On August 11, 2025, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. continued his tour of Alaska, focusing on improving healthcare delivery in remote tribal communities. The day began with Kennedy harvesting sockeye and silver salmon alongside tribal members from the Kenaitze Tribal Council near the mouth of the Kenai River, where the 2,300-member tribe nets approximately 10,000 salmon annually under their allotment. This year, an estimated 5 million salmon are expected to flood the area, supporting local food security efforts. Earlier in the week, on August 7, Kennedy visited the Athabascan village of Tanana, a community of 150 residents located 220 river miles from Fairbanks, accessible only by a seasonal one-lane dirt road. During this visit, he engaged with residents to address unique healthcare access challenges. On August 6, he met with Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan, along with representatives from Alaska’s 229 tribes, to strategize on enhancing access to traditional foods and supporting sovereignty through Indian Health Services. Additionally, on August 9, Kennedy fished the Kenae with Ninilchik Chief Ivan Encelewski and Council President Gloria Oneil, referencing a 1948 photo of Chief Larry Oskolkoff Sr. with a skiff load of king salmon to highlight historical fishing practices. These visits are part of a broader initiative to assess and improve healthcare and food access for Alaska’s tribal populations, with plans for further engagement in the coming weeks.
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