Founded in 1966

On November 28, 1966, ten individuals – Harry Carter, Roy Madsen, Helena Schwiete, Marie Olsen Chandler, Bill Berestoff, Florence Cratty, Christina Hoen, George Stinger, Karl Armstrong, and Tom Gregoroff – signed Articles of Incorporation for KANA with intent to form an organization to ensure representation and leadership to protect our natural resources, our people, and our Sugpiaq Alutiiq way of life.

Since 1966

KANA has evolved and expanded in response to the changing needs of our community.
  • In 1987, the KANA Board of Directors recognized that our heritage was dissipating from memory.
  • The Board resolved that the exploration and celebration of our Alutiiq culture was essential, and KANA created island-wide programs to teach Alutiiq art, study the Alutiiq language, and investigate Alutiiq history, with the vision to one day establish a museum for the Alutiiq people.
  • In 1995, KANA became a founding member of the Alutiiq Museum and Archeological Repository, a cultural center dedicated to preserving and sharing the traditions of our Sugpiaq Alutiiq people.
  • In 2010, the issue of child maltreatment in Kodiak’s communities rose to the surface, and the need to support our children became essential.
  • KANA assembled a Child Services Department, and in 2012 opened the Kodiak Child Advocacy Center (CAC), a specialized facility where a multidisciplinary team of Medical and Behavioral Health, social service, and law enforcement professionals work together in a child-focused approach. KANA’s CAC is backed by the National Children’s Alliance and is an Accredited Member.
  • In 2013 KANA entered into an expanded sharing agreement with the Veterans’ Administration to serve the 1,300 Veterans on the Island.
  • KANA also began operating Community Health Centers in 2013 funded under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act in five of the six villages on Kodiak Island, and provides primary medical care, dental and behavioral health services to community residents in all six remote communities.
  • In 2015 the Mill Bay Health Center opened it’s doors for services. Later that year KANA achieved accreditation by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) as well as a certification as a Patient-Centered Medical Home. KANA received its three-year accreditation, that was recently renewed, in family medicine, dentistry, behavioral health, women’s health, and preventive care. KANA’s Health Services has maintained its accreditation, undergoing successful re-accreditation every three years since 2015.
  • In 2017 KANA was awarded a U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration grant to expand access to quality substance use disorder and mental health care.
  • In April 2018, KANA opened a new Kodiak outpatient treatment facility at 323 Carolyn Street to assist individuals struggling with addiction and chemical dependency.
  • KANA was also awarded grant funding from Indian Health Services for developing integrated behavioral health programs. IHS Behavioral Health Integration Initiative funding enables us to create more connected, personalized care for KANA beneficiaries. We added two behavioral health consultants to build a bridge connecting  medical providers and behavior health specialists to create a dynamic, whole-health approach to  wellness.
  • In 2019, KANA began offering physical therapy services to our Beneficiaries and now also provides care to those with VA benefits to address pain and dysfunction in the musculoskeletal system.
  • In 2020 the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic inevitably spread to the Kodiak Archipelago, and drove further expansion as KANA worked diligently to meet the needs of our community. KANA established a durable testing and vaccination program and was later recognized as a COVID-19 Public Health Champion by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
  • In 2021, KANA broke ground on the building located downtown at 111 W. Rezanof Drive, commonly known by community members as the old AC/Krafts building. This transformative project aims to establish the Kodiak Marketplace, a vibrant hub that supports local economic development, small businesses, micro-enterprise entrepreneurs, and workforce training.

With each passing year we honor the skill and dedication of our founders, and celebrate the achievements we earn together. In the generations ahead we will hold true to our guiding principles.

signatures
Team photo with shovels
Akhiok Village
Team of helicopter operators
Kodiak Marketplace July 2023