Since 1964, the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) has been a nonprofit tribal consortium, dedicated to supporting the interests of the 56 member tribes of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YK Delta).

Originally formed in preparation of the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA),the 56 federally recognized tribes in the YK Delta began assembling under the AVCP banner.

AVCP provides community development, education, social services, culturally relevant programs and advocacy for the people and 56 tribes of Western Alaska; to promote self-determination, protection and enhancement of cultural and traditional values.

AVCP Regional Housing Authority (RHA) was formed while Raphael Murran was Chair of YB, Inc.[7] in line with the tribes endorsement of such creation at the 1974 Convention.[8] AVCP RHA is now a separate organization, though we work closely for the betterment of the region.

AVCP TIMELINE

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1977-1978

This organization is created by filing of nonprofit Articles of Incorporation [Articles of Incorporation and 1978 Amendment] with the State of Alaska in May 1977, with the name “Association of Village Council Presidents.”

1976

Carl Jack becomes YB, Inc.’s Executive Director. Since at that time its only funding were the P.L. 93-636 funds, he initiates efforts “to organize a strategic plan to revitalize . . .  [a] regional administrative infrastructure to address the social, educational and special issues” of the region.

A strategic plan endorses a new “operating base” for these efforts. The “YB, Inc. Board of Directors during the fall of 1976 . . . [directs] the necessary corporate documents to incorporate AVCP [i.e., the current AVCP – THIS organization – to be] the regional non-profit corporation with a full understanding that in the process YB, Inc. would be dissolved and its programs novated [meaning the new AVCP would take over all contracts and grants that began with YB] to the new AVCP.”  The tribes give approval during a last quarter 1976 special purpose Convention chaired by Eddie Hoffman.

1973-1974

NunamKlutisisti is organized with the tribes endorsement at the 1973 Convention.

AVCP Regional Housing Authority is formed while Raphael Murran is Chair of YB, Inc. in line with the tribes endorsement of such creation at the 1974 Convention.

1970

ANCSA is enacted into law, but AVCP, Inc. does not meet all of the law’s provisions and thus cannot serve as the administrator for the YK Delta region [Calista Corporation is formed and takes on that role].

With the approval of the tribes at the 1970 Convention,4 (2 of 2) YupiktakBista, Inc. (YB, Inc.), a non-profit corporation, is formed to operate to benefit the people of YK Delta.  Harold Napolean was the Executive Director through 1975, followed by Carl Jack in 1976.  Carl Jack notes, “AVCP at that time existed by name only, and used YB, Inc. as its administrative arm . . . programs under YB, Inc. were the CETA program and the operating funds supporting P.L. 93-638, [the] Indian Self Determination and Educational Program Act ….” (YB, Inc. had been authorized by a number of YK Delta tribes to administer those funds on the tribes behalf).

1964-1970

  • The YK Delta tribes develop and continue efforts to serve the people of the region, working through various Committees they create – Health, Housing Committee, Resources Committee, etc.
  • Eddie Hoffman hires Raphael Murran in 1968 to organize annual meetings of AVCP’s villages.
  • In 1968, the Yukon-Kuskokwin Health Corporation is organized, with the approval of the tribes at the 1968 Convention.
  • In 1969, Association of Village Council Presidents, Inc., an Alaska for-profit corporation (“AVCP, Inc.”) was formed in anticipation of being ANCSA-administrator for the region.

1964

The “first” legal structure using the AVCP ‘name’ is created: an unincorporated association (“Association of Village Council Presidents” and known as AVCP) was formed this year in anticipation of the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, in the hope that this group would be qualified to administer that Act’s proceeds

As a result of this ANCSA planning (which the YK Delta tribes endorsed), the creation of AVCP in 1964 is cited as AVCP’s birthday – more accurately a birthday of the tribes’ meetings which were then, as now, referred to as Association of Village College Presidents’ Conventions.

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