Investment Aligns with Na-Dena` Mission to Broaden Cultural Tourism
Na-Dena`, the tourism joint venture between Doyon, Limited and Huna Totem Corporation (HTC), has acquired Portage Glacier Cruises as part of its ongoing strategy to enhance tourism infrastructure across Alaska.
Located approximately 10 miles from Whittier, where HTC completed the new Chugach Glacier Gateway cruise terminal last fall, Portage Glacier Cruises offers a well-established operation providing access to one of Alaska’s most popular glacial landscapes. The cruise navigates iceberg-dotted waters to the face of Portage Glacier, allowing visitors to experience Alaska’s natural environment while learning about the region’s history through interpretive narration provided by the U.S. Forest Service. Visitors to the region, including cruise passengers embarking and debarking from Chugach Glacier Gateway, can book a Portage Glacier Cruise at www.portageglaciercruises.com as well as through participating
cruise lines.
“The acquisition of Portage Glacier Cruises is a natural extension of our development efforts in Whittier and aligns with our Alaska Native Tourism Network strategy,” said HTC CEO Russell Dick. “With a built-in customer base that includes both cruise passengers and independent travelers in the region, this investment enhances our ability to offer highquality, locally relevant experiences for our customers.”
The acquisition is the third Na-Dena investment in Alaska tourism since the joint venture was formed. In 2022, the joint venture acquired an 80% stake in Alaska Independent Coach Tours, including its Seattle-based operation, Pacific Alaska Tours. In 2023, NaDena, in partnership with the local village corporation, Klawock Heenya, developed a new destination on Klawock Island, which welcomed its first ships in 2024.
In line with its Alaska Native Tourism Strategy, HTC has partnered with Native corporations, including Doyon, Limited and Klawock Heenya, to make strategic investments that enhance cultural tourism across the state. Among these initiatives are the development of Klawock Island and Chugach Glacier Gateway, two new destinations designed to offer visitors a locally relevant and culturally rich Alaska experience.
“The partnership between HTC and Doyon, Limited represents a powerful alignment of values, vision, and economic opportunity,” said Jordan Sanford, President of Doyon Tourism, Inc. “By continuing to enhance tourism infrastructure and expanding cultural tourism experiences, we are not only creating new opportunities for visitors to engage with and learn from Alaska Native cultures but also strengthening our ability to promote the economic and social well-being of our shareholders and future shareholders while preserving and sharing our rich cultural heritage for generations to come.”
Na-Dena` promotes sustainable cultural tourism in Alaska, focusing on growth in transportation, lodging, and tour opportunities. The name, which reflects both organizations’ focus on people and community, is derived from Alaska Native languages in each company’s respective region. In the Athabascan language, “Dene” is widely recognized as the word for “people.” And in the Tlingit language, “Naa” means people or tribe.
About Doyon, Limited
Headquartered in Fairbanks, Doyon, Limited has more than 20,700 shareholders and was established under the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Doyon has subsidiaries in oilfield services, government contracting, and tourism, is also the largest private landowner in Alaska and one of the largest in North America. Its mission is to continually enhance its position as a financially strong Native corporation in order to promote the economic and social well-being of its shareholders and future shareholders, to strengthen its Native way of life, and to protect and enhance its land and resources. For more information, visit www.doyon.com.
About Huna Totem Corporation
Culture-driven and community-centric, Huna Totem Corporation (HTC) is a 50-year-old Alaska Native Corporation with businesses across tourism and product development as well as government contracting. Since opening its first tourism business, Icy Strait Point in 2004, it has welcomed over two million cruise travelers. HTC’s port development and operations model is globally recognized, and the corporation has received numerous awards including Seatrade’s Global Port of the Year in 2020, and a #11 ranking on the New York Times 2022 Top 52 Places for a Changed World. With recent Alaska expansions to Klawock and Whittier, HTC continues to lead in sustainable and culturally rich tourism.
Formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), HTC represents more than 1,600 Alaska Native shareholders with Indigenous ties to Glacier Bay and the community of Hoonah, Alaska. The corporation is the single largest employer in the community of Hoonah. To learn more, visit www.hunatotem.com.