(Juneau, Alaska) - More than 300 participants from 19 communities in
Southeast Alaska and Canada attended the 2008 Southeast Alaska Native
Summit November 12-14 at the Juneau ANB Hall, hosted by the Central
Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska (Central
Council) and Sealaska Corporation. “High energy costs are crushing the
life and hope out of our rural communities, and choking off economic
development,” Bill Martin, Central Council President said at the
conference opening. “I hope that at this conference we can find ways to
work together and start building opportunities for our families and
future generations.”

“We found people and organizations out there who are meeting these
challenges head on, and who are using sheer determination and brain
power to find solutions that work,” Percy Frisby, Central Council
Director of Tribal Energy and conference organizer said. Over the three
days, Frisby said that tribal organizations, business leaders, Native
corporations, and state, federal and local government officials shared
information about innovative projects, funding and technical assistance
resources, and business development resources.=20

“We started with the toughest issue, the high energy cost that has hurt
every individual and business in the region,” Frisby said. “Big projects
like developing hydroelectric power sites and building the intertie
system are going to help solve this in the long term, but smaller
projects like the ones that turn waste wood into heat are important
parts of the short and mid-term solutions.” Frisby stated speakers
covered real projects, both large and small scale, that have worked in
the region.

The second day covered alternative energy development strategies for the
region, and resources and programs that help the individual and family
with high energy costs. The last portion of the summit covered business
technical assistance and financial resources for economic development,
and educational opportunities in the region. Several business operators
like David Sheakley, GetThePicture photography, gave personal accounts
of creating and operating small businesses in the region.

More information about the Central Council is available at
www.ccthita.org. Information and presentations from the Energy and
Economic Development Summit will be available at
www.ccthita.org/2008SEAKNativeSummit.html =20

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Contact:

Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska

Percy Frisby, Tribal Energy Director

pfrisby@ccthita.org=20

Office: 907.463.7394=20

=20

Additional Contacts:

Gordon Jackson, Roads & Transportation Director

Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska

gjackson@ccthita.org=20

Office: 907.523.8170

=20

Ross Soboleff, RSV Communications

rsvcomm@alaska.com

Cell: 907.321.3244