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2021

IN REVIEW

Year in Review

Now Is Alaska's Moment 

At Alaska Venture Fund, we pursue bold ideas and new ways of working, expanding the idea of what is possible–in Alaska and beyond.

We believe right now is Alaska’s opportunity to build a better future. One that embraces our cultural heritage, grows sustainably, and looks out for everyone’s wellbeing. 

The time for action is here.

Scroll down to see what we have accomplished during 2021. 

2021 Highlights 

2021 Highligts
Alaska Venture Fund Awarded $10M by the Bezos Earth Fund to advance climate and environmental justice work

With the generous support of the Bezos Earth Fund, Alaska Venture Fund is able to scale up its portfolio of environmental and climate justice ventures and partnerships with Alaska Native leaders, tribes, and organizations to advance new work in this field. The grant will be used to secure resources for Indigenous-led, place-based environmental justice projects; ensure Alaska Native communities receive an equitable share of the benefits accruing from federal investments; and support the next generation of Tribal leaders working to solve systemic vulnerabilities and create emergent opportunities within their communities. For more information, click here.

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Woman smiling and harvesting berries
Indigenous Peoples Ecosystem Stewardship Virtual Exchange Program

Throughout the fall of 2021, Alaska Native leaders gathered virtually to envision the future of ecological stewardship projects across Alaska. This program, which was facilitated by Alaska Venture Fund, featured Indigenous peers from around the world who’ve successfully led large-scale land and marine-based stewardship projects. Such projects, which provide social, ecological, and economic benefits to people and ecosystems while formally recognizing Indigenous values and sovereignty, have enormous potential in Alaska. The exchange program generated significant ideas and momentum for new Alaska-based initiatives while also creating space for the dialogue and connections necessary to bring them to life.

Alaska Venture Fund publishes groundbreaking papers exploring the  opportunities and impacts of climate change response efforts for Alaska

With 53% of the nation’s stored carbon held in our lands and our climate warming more than twice as fast as the rest of the US, Alaska has a critical role to play in efforts to tackle climate change. In 2021, Alaska Venture Fund commissioned a series of papers exploring how Alaska can lean in to this role and the potential benefits of doing so for Alaskans. Click here for more information and to read the papers.

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DOE Language Revitalization Grant awarded for the Iliamna region

Building on years of work by Igiugig Village Council to uplift Dena’ina and Yup’ik languages, the Department of Education has awarded the community a $2.1M grant to expand these efforts across the Lake and Peninsula Borough School District. Through this investment, Igiugig will be able to employ three full-time and six part-time language coordinators, create new opportunities for remote language learning, help students develop the skills they need to build careers in language revitalization, and create a virtual cultural curriculum for language learning in local schools.

Bristol Bay Defense Fund celebrates progress towards protections

The last 12 months have delivered a string of hard-fought wins in the effort to protect Bristol Bay from the threat of Pebble Mine, including reinstatement of a process to apply Clean Water Act protections. The Bristol Bay Defense Fund continues its public-facing campaign to ensure the EPA makes a final protective decision in summer 2022, while also pursuing parallel legal and legislative pathways toward permanent protections for the region. Join the fight to protect Bristol Bay here.

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Venture Updates
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Venture Updates

Seacoast Trust

The Seacoast Trust, a fund to support Indigenous-led stewardship efforts and sustainable, community-based economic development for Southeast Alaska, launched this year. Alaska Venture Fund was engaged by Spruce Root to assist in developing the Seacoast Trust and leveraging a $10 million matching contribution from Sealaska. As of December 2021, the fund has raised $19 million, just $1 million away from their initial goal of capitalizing a $20 million fund. The Seacoast Trust will support a range of programs weaving Indigenous values into new approaches for resource management, ecological revitalization, and economic resilience, in perpetuity. To learn more, please visit seacoasttrust.org.

Publications 2021

Publications

Exploring climate-related opportunities for leadership and economic opportunity in Alaska.

Cover - Alaska Resources and Opportunities in the Response to Global Climate Change FINAL.

This paper examines the emerging issues and solutions to address climate change through Indigenous perspectives while centering Alaska Native peoples and communities.

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 A peer-reviewed synthesis paper underlining Alaska's global significance for climate change & conservation.

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Thank you

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Our work would not be possible without your generous support.
We believe in the future of Alaska. Thank you for believing in us. 

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