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
Andrea Akalleq Burgess (Yup’ik)
Executive Director
akalleq@aknpa.org
Andrea Akall’eq is Executive Director of Native Peoples Action / Native Peoples Action Community Fund. She has a deep understanding and respect for the importance and inter-connectivity of place, culture, language, and worldview and has dedicated her professional career working to protect and uplift Indigenous rights and advance racial and climate justice locally and globally. Originally from Bethel, Alaska, Andrea currently resides with her family on Lingít Aaní (Tlingit land) in Juneau. Her cultural background is Yup’ik (Inuit), and she is a Tribal Citizen of the Native Village of Kwinhagak. Prior to coming to NPA/CF, Andrea was Global Director of Indigenous Rights and Sovereignty at The Nature Conservancy, and Director of the Alaska Native Policy Center within First Alaskans Institute. Throughout her career, she has developed and cultivated relations and community connections across Alaska, and with Indigenous communities nationally and globally. Andrea holds a degree in Political Science and Government from Georgetown University. She previously worked for US Senator Mark Begich, supporting him on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and as the telecommunications lead for the Senate Commerce Committee. Additionally, she previously worked for the Bureau of Land Management and has held various roles in the non-profit sector.
Kelsi Ivanoff | Kasaŋnaaluk (Iñupiaq/Yup’ik/Koyukon)
Indigenous Stewardship Director
kelsi@aknpa.org
Kelsi Ivanoff–Kasaŋnaaluk (Iñupiaq)/Abuzanaq (Yup’ik)–is from Unalakleet, Alaska, where she returned in 2018 to raise her daughter as she was, rooted in culture, family, and harvesting. She acknowledges her parents, Steve and the late Zoe Ivanoff (of Unalakleet and Kotzebue), and many grandparents for their generational knowledge and encouragement to find balance between our two worlds. While studying engineering, she found a program that aligned more closely with her objectives and graduated from Portland State University with a degree in community development. Kelsi comes from a diverse background in fisheries, marketing, engineering, non-profit, and government, having most recently served as the city administrator and formerly the mayor of her hometown. She has experience working and advocating at the local, regional, state, and international levels, and currently sits on the Southern Norton Sound Fish & Game Advisory Committee. Through various fields of work, Kelsi has stayed true to her intention to work for the benefit and advancement of our people.
Averie Wells (Tsimshian/Iñupiaq/Yup’ik/Sugpiaq)
Government Relations Manager
averie@aknpa.org
Averie Wells was born and raised on Dena’ina lands, with family roots across Alaska. She is a member of the Metlakatla Indian Community and of the Gisbutwada (Killer Whale Clan). Averie is the daughter of Karla Weise and Clinton Wells. Her maternal grandparents are Eileen Cook and John Weise, with roots in Metlakatla and Bethel. Her paternal grandparents are Rhoda Beaver and Harold Wells, with roots in Kotzebue. Her background includes policy and legislative work in Juneau, where she worked for Representative Tiffany Zulkosky, focusing on energy and education. She later contributed to a statewide education initiative focused on reimagining the future of education in Alaska. Averie previously worked with the Alaska Federation of Natives, supporting efforts to strengthen tribal capacity and expand access to federal funding for Alaska Native communities. She is projected to receive her Bachelor of Business Administration from Ilisagvik College this fall. Averie’s work is grounded in uplifting Alaska Native voices, protecting Our ways of life, and ensuring Native communities are not only included in decision-making, but leading it. She carries this work forward with a deep commitment to her communities and future generations.
Carolyn Walker | Puktaun (Iñupiaq)
Operations and Finance Manager
carolyn@aknpa.org
[Bio to come]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
‘Láaganaay Tsiits Git’anee (Tlingit/Haida)
President
‘Láaganaay 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 formerly served as the President/CEO of First Alaskans Institute
Jonathan Tullek Samuelson (Yup’iaq/Dene)
Vice President
Jonathan was raised on the banks of the Kuskokwim River alongside his siblings, cousins, and fish. His family ties span the watershed, and his parents are Debby Hartman (Vanderpool) and Sam Samuelson. Driven by a passion for people and cross-cultural sharing Jonathan’s work has always centered around making connections and helping others realize the potential of tools they already have. He currently works for The Kuskokwim Corporation whose vision is a sustainable, collective future. Jonathan is a citizen of the Native Village of Georgetown, where he serves on the tribal council as well as their appointed commissioner to the Kuskokwim River Inter Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC). As the current chair of KRITFC, he aims to elevate tribal voices in fisheries stewardship and weave together ways of knowing. He also works toward systems change as an advisor to the Tamamta and Indigenizing Salmon Science & Management programs through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Jonathan enjoys time on the land, binging a good tv show, and stringing together words into poetry.
Marina Anderson (Haida/Tlingit)
Treasurer
Marina 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.
Carrie Stevens
Secretary
Carrie previously served the Council of Athabascan Tribal Government (CATG), an Alaska Native Tribal Consortium serving ten Gwich’in and Koyukon Tribes to promote Tribal Self-Governance. Mrs. Stevens served as the lead negotiator for CATG on their two Non-BIA self-governance agreements with the Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She began working with CATG in 1999, when she moved to Arctic Village to work with Indigenous rights activists for the protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She now serves as faculty for the University of Alaska Tribal Management program. Carrie holds a Masters degree in International and Intercultural Management. She is a mother and warrior for sustaining Alaska Native ways of life.
STEERING COMMITTEE
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.