Calista gives elders $250 for Christmas

Alaska Newspapers Inc.
editor@alaskanewspapers.com

December 12, 2008 at 3:09PM AKST

Calista Corp. will give $250 to its elders in celebration of the holidays.

The Alaska Native corporation for the Bethel region called the money a special cash distribution.

“This is the first time that an allotment of this nature has been issued by the corporation,” a written statement said.

Distribution of the money began by mail on Dec. 12 and is a direct result of Calista’s escalating financial strength and security, the statement said.

The board of directors voted unanimously in favor of the allocation. Elders are 65 years and older, said Matthew Nicolai, president. About 1,500 will receive the distribution.

“We are elated to send this distribution to our elders at such a critical time,” said Chairman Art Heckman. “This illustrates that Calista is a fiscally sound company that is dedicated to increasing value for its shareholders.”

Vice-chairman Willie Kasayulie agreed and added, “We hope the consistent improvement of Calista’s strong fiscal condition will allow us to continue offering supplementary distributions such as this.”

This spring, Calista awarded its first dividend in more than 20 years to approximately 12,500 shareholders. The average shareholder with 100 shares received $150. 

Founded in 1972, Calista Corp. is the second largest of the 13 regional Native corporations formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971.

Calista received land entitlements totaling more than 6.5 million acres in the Yukon and the Kuskokwim river deltas, the statement said.  Calista shareholders are predominantly of Yup'ik Eskimo, Cup'ik Eskimo and Athabascan descent.

Back