Representatives of Arctic Slope Regional Corp., NANA Regional Corp. and Bering Straits Native Corp. announced the establishment of the Iñuit Arctic Business Alliance.
IABA’s mission is to provide a unified voice, collective vision, guidelines and venue for doing business in the Arctic. IABA’s goals are to ensure that their respective regions directly benefit from activity and operations in the Alaska Arctic. IABA will provide the Arctic Alaska Iñuit a voice, with respect to transportation, infrastructure, energy and all facets of sustainable economic development and cultural stewardship.
“It is important that we speak for ourselves with a collective voice. With increased interest in the Arctic, there is too much at stake to let others speak for us. This partnership is a mechanism to make sure it is our message that is being heard,” said ASRC President and CEO Rex A. Rock Sr.
“Cooperation is our natural way of doing business,” said NANA President and CEO Wayne Westlake. “The planning for this business alliance has spanned over a year and we have now agreed to work together on common priorities.”
President and CEO of BSNC Gail Schubert remarked, “Global interests continue to focus on the Arctic, and we, Iñuit, have always worked together to ensure our collective destiny remains in the hands our people. The Iñuit Arctic Business Alliance is the conduit to ensure we lead this effort.”
The three corporate members of IABA were established as part of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971. IABA is governed by a nine member board of directors, comprised of three individuals from each member corporation.