Ounalashka Corporation

Some Unalaskans were preparing to hit the streets in their four-wheelers and side-by-sides after city council members voted Tuesday to remove a local ban on all-purpose vehicles. But on Thursday evening, Mayor Vince Tutiakoff Sr. vetoed the change to city code, citing safety and enforcement concerns.

The Ounalashka Corp. has been awarded $2 million for cleaning up Unalaska’s Strawberry Hill Landfill.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced in late May that it had selected the Native village corporation as part of President Joe Biden’s “Investing in America” agenda.

Unalaska is still pursuing the Makushin Geothermal Project, even after a rocky four years to try to get the project off the ground. Today, the Ounalashka Corp. board of directors plans to meet to discuss ways to move forward, which could include dissolving its partnership with Chena Power, essentially buying them out.

The City of Unalaska is pulling out of the Makushin Geothermal Project, after the city council on Tuesday rejected the new terms requested by the company building the project.

The City of Unalaska’s administration is advising city council not to renew the Makushin Geothermal Project power purchase agreement, according to a memo released Friday, which would effectively end the city’s four-year participation with the project.

Unalaska’s Unangax̂ dance group — Iluulum Ax̂anangin — had their first performance at the Ounalashka Corporation's 50th anniversary over the summer. Dance instructor Laresa Iklax̂ Syverson said the group had been working overtime to prepare for their debut, which for most of the group, was their first time performing.

Unalaska’s Alaska Native village corporation, Ounalashka Corp., is set to receive $1 million from the federal government to clean up contaminated land. The Ounalashka Corp. said it will use the grant money to remove soils contaminated with PCBs and conduct an initial round of soil and groundwater sampling at a WWII-era warehouse.

The Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska is offering free online college programs to all tribal members through a new educational partnership. Tribal officials are hoping the opportunity will help grow a workforce in Unalaska beyond the fishing industry.

On Saturday, around 300 Unalaskans gathered at the high school gymnasium to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ounalashka Corporation. Chairman Vince Tutiakoff Sr. spoke about the organization’s growth over the last half-century, and past and present board members were recognized for their service.

The City of Unalaska held a community ceremony at Memorial Park during the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force visit to the Aleutian Island. Many spoke at the ceremony, like Unalaska’s Mayor Vince Tutiakoff. He said this recent visit is a historic moment for everyone.