About the Organized Village of Kake (OVK) The local native population in 1947 organized the "Organized Village of Kake" under the Indian Reorganization Act with the current Constitution & By-Laws ratified. Today the OVK tribal enrollment numbers 614 Native members or 75% of the community's population. Initially, the IRA Council concentrated its efforts on the fish cannery, which provided a substantial number of local jobs until around 1980 when that facility closed. By the mid-1980's, with P.L. 93-638 contracting an option for the provision of BIA related programs and services, the IRA Council began to plan accordingly. In 1986, the current executive director was hired to begin onsite services and, after planning during the early part of 1987, OVK's first "638" contract was signed in the fall of that year for FY88. Onsite programs under the contract included education and employment assistance training/counseling, social services, tribal operations, and housing improvement. In addition to these programs, today's independent Self-Governance Compact with the federal government also includes an economic development component and a realty & natural resources program. The economic development program was a guiding force in the development of the Keex' Kwaan Lodge, a 12-room hotel with small restaurant that was opened in December of 1996 to provide new job opportunities for the tribal membership. The natural resources program concentrates on the protection of local customary & traditional gathering areas since a subsistence lifestyle is both an economic need and of significant cultural importance. The OVK tribal office also monitors and advocates for the protection of other cultural, archaeological and historical sites for the benefit of the tribe. VISIT US ON THE WEB AT: www.KakeFirstNation.org To Contact the OVK Tribal Government Office: Organized Village of Kake PO. Box 316 Kake, Alaska 99830-0316 Telephone: (907) 785-6471 Fax: (907) 785-4902 keexkwaan@starband.net