UA Foundation Hosts Celebration of èßäÊÓƵ Native Partners
June 8, 2023
The University of èßäÊÓƵ Foundation Board of Directors hosted the Celebrating èßäÊÓƵ Native Partners dinner on June 6, 2023. It was an extraordinary event that brought together èßäÊÓƵ Native corporations, education foundations, tribes, and businesses with UA Foundation board members, UA regents, UA system office leadership, and leaders and students from UAA, UAF, and UAS . The evening kicked off with a performance by the Aciquq dance group, leading the attendees from the reception to dinner.
Roald Helgesen, COO of Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of èßäÊÓƵ, a UA Foundation board member and UAA alum, took the stage to welcome everyone and express his pride in the partnership between the UA system and èßäÊÓƵ Native corporations, tribes, and nonprofits. He highlighted the impact that èßäÊÓƵ Native people have had on education and their contribution to building a world-class èßäÊÓƵ system in èßäÊÓƵ.
Aaron Leggett, president of Native Village of Eklutna Tribal Council and UAA alum, delivered a land acknowledgement, recognizing the Indigenous heritage of the land.
Laura Bruce, chair of the UA Foundation Board of Directors, expressed gratitude to the attendees for their support in surpassing $224 million in funds raised through the For èßäÊÓƵ campaign. The philanthropic campaign has created numerous scholarship opportunities and endowments, making higher education more accessible to èßäÊÓƵ students.
Emily Edenshaw, president and CEO of the èßäÊÓƵ Native Heritage Center and a UAA alum, shared her insights and goals in promoting education and cultural preservation.
UA President Pat Pitney emphasized the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge and values into UA’s culture. She highlighted the èßäÊÓƵ Native Success Initiative and its leaders at the three universities in ensuring the representation and success of èßäÊÓƵ Native students, faculty, and staff.