Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council
Federally recognized Alaska Native tribe
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Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council (ONC) is the largest tribe in the Bethel, Alaska region. It is a federally recognized tribe and a governing body for the community of Bethel, Alaska.
| |
| People | Yup'ik |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Bethel, Alaska, US |
| Government | |
| Chief | Walter Jim |
| Website | |
| orutsararmiut | |
As of 2017, the tribe had 3,192 members, 1,801 of whom lived in Bethel. A majority of those residing outside Bethel lived in Anchorage, Alaska.
History
The Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC) is the largest tribe in the Bethel, Alaska region.[1] It is a federally recognized tribe and a governing body for the community of Bethel, Alaska.[2] Zach Brink served as the ONC executive director from 2011 to 2015, when he retired.[3] In 2016, Gene Peltola Sr. was the ONC executive director.[4] Peter Evon also served as an ONC executive director before serving as the Kenaitze Indian Tribe executive director of tribal administration.[5]
As of 2017, the tribe had 3,192 members, 1,801 of whom lived in Bethel. A majority of those not residing in Bethel instead resided in Anchorage, Alaska.[6] In the fall of 2018, the ONC received a two-year grant from the Administration for Community Living to help reduce the harm and maltreatment of Yup'ik elders.[7]
In 2021, the executive director was Mark Springer.[8] Springer was fired in before August 2021, when Zach Brink was rehired and took the office.[9]
On June 28, 2021, the ONC had appealed the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation's decision about the Donlin Gold mine's water quality certificate.[8] According to a summer 2021 poll of 300 ONC tribal members, 76% opposed the Donlin Gold mine project, while only 10.5% supported it.[10] The mineral rights for the mine are owned by the Calista Corporation, an Alaska Native corporation that represents many Alaska Native groups including the ONC.[11]
In 2021, the ONC received US$17,000,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.[12] Some of the funds were used to provide US$1,500 payments to eligible tribal members.[12]
Former executive director Zach Brink resumed the role from August 2, 2021 until late March 2022, when he resigned citing health reasons.[3][9] In July 2022, Brian Henry became the ONC executive director.[1] In 2022, Walter Jim was serving as the tribal chairman.[3]
In July 2022, the ONC endorsed tribal member Mary Peltola's campaign for the 2022 Alaska's at-large congressional district special election. She is a former tribal judge.[13]
Notable members
- Buzzy Peltola (1966–2023), public servant and naturalist; Alaska director for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (2018–2022)[14]
- Mary Peltola (born 1973), politician, former tribal judge; U.S. representative (2022–2025)[15]