SITKA, Feb. 10, 2012 — The following is a statement from Jolene Edenshaw, the chairperson of the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Board of Directors, regarding the death early this morning of former SEARHC Board Member Dan Moreno Jr. in Sitka.

“It is with great sorrow that we learned about the death early yesterday morning of Dan Moreno Jr., who represented Sitka Tribe of Alaska on the SEARHC Board of Directors from 1993-94. Dan’s Tlingít name was Kaa Taan, and he was a member of the Kaagwaantaan (Eagle/Wolf) moiety. Dan was of the Ch’aak’ Kudi Hít (Eagle Nest House) and was a grandchild of the L’uknax.adi (Coho Clan). He was a very active member of his clan and was very concerned with keeping the Tlingít culture strong. He was a longtime employee of Sitka Tribe of Alaska, serving as the TERO (Tribal Employment Rights Office) and Transportation Director. He also served many years on the board of commissioners for the Baranof Island Housing Authority (BIHA), and most recently was chairman of the board. Dan also served on the Sitka Tribe of Alaska Herring Committee and Marine Mammal Commission, as well as serving with the Roads and Transportation Department for the Central Council of the Tlingít and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. Through his work, Dan was a big friend to SEARHC and the Tlingít, Haida and Tsimshian people of Southeast Alaska. We thank Dan for his years of service to our community and we send our condolences to the Moreno family.”