(SitNews) Wrangell, Alaska - The United Tribal Transboundary Mining Work Group (UTTMWG) announced the hiring of the non-profit’s first Coordinator -- Tis Peterman, a lifelong resident of Wrangell and of Tlingit descent. Tis is the great granddaughter of Chief Shakes VII and her parents were the late Marcus & Mae Dailey. Much of her career includes over twenty years of working with non-profits and Tribes in the region. “I am very excited about being hired for this position as I see the biggest threat to fishing and our way of life are the BC mines,” states Peterman. “This issue has been a passion of mine since I first began hearing about the disastrous results of the Mt. Polley tailings dam failure three years ago.”

“We are extremely excited to announce our first ever hired staff person,” said UTTMWG Chairman, Frederick Olsen, Jr. “With Tis Peterman, we made the right choice due to her extensive background in working with Southeast Alaska’s Tribes. She has been involved with our organization since the beginning in 2014.”

“Tis has served as an Alternate Representative to our group from Wrangell,” said UTTMWG Vice Chair Carrie James and Vice President of Ketchikan Indian Community, “It will be great to continue to have her voice involved in our issue,”.

The UTTMWG Coordinator will provide staff support with the goal of connecting the Tribes of Southeast Alaska with the First Nations of British Columbia to protect our traditional and customary ways of life. It is a significant step in the growth of the organization which has previously depended on volunteers.

“Tlingit & Haida Central Council is proud to be a partner with UTTMWG and we are enthusiastic about the positive movement in the hire of Ms. Peterman.” Richard Peterson, CCTHITA President. Added CCTHITA 1st Vice President Rob Sanderson, Jr., also UTTMWG Treasurer, “Tis will put our money to good use and her knowledge will allow her to hit the ground running, so to speak.”

The United Tribal Transboundary Mining Work Group is comprised of sixteen Tribes of Southeast Alaska whose mission is to create a unified voice for Indigenous peoples across the international border who are facing impacts from development and industrialization rapidly occurring in the region.

Bev Sellars, Chief of the Xat'sull First Nation at Soda Creek, British Columbia said, “Our group, First Nations Women Advocating Responsible Mining, looks forward to working with the UTTMWG more in the coming year. Congratulations to the new Coordinator.”

Member Tribes include Metlakatla, Saxman, Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Klawock, Kasaan, Hydaburg, Craig, Kake, Douglas, Haines, Sitka, Yakutat, Klukwan, and Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. “We have come a long way as an organization, ” added John Morris, Sr. of the Douglas Indian Association and UTTMWG Secretary. “Our Coordinator will help us to grow and keep looking out for our people.”

Editing by Mary Kauffman, SitNews

Source of News:

The United Tribal Transboundary Mining Work Group (UTTMWG)
www.uttmwg.com

 

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