KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Artist rendering of the new Koniag- KANA office complex.
A ceremony was held on Near Island Monday to break ground for a new office complex being jointly built by Koniag and KANA. The 13,000-square-foot building will house the regional Native Corporation’s main offices and the social service offices of the Kodiak Area Native Association.
Koniag President and CEO Will Anderson welcomed the crowd of elders, board members and other dignitaries to the ceremony:
— (Groundbreak 1 26 sec "I always thought there were … well with the world again.")
Julie Knagin (k’naggin’) performed a stone lamp lighting ceremony, with the help of a young girl who later performed with the Alutiiq Dancers:
— (Groundbreak 2 52 sec "Camai! It’s nice to see and be … healthy environment.")
Anderson reminisced about the time when Koniag moved its headquarters out of Kodiak in favor of Anchorage:
— (Groundbreak 3 41 sec "This really is a great … start on this wonderful building.")
Andy Teuber (toober), said the social service and assistance programs will occupy KANA’s portion of the building, freeing up more space at the KANA clinic on Rezanof Drive:
— (Groundbreak 4 52 sec "This is a building that … and VPSO Program.")
The Rasmuson Foundation provided 800-thousand dollars for the two-story building, and executive director Diane Kaplan flew in for the ceremony. She said it was the largest capital grant the foundation has made in Kodiak. She said that given the current financial climate, KANA and Koniag were fortunate to request the funds when they did, because until things turn around, grants of that size will be few and far between.
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