With Notes---Closing Agenda for 2015 Providers Conference
9:00am – 9:05am
Call to order – Colleen LaBelle and Gary Hanson
Colleen- Good Morning Everyone, we are going to call the conference to order. Please take a seat….
Welcome to the 25th Annual Providers Conference Closing Ceremonies. My name is Colleen LaBelle and I
am an enrolled member of the SW Sioux tribe of SD. Currently I manage the Land, Titles and Records
office for the BIA-AK region.
Gary- Good Morning All- Qanuq Itchbin, My name is Gary Hanson and I am from Eagle River, and my family
is originally from Nome and Unalakleet. I am a shareholder in the Aleut Corporation. Currently I work as
a Rights Protection Specialist in BIA-AK Regional Realty. Well, we have successfully made it through the
25th Annual Providers Conference. I would like to take a second and recognize all the hard work our
speakers, event staff, security, conference staff and everyone else whom I have just forgotten for all of their
hard work.
Colleen- Yes, we know how much everyone has put into the conference and we hope it met your
expectations. Please provide us your feedback so we can continue to make improvements. We really do
look at the survey monkeys and paper feedback we collect throughout the conference. Now, I would like to
introduce the Alaska Regional Director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs. He has been the Regional Director
for Alaska since November of 2013.
Please join me in welcoming Mr. Loudermilk.
9:05am – 9:15am
Opening Comments – Regional Director Weldon Loudermilk
Gary- Thank you Regional Director Loudermilk. We appreciate your leadership and support of the
Providers Conference, as it is vital to the Alaska Region. Next we have a performance by the Alaska Native
Cultural Charter School. We are lucky to have them and cannot wait to see them perform.
9:15am – 9:30pm
Alaska Native Cultural Charter School – Youth Performance
Colleen- Thank you Alaska Native Cultural Charter School performers. Your performance was inspiring
and everything we hoped to experience.
Next, I would like to introduce the Youth Program Coordinator for the Alaska Region.
Amanda Roberts was hired this year as the Department of the Interior's, Youth Program Coordinator.
Amanda comes from a non-profit background most recently as the Partnership Director for the Student
Conservation Association.
We will ask Amanda to do this section as part of her own presentation. She has completed conversation and
host training for the Alaska Native Dialogue on Race and Ethnicity, started the National Park Service Youth
Academy in Alaska to formally engage Alaska Native youth in public land stewardship and is working with
the DOI bureaus to ensure the hiring process is equal to everyone, especially Alaska Native and American
Indian individuals.
9:30am – 9:40am
Youth Initiatives – Amanda Roberts – Youth Programs Office of the Secretary-AK
Amanda is going to introduce Mao Tosi for us.
9:40am – 10:00am
Keynote Address – Mao Tosi – Youth Activist
Gary- Thank you Mao Tosi. We heard you were a great speaker, now I am worried about my job as Emcee.
You aren’t trying to take over my cool job are you?
Thank you for the powerful message. We can all learn a lot about the importance of youth advocacy from
the example you set. Next I would like to welcome the Federal Co-Chair from the Denali Commission to
speak about their efforts on behalf of Alaska Native people. He has been the Co-chair since 2010. Please
welcome Joel Neimeyer to the stage.
10:00am – 10:15am Joel Neimeyer – Federal Co-Chair, Denali Commission
Colleen- Thank you Mr. Neimeyer for sharing the Denali Commission’s unique mission and programs. It is
always a pleasure to hear about how federal agencies are supporting rural Alaska. Next I would like to
introduce the Alaska Program Manager from the Office of Indian Energy Policy and Programs. Mr. Givey
Kochanowski was instrumental in creating a totally new track in response to the feedback we received in
previous years from tribes. Please welcome Mr. Kochanowski to the stage.
10:15am – 10:30am Department of Energy Initiatives – Alaska Program Manager, Givey Kochanowski
Gary- Thank you for speaking Givey. We can all tell that you are from the Department of Energy. Most of
us are exhausted from the week long activities. But you still seem full of Energy to me. We really
appreciated the new track and look forward to continuing our partnership. Next I would like to introduce
the Yurapik Dance group. They are going to perform for us and will probably ask us to join in. Even
President Obama joined in and danced the invitational in Dillingham, so I fully expect EVERYONE in this
room to participate and have a good time.
10:30pm – 10:50pm Yurapik- Yupik Drummers and Dancers
Colleen- Thank you Yurapik for showing us your dance moves! I am ready now for another week of
classes….but we will save it for next year. Here is our fearless leader to send us all safely home with a few
closing remarks. Mr. Loudermilk…..
10:50pm – 11:00am Closing Remarks - Regional Director Weldon Loudermilk
Bruce- Thank you everyone for attending. Please do the feedback of your choice. We will really be reading
and taking it to heart. Have safe trips home and safe travels.