Tlingit & Haida is pleased to announce its intent to enter the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program, a significant step that will further strengthen Tribal sovereignty and expand opportunities for self-determination in transportation program administration. 

In June 2020, USDOT formally established its Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program, creating a pathway for Tribes to assume greater authority and flexibility in administering transportation programs and funding. Benefits of participation include forward funding of operating and grant programs, increased local decision-making authority, and streamlined reporting requirements. 

To support this effort, Tlingit & Haida recently welcomed Jixeik Gerry Hope as its Self-Governance & Tribal Transportation Director. In this role, Hope will lead the Tribe’s negotiations with the USDOT Office of Tribal Government Affairs and oversee the implementation of self-governance strategies and transportation initiatives under the direction of Deputy Chief Operating Officer Gail Dabaluz. 

Hope brings decades of experience in tribal transportation and self-governance to the position. He dedicated more than 18 years to the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, serving as Transportation Manager, Transportation Director, and Government Relations Director. His extensive work at the state and national levels includes service, as President of the Alaska Tribal Transportation Work Group and the Inter-Tribal Transportation Association, where he served as Vice President and Governance Committee Chair. 

Hope is uniquely qualified to guide Tlingit & Haida through the self-governance negotiation process. Appointed by USDOT Secretary Anthony Foxx during the Obama Administration, he served from 2016 to 2020 on the Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Negotiated Rulemaking Committee. As one of a dozen Tribal representatives, he helped draft the regulations that established USDOT’s Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program. He was later appointed by Secretary Deb Haaland to serve on the Department of the Interior’s Self-Governance Negotiated Rulemaking Committee to assist with updates to federal self-governance regulations under the PROGRESS Act. 

With existing agreements through the Federal Highway Administration’s Tribal Transportation Program, Tlingit & Haida is well-positioned to expand its transportation authority through self-governance. The Tribe will work toward successfully completing negotiations to join the USDOT Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program, becoming one of nine Tribes participating nationwide. 

“I am honored to be a part of an already great team at Tlingit & Haida” said Hope. “Self-governance strengthens Tribal authority and provides greater flexibility to serve our Tribal Citizens and communities; it is a responsibility to move forward to ensure those who are not yet born – have at least as much but will work to provide more – than what we have today.” 

Deputy Chief Operating Officer Gail Dabaluz emphasized the importance of the initiative and Hope’s leadership. “Entering the USDOT Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program represents an important advancement for Tlingit & Haida and our commitment to self-determination. Gerry’s experience, knowledge, and direct involvement in developing the program make him an invaluable asset as we move through the negotiation process and position the Tribe for long-term success.” 

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Hope has a long history of service to Native communities, including serving nine terms as President of Alaska Native Brotherhood Sitka Camp 1 and numerous years as President of the Tlingit & Haida Sitka Community Council. 

Hope is the husband of Vicki D’Amico and is proud of his Tlingit heritage. He is Cháak’ Siknax.adí of the Xaan Hít (Red Clay House), a child of the Kiks.ádi (Point House) of Sitka, Alaska, and a grandchild of Andrew Percy Hope, Kaagwaantaan of the Eagle Nest House of Sitka. He is the son of John and Christine Littlefield. 

By pursuing participation in the USDOT Tribal Transportation Self-Governance Program, Tlingit & Haida continues to build upon its longstanding commitment to Tribal Self-Determination and the advancement of services that benefit Tribal citizens and communities throughout Alaska.