Maniilaq Association
The Maniilaq Association is a tribally-operated health and social services organization serving the Northwest Arctic Borough and the North Slope community of Point Hope. Maniilaq has over 500 employees and is the largest employer in the region.
Etymology
"Maniiḷaq" is a word in the Iñupiaq language meaning "without money", reflecting the organization's nonprofit status. It is also the name of an early nineteenth century prophet who lived in the region.History
The Northwest Alaska Native Association was formed in 1966 to advocate for the land claims of the Native people of the northwest arctic. After the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act in 1971, NANA was renamed to the Mauneluk Association to avoid confusion with the new, for-profit NANA Regional Corporation. This spelling was later changed, giving the organization its current name.In 1975, Maniilaq merged with the Kotzebue Area Health Corporation, which had been formed in 1973.
Between 1980 and 1981, Maniilaq underwent a significant expansion with the construction of a new health facility in Kotzeube. Maniilaq assumed management of the Indian Health Service's local hospital program on July 1, 1988.