Oil Patch Bits: ASRC mourns the passing of Athabascan Elder Katie John

Arctic Slope Regional Corp. said May 31 that it is remembering Katie John as a tireless advocate for Alaska Native subsistence fishing rights. Known for her perseverance in a case to access traditional subsistence fishing grounds inside the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the loss of Katie John is a loss for the entire Alaska Native community.

Rex A. Rock Sr., president & CEO of ASRC said, “The Arctic Slope region mourns the loss of Katie John, matriarch of the subsistence fight. We send our heartfelt condolences to the people of the Ahtna region.”

Arctic Slope Regional Corp. is owned by and represents the business interests of the Arctic Slope Inupiat.

Since opening enrollment in 1989 to Alaska Natives born after 1971, the corporation’s shareholder base has nearly tripled, growing from the 3,700 original enrollees to around 11,000 today. Corporate headquarters are based in Barrow, Alaska, with administrative and subsidiary offices in Anchorage and throughout the United States. ASRC, along with its family of companies, is the largest Alaskan-owned company, employing approximately 10,000 people worldwide. The company has five major business segments: petroleum refining and marketing, energy support services, construction, government services and resource development.