The Bering Strait Development Council, the Alaska Regional Development Organization (ARDOR) of the Bering Strait Region, would like to extend its deepest gratitude to Council Member Robert Keith, for his many years of dedication and service. As of the June 2026 Kawerak Executive Committee meeting, Mr. Keith stepped down from his role on the ARDOR council and Leo Charles of the Native Village of Koyuk was chosen to take his place in Council Seat K.
Mr. Keith is the Tribal President of the Native Village of Elim and has served on the ARDOR board since its program inception in 1988. Throughout these many years, Mr. Keith has held many council seats including SEAT I: Kawerak Board Chair, Seat K: South-Central Sub-Region, officer positions including Chair, and most recently serving as Vice-Chair.
“On behalf of Kawerak and as the former presidentChairman of the ARDOR Council I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the 38 years of service and contributions of Robert Keith” said former Chair Frank Katchatag of Unalakleet. “Through his tenure beginning with the very first ARDOR Council in our region, he supported large amounts of money coming into the Bering Strait Region that developed needed infrastructure and supported the livelihoods of our people and the economies of our communities. His consistency in his commitment to the communities of the Bering Strait Region cannot be understated. His service has benefitted the region in tangible and intangible ways, and we have been very fortunate to benefit from his leadership.”
The ARDOR Council has served a vital role in regional economic development initiatives, including the development of the Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, reviewing Local Economic Development Plans for each Tribal community of the region, providing support and guidance to communities on infrastructure and planning projects, and leading initiatives such as energy development, housing expansion, and workforce development. Because of the ARDOR and the dedicated work of its member organizations, millions of dollars of planning and infrastructure investments have benefited the Bering Strait Region’s economy through its host organization, Kawerak, and through partner organizations.
Robert Keith reflected, “Because of the high cost to run an ARDOR Council, it would be quite costly for our communities to run one independently. Since Kawerak already did much of the work needed for the region, it was easily folded into what we were already doing. The only thing we did otherwise was expand from just a Tribal focus to the general region as a whole. Doing so has facilitated access to grantds and funding streams for projects we wouldn’t have had otherwise. Although I was the first Chair, I would also like to recognize the efforts of Loretta Bullard and Edward Davis for getting this going with Kawerak.”
Tony Haugen, Seat L: South-East Sub-Region, was elected as the new Vice Chair for the ARDOR in the July 2026 regular meeting. The next quarterly ARDOR meeting will take place on November 3, 2026.
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Bering Strait Development Council serves the people, communities, and businesses of the Bering Strait Region of Alaska by promoting economic opportunities that improve the economic, social, and environmental quality of life. The Council is composed of twenty members who represent the diverse social, economic, environmental, cultural, and political interests of the region
There are 20 seats on the ARDOR Council and current members include Aaron Burmeister (Seat A: Transportation), Tyler Rhodes (Seat B: Fisheries), Blake Bogart (Seat C: Minerals), Drew McCann (Seat D: Banking/Finance), Cameron Piscoya (Seat F: Health), Megan Onders, Chair (Seat G: Housing), Lee Smith (Seat H: City of Nome), Frank Katchatag (Seat I: Kawerak Board Chair), Gilbert Tocktoo (Seat J: Northern Sub-Region), Leo Charles (Seat K: South-Central Sub-Region), Tony Haugen, Vice-Chair (Seat L: Southeast Sub-Region), Benjamin Pungowiyi (Seat M: St. Lawrence Island), Dawn Warnke (Seat N: Nome Sub-Region), Doug Walrath (Seat O: Workforce Development, Larry Pederson (Seat P: BSNC), Kacey Miller, Alternate (Seat R: Education), Miranda Musich (Seat S: Nome Chamber), and Gay Sheffield, Secretary (Seat T: Marine Environment). Seat E: Tourism and Seat Q: Village Corporation are currently vacant.
Kawerak Inc. (Host Organization for the Bering Strait Development Council) acts in accordance with its mission, to advance the capacity of our people and tribes for the benefit of the region. Kawerak is a nonprofit tribal consortium that provides over 40 different programs to the Inupiaq, St. Lawrence Island Yupik and Yup’ik people who reside in 16 communities of western Alaska and represents the 20 federally recognized tribes in the Bering Strait Region.
Contact:
Amanda Toerdal, Kawerak Inc.
