CIRI book focuses on Native organizations.

• Position: Alaska Native Business News

THE CIRI FOUNDATION

The latest in The Cook Inlet Region Inc. Foundation's publications that continue the living traditions of Alaska's first people, "Na'eda" is a comprehensive guide to Alaska Native cultures, corporations, tribal organizations and the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. The handbook's title, "Na'eda," translated from Dena'ina Athabascan, means "our friends."

Just 5 inches by 7 inches and 128 pages, the book is designed to be a handy, small guide.

CIRI Historian Alexandra J. McClanahan co-authored the book with CIRI shareholder Hallie Bissett. Addresses and phone numbers are included for the 13 Native regional corporations, 168 village corporations, 226 traditional/IRA councils, four urban corporations, six former reserves and Alaska's only reservation, Metlakatla. Also listed are the 13 major regional nonprofits and the 13 members of the Alaska Native Education Consortium.

In addition to listing the addresses and phone numbers of the 444 Native entities, the book features a brief discussion of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 and its key components, as well as brief descriptions of the various Alaska Native ethnic groups. Maps are included for each region to show village locations, and there is a statewide Native cultural map and a statewide Native regional map.

"Our goal is to combine maps, a basic primer on Native issues surrounding ANCSA and a directory to create a handy booklet that's transportable," said Susan Anderson, CEO of The CIRI Foundation. "This is more than a directory--"Na'eda" provides...