- Details
- By Tribal Business News Staff
- Energy | Environment
Huna Totem Corporation expects to eliminate 15,000 pounds of plastic waste this year through a partnership with an Alaska Native-owned water company that packages glacial water in reusable aluminum bottles.
The Alaska Native village corporation will sell Utqiaġvik, Alaska-based Kuuk Water's products at its cruise destinations, starting with Icy Strait Point near Hoonah. The port expects to sell 300,000 bottles during the 2025 season, replacing single-use plastic bottles with aluminum containers that can be reused up to 10 times.
"Every business venture we undertake and every decision we make is rooted in our deep respect for the land," said Huna Totem President and CEO Russell Dick. The aluminum bottles feature Tlingit designs created exclusively for Huna Totem.
Huna Totem operates cruise destinations across Alaska while also running federal contracting operations through its HunaTek subsidiary. The corporation's five companies hold SBA 8(a) certifications and provide IT services, professional consulting, and research to government agencies.
Kuuk Water reinvests profits through its nonprofit arm, Kuugaq, which has funded water relief efforts in rural Alaska villages and community development projects in Uganda, according to the Huna Totem website. The company donated water to Kiana when the village's infrastructure froze and developed community gardens in remote Alaska locations.
Kuuk Water, whose name means "river" in Iñupiaq, works with tribal nations to establish regional operations supporting Indigenous economic development. The company packages Alaska glacial water in aluminum containers designed to reduce environmental impact.
Huna Totem plans to expand the water sales to its other destinations, including Klawock Island on Prince of Wales Island and the planned Chugach Glacier Gateway near Whittier.
The corporation transformed Icy Strait Point from a former salmon cannery into a cruise destination that combines cultural experiences with adventure tourism. The site welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually during Alaska's cruise season.
Deliveries begin mid-June, with first-year sales expected to demonstrate market demand for sustainable products at Alaska cruise destinations.
