Every year as we look towards fall, with election season upon us, we’re reminded of the importance of voting. BBNC has long been an advocate of the strength of the Alaska Native vote. It wasn’t that long ago in our state’s history when Alaska Native people weren’t allowed to vote. So, we at BBNC recognize and celebrate the importance of voting in any election year. Whether in a high-profile presidential election like we have this year, or in any local, state, or national race, it’s a privilege to have the opportunity for our voices to be heard.

An organized effort to Get Out the Native Vote (GOTNV) has been underway for decades, to ensure Alaska Natives have an opportunity to help shape the outcome of elections on the issues that matter most to our communities. Alaska Natives represent about 20 percent of our state’s population and are an important collective voice when it comes to infrastructure, economic opportunity, education, health care, and more. Making sure our voices are heard is a way each of us can contribute to the health and vitality of our communities, whether in the rural villages, Anchorage, or the Lower 48.

In the following pages, we’ll talk more about GOTNV, the non-partisan organization focused on getting Alaska Native people registered and out to the polls. The incredible work of GOTNV ensures that we all feel welcomed, encouraged, and supported in our civic duty. By providing useful and necessary information, offering assistance with Native languages, and helping people in remote communities understand where and how to both register and vote, GOTNV has helped to change the landscape for voters in Alaska, particularly for Native communities.

The importance of this can’t be overstated. When I’m in Juneau or in Washington DC representing Bristol Bay and BBNC, I often find that many policymakers we talk to aren’t familiar with our region and the issues, challenges, and very real needs we face. BBNC champions these issues, yet BBNC is one voice. But each individual voter—each of you—who contributes through your vote creates a chorus that is much harder for policymakers to overlook. It’s so important that we each turn out to vote so the issues that are most important to us are heard, understood, and addressed. We have a role to play in helping our elected officials at every level truly understand what it’s like to live in Alaska, and to live as an Alaska Native.

So we encourage you to get out there and be heard. Follow GOTNV and use them as the great resource they are. Register, learn about the issues, and know how and where to cast your ballots. And remember you also have a right and a duty to vote your shares at our annual meeting or via your proxy vote. We encourage each of you to engage with your corporation and make sure your voices are heard at the corporate level, as well.

Elections are all about the future. And at BBNC, our sights are fixed on our future as a corporation and a community. We hope you’ve had time to spend with this year’s annual report and have learned how your corporation is working on your behalf and thinking about what comes next. We’re excited about the continued success and evolution of BBNC, specifically about how we engage with younger generations of shareholders who represent the future of our company. The future is top of mind, and we’ll continue to talk more about it with you as this new fiscal year unfolds.

For now, thanks as always for your support.

Jason Metrokin
President & CEO