Its mission is to assure Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina thrive forever. Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina people have inhabited the Kenai Peninsula since time immemorial. The Kenaitze Indian Tribe is federally recognized under the Indian Reorganization Act as a sovereign independent nation with more than 2,000 members. During its annual meeting, the Tribe elects the members of its Tribal Council to serve two-year term
s and govern the Tribe in accordance with the tribe’s Constitution, bylaws, ordinances and resolutions. The Council appoints a Chief Tribal Judge who oversees the Tribal Court and upholds Tribal law. The Council also appoints an Executive Director to implement established Council policies and procedures and to run the day-to-day operations that enhance and support the continued growth and success of the Tribe. Programs and services ensure that Tribal Members have access to health care, social services, justice, education, adequate housing, and employment services and opportunities. The Kenaitze Indian Tribe strives to grow and improve the level of support we offer members so that each may achieve our vision: To assure Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina thrive forever. The Tribe places special emphasis on the hiring and training of Kenaitze Indian Tribe Members, and on increasing the awareness of Dena’ina language and culture, both in the workplace and within our community. The Kenaitze are Dena’ina people, a branch Athabascan Native Americans. Linguists have shown that Athabascans migrated throughout North America from Alaska’s Interior to Mexico. The Kenaitze dialect of the Dena’ina language is one of the most complex and diverse of all Athabascans. It contains both coastal and marine terminology, in addition to more than 400 Russian loan words. Many centuries ago, Athabascan people, nomadic hunters of the boreal forest, traveled from west of the Alaska Range to the shores of Cook Inlet. Recognizing the abundance of the Kenai Peninsula land they called Yaghanen, “the good land,” they settled along the banks of Cook Inlet and its rivers. Ts’itsatna, the Kenaitze ancestors, traveled throughout Yaghanen, fishing the shores of the rivers and Cook Inlet. All species of salmon were harvested with dipnets, weirs, dams or traps. Men, women, children and Elders all worked together to harvest and preserve this most important food. After the fish harvest, the ancestors traveled inland to hunt bear, caribou, mountain goat, sheep and moose. Women and children gathered berries and snared small mammals. Winter was a time for trapping and for traveling from one village to another to share stories and to trade. Today, Yaghanen is still “the good land” and the Kenaitze continue to prosper. By honoring family, respecting the land, respecting spiritual beliefs and through education, the Kenaitze will thrive forever.
