dorothy Edwardsen
Deborah Plessinger
Jacquelyn Dyer
Amanda Blackgoat
Sherry Thompson
Simon S. Oskoloff
Rebecca Thrower
Anna M. Westdahl
Rebecca Riley
Laurie A. Stone
Thomas Kawika St. Germain
Helene Kuaana
Jihan Rene Gearonr