Frequently Asked Questions
2. Whom do I contact for a Certificate Degree of Indian Blood?
3. Does CIRI provide business loans or otherwise assist shareholders who are starting a business?
4. What are the requirements for submitting an investment proposal to CIRI?
5. Does CIRI offer medical and dental assistance?
6. How do I submit a newsletter announcement?
7. How do I notify CIRI of an address change?
8. How do I notify CIRI of a name change?
1. How do I become a CIRI member or shareholder? If I am the descendant of a CIRI shareholder, am I also a shareholder and am I eligible to receive dividends?
Dividend checks are only sent to CIRI shareholders, and individuals must own CIRI stock to be CIRI shareholders. CIRI stock cannot currently be sold, and enrollment to the corporation closed in the 1970s. Today, the only way to become a shareholder is to receive stock through inheritance or as a gift from a CIRI shareholder. A gifting packet with complete instructions and eligibility requirements is available on this web site.
2. Whom do I contact for a Certificate Degree of Indian Blood?
To obtain a Certificate Degree of Indian Blood (CDIB), contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs at 3601 C Street, Suite 1100, Anchorage, Alaska, 99503, telephone (907) 271-4477, toll-free 1-800-645-8465 or fax (907) 271-4090. CIRI cannot assist its shareholders or others in obtaining CDIBs.
3. Does CIRI provide business loans or otherwise assist shareholders who are starting a business?
Neither CIRI nor any of its nonprofit organizations or subsidiaries is chartered to provide financial or technical assistance for starting a business. Assistance may be available through:
- UAA Small Business Development Center 274-7232
- Alaska Growth Capital www.alaskagrowth.com
- The Small Business Administration www.sba.gov
- Bureau of Indian Affairs www.doi.gov/bureau-indian-affairs
The SBA provides a business loan program, workshops and free counseling on how to start a small business, and you may qualify for federal programs that steer a portion of government contracts to businesses owned by minorities, such as the SBA's "8(a) Program." The BIA also administers a small business loan program and provides workshops and counseling on how to start a small business. Additionally, many universities and community schools also provide reference libraries, workshops, and technical assistance on starting a small business, developing business plans, and preparing commercial loan proposals.
4. WHAT ARE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR SUBMITTING AN INVESTMENT PROPOSAL TO CIRI?
CIRI welcomes proposals for investment opportunities. In order for us to consider investment requests, we ask for the following information to be submitted in writing:
- Background information about the business concept and its growth potential,
- Proposed organizational structure,
- Five-year business plan,
- Five-year pro forma financial statements (income statement, balance sheet and cash flow analysis),
- Capital Structure of the proposed business, including amount of capital to be contributed by sponsors,
- Qualifications of the management team, and
- Target value of the enterprise at the end of the five-year period.
This information may be sent to the attention of the Business Development Department.
In general, CIRI does not provide start-up capital for new businesses, and the minimum capital for the transaction should be more than $5 million (CIRI's portion may be less than that). Our preferred investment model includes partnering with experts in the industry for the proposal. If your investment proposal does not meet these requirements, or you need assistance to compose a business plan, we suggest contacting the alternative resources listed under Question #3.
5. Does CIRI offer medical and dental assistance?
No, but CIRI shareholders (and other Alaska Natives and American Indians) who live within the Cook Inlet region are eligible for a variety of services offered by Southcentral Foundation at the Anchorage Native Primary Care Center, and by the Alaska Native Medical Center. Alaska Natives living elsewhere in Alaska or the Lower-48 states may be eligible for services provided by the Indian Health Service and/or through local tribal providers.
For shareholders living in the Lower-48, CIRI and Southcentral Foundation teamed up to create the Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate Program (ANHRAP) in 1997. ANHRAP operates out of Washington state and connects clients to health, social, education, and legal resources. For assistance in identifying available services in the Lower 48, please contact the Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate Program directly as follows:
Roberta Hallam, Resource Advocate Supervisor
Alaska Native Health Resource Advocate Program
P.O. Box 2045
Milton, Washington 98354-2045
(253) 835-0101 - phone
(907) 729-5033 - fax
(866) 575-6757 - toll-free
email: anhra@scf.cc
6. How do I submit a newsletter announcement?
In Touch announcements for the CIRI newsletter "Raven's Circle" must be about a CIRI shareholder or descendant. Shareholders may submit an announcement to the attention of CIRI Newsletter, CIRI, PO Box 93330, Anchorage, AK 99509-3330, or e-mail it to info@ciri.com, or drop it off to the CIRI reception desk at 2525 C Street, Suite 500, Anchorage. Photographs are also welcome in print or digital format with at least 300 dpi resolution. CIRI reserves the right to edit announcements for grammar, brevity and taste. All photos will be returned as addressed on the back.
7. How do I notify CIRI of an address change?
Shareholders should notify the CIRI Shareholder Relations department in writing of a change of address. Change of address/name forms are available from the Shareholder Relations department, in the CIRI newsletter, or by printing the address form on this site. Shareholders may also submit a written notification, signed by the shareholder, that includes the shareholder's name, new address, telephone number, birth date, and social security number.
8. How do I notify CIRI of a name change?
If a shareholder has a legal name change, he or she should submit written notification of the name change with a copy of the legal document authorizing the change (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce decree specifically restoring former name, adoption decree, etc.) to the CIRI Shareholder Relations department.
