I was recently welcomed as the newest member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) Camp 49, by President Frank Alby.  Unlike tribal membership, which by federal mandate requires certain levels of blood relationship to a particular tribe, any supporter can become a member of ANB Camp 49.  The local group chose to be "Camp 49" because Alaska was the 49th state.   Membership dues are set in the Charter at $12 per year, which when the group was formed 100 years ago was a significant investment, but now seems very reasonable.  I am proud to be an Alaska Native Brotherhood member.  We have many esteemed members of Alaska tribes now living in the Portland area, including Native American Youth and Family Center (NAYA) Executive Director, Nichole Mayer, and my former Policy Assistant now a graduate student at Portland State University's Master of Urban Planning, Cary Whispering Wind Watters.