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\n 2021 AFN Convention Will Be Virtual\n
\n December 13 &\; 1
4\n \n At its quarterly meeting on October 15\
, the AFN Board of Directors decided to hold an all-virtual annual conventi
on on December 13 and 14\, 2021. After consultation with state\, federal an
d tribal health officials\, and reviewing current data trends\, AFN made it
s decision out of concern for the safety and health of the thousands of att
endees who come from every part of Alaska\, including AFN delegates\, prese
nters\, other participants\, artists and exhibitors\, and the public. \
; \n \n AFN delegates and members should watch their email next week (Octob
er 25-29) for the updated 2021 Convention Delegate Packet. The packet will
include resolution\, sponsorship\, and registration information. A print ve
rsion will be mailed as well. An updated registration form will be sent to
delegates who have not yet registered. \; Click HERE for t
he downloadable form. \; \n \n Last August the AFN Board postponed the
Convention from October to December to give time for the city to get the CO
VID-19 numbers turned around. The current information shows continuing high
rates of COVID-19 cases\, transmission\, hospitalization and deaths\, part
icularly in Anchorage\, the Convention host city\, which is on an upward tr
ajectory according to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.&
nbsp\;<
/span> \n \n &ldquo\;Safety is paramount to our decision\,&rdquo\; said She
ri Buretta\, chair of AFN'\;s Convention Committee. &ldquo\;Our conventi
on is a large indoor gathering where CDC guidelines of social distancing ar
e not practical. The situation in Anchorage has not improved nearly enough
to risk the health of Convention participants\, particularly our Elders and
other vulnerable attendees\, when hospitals across the state are under ext
reme pressure right now.&rdquo\; \n \n As was done for the all-virtual 2020
AFN Convention\, a robust virtual meeting platform will be combined with l
ive statewide TV and radio broadcast coverage\, and live streaming on multi
ple video channels. A full agenda will be released to the public in early D
ecember. \n \n AFN will also develop an online Native arts marketplace feat
uring many of the same Native artists that have had booths in the exhibit h
all during in-person AFN Conventions. \; \n
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This year&rs
quo\;s Convention theme is &ldquo\;ANCSA at 50: Empowering Our Future.&rdqu
o\; \; The passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act fifty yea
rs ago was a groundbreaking\, remarkable achievement for Alaska. A model ar
ound the world of Indigenous self-determination\, ANCSA has led to tremendo
us economic benefits and opportunities for Native people and for all Alaska
ns. \n \n AFN will proudly celebrate that accomplishment while
acknowledging there is plenty more work to be done. This year&rsquo\;s them
e emphasizes the importance of addressing the collective work ahead of the
Native community to empower our people and face the challenges of the futur
e together. Since its passage\, ANCSA has been amended in significant ways
and with technical fixes. AFN recognizes that there is unfinished business
and unmet promises\, particularly in the area of subsistence rights and foo
d security\, public safety and law enforcement\, and economic development.&
nbsp\;
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About the AFN Co
nvention<
br />\n AFN&rsquo\;s annual convention serves as the
principal forum and voice for the Alaska Native community in addressing cri
tical issues of public policy and government. The Convention convenes thous
ands of official delegates and participants from membership organizations a
cross the state. AFN Delegates discuss strategic opportunities and challeng
es\, listen to memorable keynote and theme speeches\, and hear reports from
political leaders and presentations from expert panels. The resolutions pa
ssed by the voting delegates set the priorities for the year and guide AFN&
rsquo\;s efforts. The Convention is the largest representative annual gathe
ring of Native peoples in the United States\, and the largest convention in
Alaska. \n \n \; \n \n \; \n
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