FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KOAHNIC BROADCAST CORPORATION HONORED WITH NATIONAL HUMANITIES MEDAL AT WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Koahnic Broadcast Corporation (KBC), a Native-led non-profit media organization based in Anchorage, Alaska, has been awarded the 2021 National Humanities Medal by President Joe Biden in a White House ceremony.
The National Humanities Medal honors individuals or groups whose work has deepened the nation's understanding of the humanities and broadened citizens' engagement with history, literature, languages, and philosophy. Koahnic was recognized for its pioneering leadership in preserving and broadcasting Indigenous voices, languages, and stories across the United States.
"Koahnic Broadcast Corporation has spent nearly three decades ensuring that Native voices are heard on their own terms," said Jaclyn Sallee, President and CEO of Koahnic Broadcast Corporation, who accepted the medal on behalf of the organization. "This honor belongs to the Alaska Native and Native American storytellers, journalists, producers, and community members who share their knowledge, cultures, and traditions through our airwaves every day."
Founded in 1992 in Anchorage, Koahnic operates KNBA 90.3 FM—the first urban Native radio station in the nation—and produces nationally distributed programming, including Native America Calling, National Native News, and Indigefi. Through the Native Voice One (NV1) distribution network, Koahnic delivers high-quality Indigenous radio programming to more than 200 public radio stations across the country.
The National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) cited Koahnic for "lighting up the airwaves with Native voices" and creating a vital platform for Indigenous self-representation, cultural preservation, and public education.
For more information about Koahnic Broadcast Corporation and its national programming, visit koahnic.org.
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