ANCHORAGE, Alaska, April 27, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On June 29th, 2017, Afognak Native Corporation will host the second annual Afognak Youth Charity Golf Tournament at the Anchorage Golf Course.
Last year, the event was a great networking opportunity for participants to connect with leaders and staff from Alaska Native Corporations, North Slope oil and gas companies, GCI, BDO, and others. This year, Afognak welcomes celebrity golfer Notah Begay III (Navajo/San Felipe/Isleta Pueblo) – a 4-time PGA TOUR winner and one of the only Native Americans to play on the PGA Tour. Begay is a TV Golf Analyst for NBC Sports and the Golf Channel.
Proceeds in excess of event expenses will directly benefit youth education programs operated by the Native Village of Afognak and the Native Village of Port Lions. Afognak Native Corporation supports the following Tribal youth development programs as part of its cultural and community responsibilities to strengthen Ag’wanermiut “Afognak people”:
- Dig Afognak Camp – Alutiiq culture camp for youth operated since 1998
- Afterschool & Alutiiq Week Cultural Activities
- Alutiiq Language Lessons and Resources provided to schools and the community
- Preschool Activities – Culturally-based Kinder-prep workshops that improve school readiness
“These programs are an invaluable way for young people to learn our endangered Alutiiq language and to practice traditional harvest, survival skills, and healthy relationships.” – Alisha Drabek, Executive Vice President, Afognak Native Corporation
“Because of events such as this, we are able to continue to offer our youth healthy activities, in a safe and culturally rich environment." – Yvonne Mullan, Tribal Administrator, Native Village of Port Lions
“Tribally-led activities build a sense of pride, identity, and wellbeing in Alutiiq youth. Given the Afognak community’s traumatic history and socioeconomic challenges, it is especially important for our youth to connect to our Afognak homeland…those who live on Kodiak [and] those who return in the summer. The Dig Afognak Camp will greatly benefit from event proceeds.”— Melissa Borton, Tribal Administrator, Native Village of Afognak
Teams of four, individual players, and corporate sponsors can still sign up! Contact Ana Fisk, Tournament Director, at 907-244-4377 or afisk@alutiiq.com or visit our webpage at www.afognakgolf.com.
The Afognak Native Corporation is an Alaska Native ANCSA village corporation serving the Kodiak Alutiiq people of Afognak and Port Lions.