Native Peoples Action Community Fund was founded by a group of 15 volunteers who came together and began grassroots organizing in 2016, and then decided to incorporate to build a vehicle through which their vision could be driven. These statewide volunteers lead the advisory committee and board of directors and include Indigenous artists, attorneys, university professors, tribal chiefs, grassroots organizers, legislative staffers, social justice warriors and land/water protectors who proactively and progressively work together for a healthy, happy, equitable and sustainable Alaska.
STAFF
Jackie Arnaciar Boyer, Cup’ig, Deputy Director
arnaciar@nativepeoplesaction.org
Jackie Boyer, Cup’ig, has roots from the Native Village of Mekoryuk located on Nunivak Island in the Bering Sea. She now lives in Anchorage with her yuliaq, adopted teenage daughter. Her maternal grandparents are Clarence Kolerok and Laura Kolerok. Her Cup’ig name, Arnaciar, was given to her by her aana; she is her namesake. Jackie previously worked in Juneau as a Legislative Aide for rural and urban Senators and Representatives; it is there that her love and passion for public policy and the advancement of Indigenous leadership in those roles emerged – she believes the work NPA does is crucial to ensuring that advancement continues and thrives. Jackie received her undergraduate in Criminal Justice from the University of Alaska Anchorage and is currently pursuing her Masters of Public Administration. In her free time, she enjoys crafting with seal skin and quills, hunting, fishing, and teaching her yuliaq traditional ways of life.
Elizabeth Ahkivgak – Iñupiaq, Accounting & Office Specialist
elizabeth@nativepeoplesaction.org
Elizabeth Aqpaluk Ahkivgak, Inupiaq, was raised in a whaling crew family in Utqiagvik, Alaska. Her parents are Ethel Ahkivgak and Fernando Ortega. Her maternal grandparents are Jennie (Ekolook) and Herbert Ahkivgak. She also pays respect to her foster parents Rosie and Eben Hopson Jr for their lifelong mentorship. She now lives in Anchorage, Alaska pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Energy and Sustainability Policy from Pennsylvania State University. Elizabeth has explored public, private, and non-profit sectors, adding to her toolkit with each opportunity focusing on Alaska Native issues. Her experience includes working for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation, serving as an Al Adams Young Political Leader Fellow in the Washington, D.C. Office of U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, and as a legislative aide to Representative John Lincoln in the Alaska State Legislature. She finds inspiration from her foster parents’ commitment to public health, to continue delivering the same sentiment of humanity through volunteering. Elizabeth’s childhood experiences in the foster care system motivates her to break the cycle and live healthy so other Alaska Natives can too. Aqpaluk enjoys hiking, fishing, gathering, Alaska Native traditional practice, the Iñupiaq language, and life-long learning.
Autumn Cantu, Koyukon Athabaskan, Communication & Indigenous Engagement Manager
autumn@nativepeoplesaction.org
Autumn Cantu is originally from Ruby, Alaska. Her parents are Francis Captain Sr. and Deanna Houlton. Her grandparents are Martha Wright, the late Eugene Floyd Davis on her mother’s side, and the late Eleanor Captain and the late William (Billy) Captain Sr. on her father’s side. Autumn spends her free time with her family, enjoying the outdoors and reading as much as possible. Autumn is attending the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) for her Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and plans to go for her Master’s degree in Social Work as well. She has an exceptional work history with years of knowledge in training staff, establishing rapport with clients, and strategic planning. Autumn is the business owner of Cantu Tactics & Consulting (CTC), she has worked at Recover Alaska, as a Youth Wellness Coordinator. She has experience as a Tribal Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (TVR) Technician, Strategic Prevention Framework Partnerships for Success (SPF-PFS) Project Director, and a Suicide Prevention Coordinator at Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC), where she worked for 5 years. Autumn also worked in Galena, Alaska as a Certified Nurse’s Assistant (CNA) for about 3 years at the Yukon Koyukuk Elder Assisted Living Facility (YKEALF). Overall, she has gained many partnerships throughout her work history. Autumn is very resilient and believes in POWOL.
NPACF recently launched a team of rural community outreach specialists!
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
La Quen Naay Liz Medicine Crow, Tlingit/Haida, President
La quen náay Kat Saas is from Keex Kwaan (Kake), Alaska. On her Haida side she is Eagle Tiits Gitee Nei, Hummingbird. On her Tlingit side she is Raven Kaach.adi, Fresh Water-marked Sockeye Salmon. Integrating Native knowledge and values into organizations, governance mechanisms, and everyday life is a primary passion and responsibility she has pursued through her education and career. Liz received her BA (BFA Equivalency) from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and her professional degree from Arizona State University College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctorate degree and a Certificate in Indian Law. She currently serves as the President/CEO of First Alaskans Institute
Alannah Hurley, Yup’ik, Vice President
Alannah (Yup’ik) was born and raised in the Bristol Bay region. Originally from Clark’s Point, she now resides in Dillingham. Alannah’s passion lies in environmental justice and helping make self-determination a reality for Alaska’s indigenous people.
