September 28, 2006

ALEUTIAN PRIBILOF ISLANDS ASSOCIATION
PRESS RELEASE

On August 28, 2006 the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association received notice from Alaska Inter-Tribal Council announcing that CITGO Oil Company was prepared to make a donation of heating fuel to eligible households. The recipients of the fuel live in the four communities of Atka, St. George, St. Paul, and Nelson Lagoon. CITGO is a government-owned oil company in Venezuela doing business in America. The offer was presented as a straight forward business transaction providing a fuel donation to our people and tax relief to the Venezuelan government.

The generous offer to donate 100 gallons of heating oil to each household in these four communities means a great relief to the residents. Often our remote region presents challenges of heating oil delivery resulting in fuel rations for residents until the fuel arrives by barge. With the cost of heating fuel increasing the past few years, the cost is now $5 - $6 per gallon. Another extreme Alaskan winter conveys a concern of surviving another winter with enough heating fuel for individual residents. The Association and the other Alaska Native Non-Profits had been working with the Alaska-Inter Tribal Council, CITCO’s single-point-of-contact involved in the Pilot Project, to gather data and details to develop a contract for the pilot project facilitated the process for this project.

However, after continued anti-American remarks including the scathing comments made at the United Nations by Venezulan President Chavez toward the United States and President Bush, it is essential we reconsider our position. During a meeting with APIA Board Members, APIA’s President/CEO, and Tribal Presidents from the affected communities on Wednesday September 27, it became clear that we must decline the offer. The Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association and the Tribal communities of St. George, St. Paul, Nelson Lagoon, and Atka made the decision not to accept this donation to patriotically support the United States Government and President Bush.

Even though this fuel prospectively provides a basic essential need for our people, the leaders feel compelled to make this sacrifice. One of our Tribal Council Presidents said it very well, “The fuel barge has not yet arrived, and we are now having to ration what fuel we have left. The price is almost $5 per gallon. But we just cannot in good conscience accept fuel from someone who has so denigrated our country and our President”. Despite the critical need for fuel in our region, the Unangan (Aleut) people are Americans first, and we cannot support the political agenda attached to this donation.

In recognition of the economically depressed conditions in our region, the American government already is answering the needs of the people by increasing this year’s allotment for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Association continues to seek other means of support for those we serve.

By Dimitri Philemonof, President/CEO

Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc.

For More Information please contact:

Donations:
Donations to assist the affected villages can be made at Key Bank through an account titled “ Unangan Energy Assistance Fund” C/O Key Bank # 729681009001
Donations can be made at any Key Bank Branch Nationwide or Can be mailed to:

Unangan Energy Assistance Fund
c/o Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association
201 East Third Avenue
Anchorage, Alaska 99501

or

Unangan Energy Assistance Fund
c/o Key Bank
P.O. Box 110420
Anchorage, AK 99510

Donations are tax deductible as a contribution to a 501 c 3 Not For Profit TIN # 92-0073013

Again, thank you for your support.