We Are ONC

We Are ONC is an intersectional coalition of Yup’ik women and allies connected by a common purpose to do our part to strengthen our tribe, the Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC) based in Bethel, Alaska.

We call in fellow tribal citizens to join us in urging our elected tribal leaders and ONC staff to show care, carry the water, come prepared, and plan ahead.

Show

Care

Carry

The Water

Come Prepared

Plan

Ahead

Don Horter Photographs, Anchorage Museum, B2014.016.838

OUR IMPETUS

We organized loosely in Jan 2021 after children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of original ONC members were denied membership by the ONC Council.

After months of sleepless nights and unanswered questions, we gradually faced facts. Our loved ones were denied membership because some ONC Council members improperly applied a “blood quantum” enrollment standard to adult and minor child descendant enrollment applications.

We then gathered our voices and began to get ready. On Feb 3, 2021, we showed our Council that current (and past) ONC Tribal Laws do not mandate “blood quantum” as the sole eligibility requirement for descendant enrollment. Our voices were heard. As of a Feb 9 emergency meeting, a “blood quantum” standard is no longer applied to descendant membership applications.

We are united in our belief that honor must be bestowed back to all interested adults and minor children left out and left behind.

OUR NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT

Our collective experience with our tribal Council illustrates an urgent need for ongoing improvements.

We acknowledge our duty as concerned enrolled tribal citizens. We will keep approaching to engage. Gather facts. Ask tough questions. Suggest best practices. Listen and learn from others. And work together to make things better for our Tribe as a whole.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to open up new possibilities to communicate remotely. By sharing this website, we hope to reach more of our membership in an open and timely way.