Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (KBC) is a nonprofit media center which provides Native

Indigenous peoples of the Americas

The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...

 radio programming through Alaska Native governance and operation. KBC’s national radio programming consists of National Native News, Native America Calling, Earthsongs, Stories of Our People, and Native Word of the Day. In addition, KBC owns and operates KNBA

KNBA

KNBA is a radio station in Anchorage, Alaska. The station is currently owned by Koahnic Broadcast Corporation and airs an adult album alternative format, as well as programing from National Public Radio and Public Radio International....

 (90.3 FM), located in Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage, Alaska

Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...

, the first Native radio station in an urban market.

Background

Cook Inlet Region, Inc.

Cook Inlet Region, Inc.

Cook Inlet Region, Inc., or CIRI, is one of thirteen Alaska Native regional corporations created under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 in settlement of aboriginal land claims. Cook Inlet Region, Inc. was incorporated in Alaska on June 8, 1972...

, a corporation created under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act

The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, commonly abbreviated ANCSA, was signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon on December 23, 1971, the largest land claims settlement in United States history. ANCSA was intended to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding aboriginal land claims in...

, was instrumental in deleveloping KBC. KBC was founded July 1995 and is located in Anchorage, Alaska. The word "koahnic" is of Athabascan origin and was chosen for the name of the corporation due to its meaning "live air." KBC is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

Corporation for Public Broadcasting

The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a non-profit corporation created by an act of the United States Congress, funded by the United States’ federal government to promote public broadcasting...

. On June 28, 2010, KBC aired its first international broadcast broadcasting the 11th Inuit Circumpolar Councils General Assembly from Greenland to North America.

Mission Statement

The primary mission of KBC is to bring Native voices to Alaska and the nation with its core purpose being to broadcast the Native voice.

Programming

• National Native News (NNN) is a radio show which airs news relating to Native issues on 137 radio stations. This show began in 1987 with a distribution to 30 stations and is the “only daily news and information program produced from a Native perspective”. NNN is a five-minute program that is distributed by Native Voice One (NV1). This show is produced in Albuquerque, NM.
• Native America Calling (NAC) is a live radio show that allows listeners to call in and discuss issues that are relevant to native communities. NAC is distributed via Native Voice One (NV1) to 52 stations and on the internet.
• Earthsongs is a radio show that features Native music. Earthsongs is produced by KBC and distributed by Native Voice One (NV1).
• Stories of our People is a radio show that is edited from 50 hours of taped interviews and narratives told by Native Americans.
• Native Word of the Day is a radio program that delivers a Native American word of the day.

National Training Center

KBC's National Training Center, once known as the Indigenous Broadcast Center and founded in 1992, provides training opportunities for Alaska Natives and Native Americans interested in broadcasting career. The center provides on-site workshops, The Alaska Native Youth Media Institute and an intership program.

Board of Directors

• Vicki Otte, Chairperson, Associate of ANCSA CEO's
• Terzah Tippin Poe, Vice Chair, Shell Exploration & Production, Alaska
• Kathy Mayo, Treasurer
• Del Smith, Secretary, Del Smith & Associates
• Carl Marrs, Consultant
• Lisa Nason, Stems
• Don Karabelnikoff, Karabelnikoff & Associates

Community Advisory Board

• Carrie Brown, Alaska Native Arts Foundation
• Jason "Ayak" Evans, Finance, Inc.
• Sue Gamache, Calista Corporation
• Joan McCoy, Nexus - Northwest, LLC
• Dennis McMillian, United Way of Anchorage and Foraker Group
• Russell Pounds, Pacific Rim Graphics
• Dawn Kimberlin, CIRI
• Inez Web, Bristol Bay Native Corporation

Staff

• Beatty, Shyanne - Earthsongs Producer/Host, KNBA On Air Host
• Braine, Susan - Chief Operating Officer – National
• Calabozza, Ed - Acting Associate Producer
• Chimegalrea, Vernon - Resource Development Specialist
• Cleland, Larry - Director of Corporate Support
• Daves Moses, Nola - Station Relations Representative
• Dixon, Loren - Director of Programming and Operations
• Gatewood, Tara - NAC Associate Producer/Back-up Host
• Gonzales, Antonia - Producer & Anchor of National Native News
• Haase, Lauralynn - Executive Assistant
• Jeter, Steve - Acting Production Engineer
• Lawton, Thea - Senior Resource Development Specialist
• McKosato, Harlan - NAC Host & Producer
• Moore, Mike - Acting Chief Financial Officer
• Nicholson, Jane - Acting Resource Development Specialist
• Poley, Burton - NV1 Network Manager
• Preston, Danny - KNBA On Air Host / Music Director
• Sallee, Alexis - Membership Assistant
• Sallee, Jaclyn - President/CEO
• Sam, David - KNBA On Air Host / Operations Coordinator
• Sather, Charles - Chief Engineer
• Shantz, Donna - Membership & Special Projects Director
• Weiss, Darla - Acting Associate Producer