Tribal Relations
Welcome to the Alaska DOT&PF Tribal Relations Website!
The Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF) recognizes the deep cultural heritage and unique needs of Alaska Native peoples and Alaska Native organizations. The DOT&PF Tribal Relations Team was established to strengthen collaboration, foster mutual respect, and build lasting relationships between the department and Alaska Native organizations. Our goal is to create a meaningful, transparent, and inclusive engagement framework that ensures tribal voices are heard and integrated throughout Alaska's transportation planning and infrastructure development processes.
The Tribal Relations Team is part of the broader TransportationX initiative, which prioritizes stakeholder engagement across the state's diverse communities. By updating policies, facilitating targeted training, and providing support for meaningful consultation, we are working to bridge the gap between state transportation objectives and local priorities of Alaska Native communities. Our work aligns with state and federal legal requirements and reflects our commitment to honoring and preserving Alaska's rich Indigenous heritage.
(Call out) For DOT&PF Staff: Tribal Relations provides essential guidance, resources, and training on the legal and regulatory framework when working with Alaska Native Tribes and organizations, cultural awareness, and collaborative tools and methods that have been successful with Alaska Native Tribal partners. We are focused on creating a clear and consistent process for engagement, ensuring that transportation projects are developed for Alaska's communities with the communities perspectives at the forefront.
Federal Executive Order 13175
- Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments
- To establish regular and meaningful consultation and collaboration with tribal officials in the development of Federal policies that have tribal implications,
- To strengthen the United States government-to-government relationships with Indian tribes,
- To reduce the imposition of un-funded mandates upon Indian tribes
Other Resources
Road to Tanana
In late August 2016, DOT&PF officially opened the Road to Tanana, a $13.7 million project that constructed 20 miles of new road and upgraded 14 miles of existing road in order to bring cheaper freight, cargo, and travel to the community of Tanana. This pioneer road ends at the Yukon River, about six miles upstream from Tanana. Although DOT&PF does not provide regular winter maintenance, crews plow the snow and open the road up at the beginning of March each year in coordination with the construction of an ice road by the City of Tanana, which allows residents to transport freight to the community while the ice is stable. In addition to providing increased access to Tanana, the road is also being used to provide more options to transport people and freight farther downriver, reducing costs for other Yukon River communities.