In early 2015, the Ahtna Hwt’aene (People’s) Settlement Trust was officially established to provide a means for Ahtna to pay stable, non-taxable dividends to shareholders in perpetuity. Ahtna made its first contribution to the Trust in 2015 by transferring $3.4 million from Ahtna’s investment portfolio. The Board of Directors Earnings and Distribution Policy sets guidelines for distributing earnings, contributing ten percent of net profits each year to the Trust. Distributions from the Trust are non-taxable to shareholders.