Photo: The Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation office in Utqiagvik. (Courtesy Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation)

The federal government is in the process of rewriting the rules for how it issues federal contracts and some Alaska Native organizations, which depend on federal contracts to pay out benefits to shareholders, are concerned that it could impact their business.

The Alaska Desk’s Alena Naiden from our flagship station KNBA has more.

Christopher Slottee is an attorney who ‎works with Alaska Native villages, eegional corporations, and tribal ‎governments. He was previously a vice president of the Old Harbor Native Corporation.

Slottee says that, over the years, more and more Native Corporations have turned to federal contracts for revenue, which then gets paid out to shareholders.

But, he says, this could change.

“If there is a reduction in federal contracting dollars available to Alaska Native corporations, or they don’t have as much success in that arena, they would reduce in size, at least on a revenue basis, which could have an impact on dividends.”

The concern is that the federal government is currently rewriting its rules for awarding contracts. That’s a result of an executive order President Trump signed in April. It directs the government to remove unnecessary contracting rules that are not required by statute.

Alaska Native Corporations (ANC) have steadily increased their share of government contracts. In 2021, Alaska Native corporations received more than $11 billion from federal contract revenue, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis.

Slottee says that, in part, ANC participation in federal contracts has grown because Congress gave tribes and corporations easier access to the U.S. Small Business Administration programs.

“It provides a little bit more of a level playing field for ANCs to compete for work. They don’t have to compete with, like, Boeing or Northrop Grumman, right, these really massive multinational companies. ”

One worry Alaska Native contractors have is that the government might remove something called the Rule of Two. It directs government agencies to set aside projects to small businesses, if two or more small businesses are able to do them.

Slottee says that eliminating the rule could make it difficult for small businesses, including Native contractors, to compete for the work.

The deadline for rewriting federal contracting regulations is in the middle of October.

Gary Farmer in Albuquerque, N.M. (Photo: Brian Bull)

The sci-fi comedy series “Resident Alien” has ended its fourth and final season, leaving First Nations actor Gary Farmer (Haudenosaunee) weighing his next opportunity.

Brian Bull (Nez Perce), senior reporter for Buffalo’s Fire, ran into Farmer at the recent Indigenous Journalists Association conference in Albuquerque, N.M. and has this update.

“Resident Alien” not only features the titular extraterrestrial running amuck in Colorado, but also several members of the Ute Tribe including Dan Twelvetrees.

Farmer plays the tribal elder and diner owner, who’s the adoptive father to Asta Twelvetrees.

When not wrestling with alien mayhem, the story often turns to happenings with the Native community.

In the sixth episode of the fourth season, Harry the Alien observes his first powwow, and is consumed with the music and sense of community.

Farmer says “Resident Alien” made Native people a part of the story without relegating them to stereotypes or background dressing. Overall, it was a special experience.

“It was a real family. I mean, you have a showrunner like Christopher Sheridan, he’s a human being, and you can see it in the show. There’s not a lot of human beings out there in my business. They’ve got other interests, mostly financial. So when you come across somebody with a showrunner with that kind of heart and that kind of intelligence and that kind of open mindedness, we’re gonna win.”

Farmer says there’s talk of a possible feature film that’ll continue the “Resident Alien” story, but in the meantime, he’s playing gigs on the road with his band, Gary and the Troublemakers.

Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers in Albuquerque, N.M. (Photo: Brian Bull)

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