Mary Ann Mills, vice chair of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s tribal council, speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Mary Ann Mills, vice chair of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s tribal council, speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenaitze tribe celebrates 10 years of ‘far-fetched dream’ at wellness center

Community members recognized the work done at the Dena’ina Wellness Center over the past decade

The Kenaitze Indian Tribe on Friday recognized 10 years of its Dena’ina Wellness Center, celebrating the work that’s been done at the center for the past decade while also looking forward to the continued growth of the tribe’s health care offerings.

Bernadine Atchison, chair of the Kenaitze tribal council, opened the celebration with an overview of the tribe’s history with public health, beginning in the 1970s and continuing to expand until the center was constructed.

According to the tribe’s website, the center’s programs are open to all Alaska Native and American Indian people. The facility covers 52,000 square feet and is located on the tribe’s campus in Old Town Kenai where the Tyotkas Elder Center and Kenaitze Tribal Courthouse are also located.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

Atchison said the facility offers a holistic approach to health care where primary care, mental and behavioral health, pharmacy and wellness services are all collected in one place. At the center, the tribe also offers therapy, traditional healing, optometry and dentistry. She and others said the services and footprint of the facility have grown over the years to meet the needs of the community — that it will grow further.

Dental Director Dr. Matt Richards said the tribal council is invested in ensuring the center maintains a high bar for health care, which has led to Alaska Native people traveling from other parts of the state to take advantage of that quality and the convenience of having so many services in a single facility.

The future of the Dena’ina Wellness Center, he said, is continuing to grow and continuing to offer services to meet the needs of Alaska Native people in the tribe and beyond.

Wayne Wilson Jr., a member of the tribal council and also chair of the tribe’s health board, said the Dena’ina Wellness Center was once just “a far-fetched dream.” As the project coalesced in the late 2000s, “the dream just got bigger and bigger and bigger.” He credited the resilience of the tribal council with seeing that dream to fruition without compromising it.

Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom, who attended the event, said 10 years of the wellness center represents both 10 years of “exceptional service” as well as 10 years of the impact that service has had on the community.

“This is a shining example of what your community stands for and how you come together,” she said.

Providing health care and developing tribal citizens “is an important part of our sovereignty, self-determination and self-governance,” Mary Mills, tribal council vice chair, said.

“We treat the whole person within the Dena’ina Center,” Mills said. “Physical, spiritual, emotional and social health are each viewed as contributing factors.”

Mills said that the facility’s design incorporates tradition and heritage. The landscaping includes native and traditional plants and medicines, large sculptures adorn both the interior and exterior, and even the facade of the building is designed to represent traditional fish drying racks. Elements of the construction were repurposed or reclaimed, like large support beams taken from the old cannery at the Kenai River’s mouth or agates — donated by families — that now make up part of the floor.

She said that connection to culture will remain a guiding focus as the facility and services of the tribe continue to expand.

“Our services continue to grow and extend as we work to meet the needs of our un’ina,” Mills said. “We continue to be guided by our culture, traditional values and vision to ensure that Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina thrive forever.”

For more information about the Dena’ina Wellness Center or the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, visit kenaitze.org.

Reach reporter Jake Dye at jacob.dye@peninsulaclarion.com.

Wayne Wilson Jr., a member of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s tribal council and chair of the tribe’s health board, speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Wayne Wilson Jr., a member of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s tribal council and chair of the tribe’s health board, speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Alaska Lt. Gov. Nancy Dahlstrom speaks during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenaitze Indian Tribe Tribal Council Chair Bernadine Atchison receives a gift to the tribe from Southcentral Foundation Senior Medial Director of Quality Assurance Dr. Donna Galbreath during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenaitze Indian Tribe Tribal Council Chair Bernadine Atchison receives a gift to the tribe from Southcentral Foundation Senior Medial Director of Quality Assurance Dr. Donna Galbreath during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Drummers perform during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Drummers perform during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Drummers perform during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Drummers perform during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Drummers perform during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Drummers perform during a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A statue by Joel Isaak stands in front of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

A statue by Joel Isaak stands in front of the Dena’ina Wellness Center in Kenai, Alaska, on Friday, July 12, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

More in News

A table used by parties to a case sits empty in Courtroom 4 of the Kenai Courthouse in Kenai, Alaska, on Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski woman sentenced to 4 years in prison for 2023 drug death

Lawana Barker was sentenced for her role in the 2023 death of Michael Rodgers.

Alaska State Troopers logo.
Seward resident arrested after Monday night police pursuit

Troopers say she led them on a high-speed chase on Kalifornsky Beach Road for around 7 miles.

Concert-goers listen to The Discopians at Concert on the Lawn on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at Karen Hornaday Park in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
‘Dancing at the end of the world’

KBBI AM 890 hosted their annual Concert on the Lawn Saturday.

Lisa Gabriel unfurls a set beach seine during a test fishery for the gear near Clam Gulch, Alaska, on Wednesday, July 9, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Seine test fishery continues after board of fish calls for more data

The east side setnet fishery has been entirely closed in recent years to protect Kenai River king salmon

Jason Criss stands for a photo in Soldotna, Alaska, after being named a qualifier for the Special Olympics USA Games on Thursday, July 10, 2025. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna athlete to compete in 2026 Special Olympics USA Games

Thousands of athletes from across all 50 states will be competing in 16 sports.

The entrance to the Homer Electric Association office is seen here in Kenai, Alaska on May 7, 2020. (Photo by Brian Mazurek/Peninsula Clarion)
HEA opens bids for real property

The deadline to submit bids is 5 p.m. on Aug. 11.

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. (right) attends a change of plea hearing related to the October 2023 fatal shooting of Brianna Hetrick on Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, at the Homer Courthouse in Homer, Alaska. (Delcenia Cosman/Homer News)
Mondragon-Lopez sentenced for death of Homer woman

Arturo Mondragon-Lopez, Jr. accepted a plea deal in February for the shooting of Brianna Hetrick.

Soldotna City Hall is seen on Wednesday, June 23, 2021 in Soldotna, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Soldotna OKs $395,000 capital plan

This year’s list of capital projects is “nominal compared to some past years,” according to officials.

A map of areas proposed for annexation by the City of Soldotna. (Provided by City of Soldotna)
Soldotna adds annexation proposal to ballot

The proposed annexation is split across five small areas around the city.

Most Read

You're browsing in private mode.
Please sign in or subscribe to continue reading articles in this mode.

Peninsula Clarion relies on subscription revenue to provide local content for our readers.

Subscribe

Already a subscriber? Please sign in