Shawaan Ch’aak’ti Jackson-Gamble, Lingit/Xaadaas, Secretary / Treasurer
Ch’aak’tí Shawaan Jackson-Gamble was raised in Kake and Sitka. His name translates to watchman of Hamilton Bay, and he belongs to the Tsaagweidi Clan (killer whale) of Keex Kwaan (Kake). His parents are Dawn Jackson and Tom Gamble. His maternal grandparents are Mike and Edna Jackson and paternal grandparents are the late Anita Wright and Art Gamble. He is both Tlingit and Haida. Ch’aak’tí graduated with honors with a bachelors in Native Environmental Science degree from Northwest Indian College. He is passionate about protecting and managing lands, waters, animal relatives and resources for future generations. He enjoys hunting, fishing and gathering with family and friends, exploring his homelands, sewing seal and sea otter, and working in the smokehouse.
Brooke Woods, Athabascan, Member
Brooke Woods is Koyukon from Rampart and currently lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with her children. She attends the University of Alaska Fairbanks, continuing her education after receiving a Tribal Management Associate of Applied Science degree. She works as an Arctic Policy Coordinator, serves as Executive Chair for the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and advises the Indigenizing Salmon Management project. She and her children enjoy spending time in Rampart fishing, gathering, and hunting.
STEERING COMMITTEE
Andrea Akall’eq Burgess, Yup’ik
Andrea Akall’eq Burgess, is a community activist from Bethel, Alaska now living and working on the lands of Kānaka ʻōiwi (Native Hawaiians). She is a Yup’ik Tribal citizen of the Native Village of Kwinhagak. Andrea is a co-founder of Native Peoples Action Community Fund where her role is to advance Indigenous ways of being and knowing. Andrea is Company Owner of With Real People LLC, a consulting and production firm based in Alaska and Hawaii. She is also Global Director of the Conservation in Partnership with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities program at The Nature Conservancy. Andrea has a bachelor’s degree in government/political science from Georgetown University and spent much of her career working for Alaskans in Congress on Capitol Hill.
Drew Michael, Yup’ik
Drew Michael (Yup’ik and Inupiaq) was born in Bethel, Alaska. He and his twin brother grew up in Eagle River, Alaska. Drew focuses on how masks were originally used by Yup’ik people, for healing and telling stories of things unseen. Drew’s work incorporates healing practices of the Yup’ik people and religious icons of European Christianity. The artist hopes to encourage people to find healing in ways that bring about balance in much the same way he has used these practices to find balance in his own life.
Saagulik Elizabeth Hensley, Iñupiaq
Saagulik focuses her practice on meeting the unique legal needs of Alaska Native corporations, tribes and tribal nonprofit health and social service organizations. She maintains a general counsel practice providing advice in contract strategy, negotiation and enforcement; employment law; investigations and compliance; grants management; conflicts of interest and other ethics standards; and governance. Saagulik has been active in Alaska and Native American affairs for many years. Her experience includes working as a legislative aide with the Alaska State Legislature, as a staff attorney and public policy liaison with an Alaska Native (ANSCA) regional corporation, and as general counsel for a 600-employee regional tribal nonprofit corporation. She served as senior policy advisor at the United States Department of the Interior Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and has provided international human rights law support to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through coursework and a fellowship.
Ruth Miller, Dena’ina Athabaskan and Ashkenazi Russian Jewish
Ruth is a Dena’ina Athabaskan and Ashkenazi Russian Jewish woman, raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She is a member of the Curyung Tribe, and also has roots in Bristol Bay, where her family descended downriver after leaving the Lake Iliamna region. She is a recent graduate from Brown University, built on occupied Wampanoag and Narragansett lands, and received a BA in Critical Development Studies with a focus on Indigenous resistance and liberation. She has worked many years towards Indigenous rights advocacy and climate justice in Alaska, as well as in Rhode Island and the south of Chile. She centers themes of wellness and community care, and is thinking a lot about growth and regeneration and imagination in our activism work. Ruth also does International Indigenized climate justice work with the United Nations Association and SustainUS. Most of all, she loves singing as her Grandma Ruth did, practicing traditional beadwork with her mother late at night, slowly discovering her Dena’ina language, and building radical communities of love!
Marina Anderson, Haida and Tlingit
Marina Anderson is a Haida and Tlingit harvester and advocate for our ways of life. Marina is from the Taakw.aaneidi clan from Heinya Kwaan and is from the Sculpin House. Marina grew up on Prince of Wales Island where harvesting traditional things out on the lands and waters was her school. Marina has spent time on her tribal council, is on the board of directors for her ANC village corporation, and most recently in her professional life Marina has transitioned from being the tribal administrator for the Organized Village of Kasaan to be the deputy director for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership.