SNAI History

Salamatof Native Association Inc. (SNAI)

SNAI is the solidly based parent company to a broad variety of subsidiary businesses, including Teya Technologies LLC.

SNAI is a Native Corporation formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA). It is governed by an experienced board of directors and management staff, who are accountable to shareholders. The majority of the 129 original shareholders of the corporation reside on the Kenai Peninsula. The corporate offices and headquarters are located in Kenai, Alaska.

Originally spelled "Salamatowa", the Village of Salamatof has a rich history on the Kenai Peninsula. SNAI is responsible for several extensive land holdings and is also in the business of developing and selling real estate.

In 1850 the spelling was changed to the present Salamatof by Elia G. Wosnesenski, a Russian explorer from the Academy of Sciences. The ancient village of Salamatof was located in approximately the same area of present-day Salamatof Creek and Salamatof Lake. The Dena'ina name is "Ken Dech'etl't," meaning "scrub timber flat lake," according to the writings of the late Salamatof shareholder, Peter Kalifornsky. a well known recorder of the Dena'ina culture and heritage.

Thanks to the foresight of early Native leaders, the Village of Salamatof was re-organized under the leadership of Rika Murphy and, as a "Traditional Indian Tribe", went forward to claim its place in history alongside other Native Villages around Cook Inlet, including Kenai, Ninilchik, Seldovia, and Tyonek.