Read Stephanie Rainwater-Sande's Responses
to KIC Candidate Forum Questions

Current Occupation: I am retired Chief Steward from the Alaska Marine Highway. I am attending the University of Alaska and will have my AA degree this year in business. I am also taking the Certified Public Managers Classes at UAS. I plan to continue studies toward my BA in Business Administration. Tribe/Clan Membership: I am Haida/Eagle/Frog on my mother's side and Tsimshian on my father's side. Corporation Membership(s): Ketchikan Indian Community member, Sealaska shareholder, Tlingit and Haida Central Council member.

Involvement in other Native Organizations:

Currently serve as President for Tlingit and Haida Ketchikan Chapter, Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 14 member. I served six years on the Tribal Council four years as President for KIC. The committee's and boards that I have served on were: KIC finance, housing, economic development, subsistence, natural resources, education and as a representative from KIC to the Searhc Governing Board. I was alternate on the Alaska Intertribal Council and the Government to Government relationship board between AITC and the State of Alaska.

Involvement in other community committees, boards, and councils:

I am currently serving as a committee member for the University of Alaska, Ketchikan Campus on the upcoming UAS Women's Wellness Conference scheduled for March 2003. I served on the Murkowski transition team focusing on transportation issues for Ketchikan. I previously served on IBU (Inland Boatman Union) executive board for five years.

Years in Ketchikan:

Was born and raised in Ketchikan.

Primary concerns for membership:

Children and youth:

Youth groups developed. KIC needs to be visible in the community and schools. It is not only the tribe's responsibility but also the communities responsibility to teach the children. It takes a village to raise a child. We can be good examples and mentors. We can include a youth representative on our council. We can invite the school district and college to collaborate with us on events for our children.

Adults:

Involve the membership on committee, boards, and include them in our strategic planning, entice them to attend meetings. Make KIC user friendly so that the 4, 700 members feel comfortable in their own organization.

Elders:

Elders are the base for our tribe. They are the history and the glue that keeps us together. Elders have much to offer us with proper tradition and values being taught to us. We need to have an Elders group that we can call on at any given time to share what we are doing. Our culture teaches us to respect our elders.

Primary health care concerns:

Health care is an important issue. Our administrator for our health clinic is leaving and we need to find the most competent Native person to fill the position. One that has experience with Indian Health Service funding. The administration of the clinic is important as we are providing health care to each of our Tribal members both in Ketchikan and Saxman. We need to hire someone who is culturally sensitive, and has an open door policy to listen and respond to the needs of our people. We need to empower the Health Board to be more than just an advisory board.

What Health care services should KIC be focusing upon? Third party billing. Maximize what we can get from insurance companies.

Enhancing services to our membership. People who chose to go elsewhere are spending their insurance dollars elsewhere. We can provide the same quality of service to our people.

Areas of needed improvement at KIC:

Open communication, clarification of roles of membership, Tribal Council, and administration. More information to the members, strategic planning needs to take place in Ketchikan with the help of each director of programs working with the Tribal Council and administration. No more micro management!!!!!!!! We have a qualified Native General Manager who is responsible for the daily activities of KIC. A Tribal Council that works together as a team. No more split board.

Additional goals for KIC:

Encourage and support user friendly clinic. Comprehensive language classes for adults. Storytelling on Saturday's for our children. More focus on traditional values. Consistent evaluation of Tribal Administrator. Promote education of our children. Work with Indian Health Service on funding for educating our young adults to be Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, Physical Therapist, Dentists, teachers, lawyers, and other professional careers.

Additional comments:

PLEASE VOTE ON JANUARY 20TH AT THE MALL 8:00 a.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Howaa

Stephanie Rainwater-Sande

 

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Ketchikan, Alaska