About

Native Peoples Action (NPA) is a non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting and strengthening Alaska Native peoples and our Ways of Life. We are committed to addressing and restoring our people’s inherent rights to hunt, fish, harvest, gather, trap, share, and have ceremony as well as manage and steward our homelands for abundance. Critical to this effort is our commitment to end the criminalization of our Native ways of life. We do this work by being a statewide advocate alongside our Native peoples, amplifying their work, voices, and leadership, and advancing our collective priorities to fully practice, restore, and strengthen our Alaska Native hunting, fishing, gathering, harvesting, trapping, sharing, and ceremonial rights as Native peoples.

Mission

Native Peoples Action gives voice to our ancestral imperative to uplift our peoples and protect our ways of life by taking a stand, working together and mobilizing action. We do this through ensuring Alaska Natives are heard in all levels of policy making, advocating for the wellness of our peoples and our ways of life, and by transforming social systems.

We Take A Stand.

An equitable society and governance structures will be achieved when Indigenous values and peoples are in positions of decision and policy making authority in Alaska. Systems, laws, and regulations must align with our ways of life.

We Work Together.

We stand united to strengthen networks, find common ground, and advocate for the wellness of our peoples and the sustainability of our communities and ways of life.

We mobilize action.

We will leverage our strong Alaska Native community networks to build a volunteer base to provide confidence, encouragement, and guidance in connecting Alaska Native traditional values with political candidates, proposed policies, and land management.

Our purpose

The purpose of Native Peoples Action is to further its Mission by Taking a Stand, Working Together, and Mobilizing Action. Consistent with its Operating Principle, Native Peoples Action will carry out its purpose not for profit but, rather, exclusively for, but not limited to, charitable, educational, civic, political, social, and cultural purposes.

Operating principles

  • Be Well: Indigenous wellbeing founded on respect and understanding;
  • Be Grounded: Indigenous education for all;
  • Be Sustained: sustainable economies of place founded on respect;
  • Be Seen: media and messaging by Indigenous Artists;
  • Be Heard: amplify Indigenous voices; and
  • Be Sacred; honor and defend Indigenous spirituality.

Projects

We take on projects that align with our mission and the needs of our communities, some include:

  • Protecting Our Ways Of Life (POWOL): Along with our direct advocacy work, we work to
    ensure Alaska Native voices are heard at all levels of decision-making, whether it’s through the Board of Fish, Board of Game, North Pacific Fishery Management Council, Federal Subsistence Board or Regional Advisory Councils.
  • Voting Rights Protection: To protect our ways of life, we work to ensure Alaska Natives have
    the opportunity to vote at the polls. Who is elected matters. To POWOL, we need to en-
    sure our votes count and we elect individuals who will advance our collective priorities as Alaska Natives.
  • Leadership Development: We train and prepare Alaska Native individuals to successfully run for office. To set good policy that upholds our values and priorities, we must have representation in all areas of government.