Above photo: Lake Clark at dusk. Qizhjeh Vena.
Rapid City, SD – NDN Fund, the impact investing arm of NDN Collective, today announced the closing of a loan with Qizhjeh Vena – an Alaska Native Women-led 501(c)(3) non-profit organization working in the Bristol Bay area.
The $750,000 loan from NDN Fund will allow Qizhjeh Vena to purchase Koksetna Wilderness Lodge and surrounding land on Lake Clark, located at the outlet of the Chulitna River in Chulitna Bay. The lodge will serve as a cultural preservation and revitalization center, and act as the gateway to a sanctuary for wildlife, and interrelated habitats. This historically important land and retreat center is located 120 air miles southwest of Anchorage, within the Lake Clark National Park that protects the headwaters of the Bristol Bay home to the world’s largest sockeye salmon runs.
“This is an exciting opportunity for all of us – locally, regionally, state-wide, nationally and internationally,” said Karen Evanoff, Lead Director of Qizhjeh Vena. “In humble partnership with the natural world, and motivated by the values left by our ancestors, we move forward. Instead of following the ‘normal’ way of doing business, we are working to be part of a future where people and nature find their balance back in the give and take, in respect for each other. We move forward remembering that we are part of nature, not separate from it.”
“Thanks to the loan partnership between Qizhjeh Vena and NDN Fund, this culturally and ecologically significant area of land will be protected under Dena’ina women’s leadership into perpetuity,” said Kim Pate, NDN Fund managing director. “Qizhjeh Vena’s land back purchase further safeguards this area’s vast protected conservation areas, including protecting the world’s largest Sockeye Salmon runs and the ways of life they support for this region. NDN Collective believes in QVA’s vision and knows that the Lake Clark National Park’s collective future will benefit from QVA’s presence and contribute to the region’s strength in co stewardship of the land and protecting ways of life.”
“This is an outstanding example of NDN Collective’s braided capital approach that nurtures ecosystems across Turtle Island,” said Aurora Warrior, NDN Fund lending officer. “We applaud our regional partner, Native Movement, who with their early support attracted outside investment to secure this significant landback safely into Indigenous Leadership. NDN Collective will continue to align ecosystem efforts to support grassroots landback efforts. Qizhjeh Vena’s work is an important piece of the climate justice transition to restore remaining biodiversity and protect Indigenous ways of life.”