A Message from the Executive Director
Dear AMA Members and Friends, We’re in our 85th summer as your Alaska Miners Association! It’s surreal to think that our association is older than our state, but just as meaningful today as it was in 1939. We greet each dawn and salute each sunset working to protect, defend and advocate for the Alaska mining industry, while educating and connecting our Alaska miners and mining families. We really are a family business. From Nome to Ketchikan, there are hundreds of second and even third generation Alaska miners doing what we do best — explore, plan, develop and produce what America and Alaska need to power our economy and protect our freedom. We’ve got plans for 85th Anniversary celebrations include another epic convention in the fall — more on that in the coming months. For now, we are back in the field and even with 22 hours of daylight, it’s going to be hard to squeeze in work and play and fill the freezers! Elsewhere in this Journal you’ll see a list of the many events we’ll be participating in on behalf of AMA. There is no way to overstate the importance of meeting in person with regular Alaskans at all these fun events with a smile on our face and a story to tell. Nobody comes to a state fair just to learn more about mining, not even me (it’s for the food, obviously.). But when we’ve got tens of thousands of regular hardworking Alaska families together, it’s a perfect time to greet them, show them our samples and products, and gently remind them of the huge economic benefits that mining delivers in Alaska, while paying millions back to the state for that right. These Alaska families appreciate that mining contributes not just jobs but lessens the taxes and fees they have to pay for everything else. It’s important they understand key facts
Mining District in Northwest Alaska, are expected to employ about 450 people during its operations. n And Manh Choh starts its full production this summer! This will add hundreds of mining jobs to our industry and continue the important economic engine of the Fort Knox mill in Fairbanks. AMA, along with Alaska Metal Mines, is working with McKinley Group to finalize our report on the 2023 economic date. Watch for the Economics Benefits of Mining in Alaska, coming soon in your summer Alaska Miner Magazine, as well as online at www. alaskaminers.org/economic-benefits. Please join us this summer at any (or all) of these great events: June 22-23: Gold Rush Days in Juneau July 25-28: Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines Aug. 17: Mining Day at Alaska State Fair Sept. 24-26: MinExpo International in Las Vegas, Nev. A number of branch meetings will take place this summer as well — please watch our website under events/branch meetings to stay informed of meetings in your branch. Also please, please, I beg you, to share your stories with us, at work and play! As you are working and playing this summer in the field, please snap some photos and share them, along with the details, with us at AMA. We especially love to show Alaska miners working hard and enjoying wild adventures outside — send us your memories throughout this summer! And in the words of our great Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens: “Get Out and Play!”
about Alaska mining we can proudly share. In our most recent 2022 analysis, Alaska’s $4.5 billion mining industry provided: n 11,400 total direct and indirect jobs attributed to Alaska mining industry. n Charitable contributions to more than 280 Alaska nonprofits. n $4.5 million in contributions. n $800,000 to civic, business, and industry organizations in Alaska through sponsorship and membership fees. n Over $2.7 million contributed to the University of Alaska and vocational schools to support education in Alaska. n 73 percent of workers at the six large mines are Alaska residents. n Mining employees live in about 90 communities throughout Alaska. And the potential to grow those employment numbers with exploration and new mines being considered is incredible: n The Graphite Creek project, north of Nome, is expected to create 370 production jobs. n Livengood, just north of Fairbanks, will also create about 330 mining jobs. n Donlin Gold in Southwest Alaska is expected to require about 1,000 workers during its operations. n Pebble in Southwest Alaska would require an operations labor force of about 850. n The Upper Kobuk projects in the Ambler
Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director
Executive Board Lorali Simon, President Blake Bogart, First Vice President Houston Morris, Second Vice President Kim Aasand, Treasurer Follow us anytime: Online at AlaskaMiners.org Like us on Facebook at Alaska Miners Association Follow us on Twitter @alaskaminers Follow us on Instagram @alaska.miners
Branch Chairmen Ted Hawley, Anchorage Ethan Trickey, Denali Dave Larimer, Fairbanks Jan Hill, Haines Jason Hart, Juneau Houston Morris, Kenai Ken Hughes, Nome Robert Fithian, Ketchikan/Prince of Wales
The Alaska Miner is the official journal of the Alaska Miners Association, published eight times a year exclusively to our members. It is published in partnership with the Alaska Miners Association by Fireweed Strategies LLC, 4849 Potter Crest Circle, Anchorage, AK 99516. We actively seek contributions from our members and the mining industry. Please email story ideas and photos to Lee Leschper. Advertising Rates and New Tips For advertising information, or to submit news, story ideas and photos, call or email Lee Leschper at 907-957-6025 or Lee.Leschper@FireweedStrategies.com
Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention
Alaska Miners Association Staff Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director
Mike Satre and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight Blake Bogart and Dave Larimer, State Oversight
Jennifer Luiten, Membership and Fundraising Director Carin Currier, Projects & Communications Manager Darlene Strickland, Bookkeeper/Membership
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I June 2024
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