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For over 30 years, Maniilaq has been providing health and social services to residents of Northwest Alaska. A non-profit corporation, the Maniilaq Association represents twelve federally-recognized tribes located in Northwest Alaska. The Association manages social and health services for about 6,500 people within the Northwest Arctic Borough and the village of Pt.Hope. Additionally, Maniilaq coordinates tribal and traditional assistance programs, as well as environmental and subsistence protection services. With approximately 500 in its workforce, Maniilaq Association is also the largest employer in the region.

Maniilaq Assocation has developed a long range vision for the future. To read Maniilaq's Mission Statement, click here

Our History

In 1966, the Northwest Alaska Native Association (NANA) was founded to help settle the native's land claims issues in Alaska. This non-profit organization soon became an advocate for all native issues, including health, housing, and political rights.

Maniilaq Health Center is an 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility.

With the passing of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971, a for-profit Native corporation was established. The new organization was named the NANA Regional Corporation, and to avoid confusion, the non-profit Northwest Alaska Native Association was renamed the Mauneluk Association, later changed to the more traditional name, Maniilaq.

The Kotzebue Area Health Corporation was formed in 1973. This corporation was to care for the health needs of the people in the NANA region, and it soon became apparent that Maniilaq and KAHC were performing similar functions. In 1975, the two organizations merged.

The construction of a new health facility began in 1980 to house and consolidate Maniilaq's rapidly expanding public service programs. By the time it was completed in 1981, the Association had grown from a handful of programs and staff to a $6 million organization.

During the 1980's, Maniilaq assumed management of the Indian Health Service (IHS) hospital programs and services. In July of 1988, Maniilaq assumed operation of the entire Kotzebue Service Unit Hospital, and renamed it the Maniilaq Medical Center. An architectural firm was selected to design a new hospital facility that same year, and construction of the 80,000 square foot, $42 million Maniilaq Health Center was completed in 1995.

Today the Maniilaq Association manages the hospital in Kotzebue as well as the clinics in all the villages. The organization also has an expanded variety of injury and drug prevention, health, and social service programs throughout Northwest Alaska.