The Leadership Forums series is the Alaska Federation of Natives' bold attempt to invite and learn from the brightest minds worldwide and from our midst. Our 2004 Leadership Forums focused on the Knowledge Economy and the notion that human creativity and imagination is the most powerful resource to grow an economy over the long run. This most recent Forum expanded upon our innitial discussion, exploring economic growth with an emphasis on innovation and shared prosperity.

On September 20, 2004, AFN convened a half-day seminar continuing the dialogue begun in June at the Anchorage Leadership Forum on the importance of fostering knowledge-based economies in the evolving global marketplace. Speakers and participants further explored the belief being proven in development circles around the globe: that efforts aimed at strengthening indigenous cultures provide an economic edge in the global economy. Learn more...

This Leadership Forum, convened on June 28-29, 2004, was a first of its kind event in North America; a conference to examine what a knowledge-based economy is and how a knowledge-based economy can be developed in rural Alaska and other parts of the world. The task was undertaken by a collaboration of the Denali Commission, AFN and Harvard University. This partnership grew and expanded to include key leadership from the Inuit in Greenland and participants as far away as Hawaii and New Zealand. Learn more...

Learn more about the first Forum by checking out the 2004 Leadership Forum Video ~ Innovation, Culture & Rural Economies: Mapping the Future.

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