1. Why do the Goldbelt Trusts matter?

The Goldbelt Ancestral Trust and the Goldbelt Tináa Distributions Trust are key to preserving and enhancing the well-being of Goldbelt shareholders. These trusts were established to protect the cultural, natural, and financial assets of the Tlingit people of Southeast Alaska while providing direct support to shareholders. Their existence ensures that benefits, such as distributions and scholarships, continue for current and future generations, maintaining a long-term legacy of financial and cultural stability for Goldbelt shareholders.

2. What is the difference between the Goldbelt Ancestral Trust and the Tináa Distributions Trust?

The Tináa Trust can be used for cost savings on distributions today, while the Ancestral Trust can only provide distributions based on earnings that will take many years to grow. The Ancestral Trust will remain active and will not be affected by the Tináa Trust. It will continue to grow and be a safe haven for our assets for future generations.

• The Ancestral Trust beneficiaries are limited to only direct descendants of an original Goldbelt shareholder who are also Alaska Native and current shareholders.

• The Tináa Trust beneficiaries are any shareholders of Alaska Native descent (voting shareholders).

3. What is the purpose of the Goldbelt Ancestral Trust?

The Goldbelt Ancestral Trust (Est. 2014) functions similarly to the Alaska Permanent Fund. It is an investment fund designed to support current and future generations of Goldbelt shareholders. The Trust distributes a portion of its earnings each year in proportion to the number of shares a beneficiary owns. The goal is to provide dividends and burial cost assistance while preserving the principal for long-term sustainability, ensuring it is not diminished by distributions, inflation, or investment losses.

Who is Eligible?

Beneficiaries of the Trust are limited to lineal descendants of original Goldbelt shareholders, who are also current Goldbelt shareholders of Alaska Native heritage by birth or adoption before the age of 18.

If you can answer “yes” to all three questions, then you are eligible:

• Are you a direct descendant of an original shareholder?

• Are you Alaska Native by birth or adoption before the age of 18?

• Are you a current Goldbelt Shareholder?

How are the distributions managed?

The Goldbelt Ancestral Trust determines an annual distribution amount, balancing the need for current payouts with the long-term preservation of the Trust’s principal. This ensures the fund remains sustainable.

4. What is the purpose of the Goldbelt Tináa Distributions Trust?

The Goldbelt Tináa Distributions Trust (Est. 2019) facilitates shareholder benefits such as distributions, scholarships, and other potential advantages. Unlike the Ancestral Trust, the Tináa Trust cannot hold or invest assets. It serves to provide immediate shareholder benefits, with Goldbelt contributing funds for these purposes. Additionally, the Tináa Trust allows Goldbelt to pay the federal tax on distributions, receiving tax benefits for donations made to the Trust.

Building a Brighter Future

• Distributions made through the Tináa Trust are free of federal income tax for shareholders.

• Making distributions through the Tináa Trust also offers Goldbelt, Inc. an opportunity for federal tax savings.

• Only shareholders of voting status—Alaska Native people—are eligible to receive distributions through the Tináa Trust, in line with the intent of ANCSA, which allows for a more significant share payment to be distributed directly to shareholders of Alaska Native heritage.

What is the Goldbelt Tináa Distributions Trust?

The Tináa Trust was voted on and passed by shareholders at the 45th Annual Meeting of Shareholders in July 2019. It is a separate designated Trust that provides federal tax-free distributions to shareholders and a potential income tax deduction to Goldbelt, Inc. Due to current tax laws put in place by the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Alaska Native Corporations can take advantage of new tax savings for shareholders by making distributions through 646 trusts, such as the Tináa Trust.

Am I eligible for dividends and other distributions from the Tináa Trust?

Goldbelt shareholders with voting shares are Trust beneficiaries and participate in the distributions. To have voting shares, you must be an Alaska Native or descendant of an Alaska Native by birth or legal adoption.

How do I know if I am a voting or non-voting shareholder?

Those shareholders with any amount of Alaska Native heritage, either by birth or legal adoption, are voting shareholders. 96.5% of Goldbelt shareholders are voting shareholders, with only a small number of shares held by non-voting shareholders. If you are unsure of your status, please contact Shareholder Services at 907-790-4990.

What does this mean for non-voting shareholders?

The Board will declare the dividend amount and set the dividend’s record date and payment date. Unless otherwise specified by the Board, the payment date will be the third week in November, before Thanksgiving.

What are the benefits of making distributions through the Tináa Trust? What are the tax implications?

Shareholders will pay no federal income tax on distributions made through the Tináa Trust after 2019. However, shareholders may still pay state income tax. Alaska and Washington, where most Goldbelt shareholders reside, do not have a state income tax, so shareholders living in those states benefit from not paying taxes on their dividends.