Longer days and warmer weather mean we can once again enjoy the gifts of summer—fishing, subsistence harvesting, and generally, just reconnecting with each other and our lands. This is the time of year when it’s great just to get out there and take in the vast and beautiful spectacle of our region and everything it offers us. It’s impossible to stand out on the tundra and not pause and reflect. To think about our roots and to connect with our cultures and history.

There seems to be renewed interest to reconnect in this very specific way: to understand, appreciate, and integrate the traditions that define our Native way of life. I can remember a time not so long ago when we would hold an event in region for our shareholders and it was no easy feat to, for example, have a dance group come and perform for us. That has changed. There is a heightened interest and participation in Native cultures that you see and feel throughout the region. This takes shape in many ways—some study Native language or dance. Others interact with and learn from our Elders, taking in their stories and remembrances and tapping into their wisdom. And sometimes, it’s as simple as carving out time to be out on the land; to really take it in and appreciate everything it offers.

At BBNC, we strive to turn our financial success outwards, towards shareholder programs that people continue to be interested in and excited about. Regarding our cultures, you can see this in action through the Bristol Bay Foundation (BBF) which, just five or six years ago was strictly a provider of scholarship funds. Today, BBF also provides funds for essential programming that helps promote cultural engagement. It’s something we’ll continue to expand upon as a focus of our shareholder engagement. Of course, we remain committed to other dimensions of shareholder development in practical ways involving education, training, and employment initiatives. You can read about one such effort—our involvement in heavy equipment operator training—in these very pages. When BBNC is doing well, we invest back in our communities so shareholders and descendants can feel part of something unique and special.

We’re excited to confirm that our FY24 earnings are strong. You’ll read more about the finer details in our annual report, which comes later this summer, but we can share that it’s going to be another historic year in terms of both revenue and earnings. So much of this has to do with the strength, energy, and alignment of BBNC’s leadership team, and the ripple effect throughout our corporate culture and beyond—out into the region and our villages. I’m proud to be part of a team that is so dedicated, invested, and truly aligned around BBNC’s mission, values, and promise. All of this is codified in BBNC’s long-term strategic plan, which gives us a road map and ensures we’re all singing from the same songbook, as they say.

A big part of our success comes from listening to our shareholders. We’ve made good practice of not just hearing what you have to say, but putting what we learn into action. Last year, shareholders spoke passionately about the need to better support our Elders. So, our board made the decision to double the Elder distribution payment, a benefit that went into effect on June 7, 2024. Lastly, as part of our ongoing efforts to connect with shareholders on important issues, we’re conducting surveys to ensure we understand your priorities and meet shareholder expectations.

We’re constantly doing our best to connect with and invest in our shareholders and communities, because your strength is BBNC’s strength. For now, we wish each of you a safe, abundant, and rewarding summer season and thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Jason Metrokin
President & CEO