Unalakleet educator, Anchorage store owner and others honored with 2024 Alaska Federation of Natives awards

Each year at its annual conference, the Alaska Federation of Natives presents honors to people in a variety of fields, including education, health and public safety. Here are the winners of this year’s awards:

Nicholas Jackson of Gulkana Village was given AFN’s Citizen of the Year Award. Behind him, the stage was full of family and community members who celebrated Jackson. An Ahtna Corp. elder, Jackson was born and raised in Copper Center, and said he was raised living off the land. He served in the military from 1958 to 1964, and later worked in construction. Throughout his life, speakers said on Friday, Jackson has been committed to preserving the hunting and fishing rights of Alaska Native people.

Career educator Marlene Haugen of Unalakleet was given the Eileen Panigeo MacLean Education Award. Haugen retired in May after 50 years at Unalakleet Schools, working first as a kindergarten teacher, and later as an early childhood education paraeducator, or a teacher’s aide. Speakers on Friday said that Haugen isn’t afraid to dress up, sing and act silly. “You see that little baby?’ Haugen said, pointing to her infant great-grandson. “He’s my job now.”

William F. Smith of Cordova was honored for his military service and advocacy work with the Richard Frank Military Service Award. Smith, a Vietnam veteran and eight-year heavy-duty mechanic in the Army, serves as an advisory member on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs, and as a chairperson of the National Indian Health Board. Smith said he’s proud of the progress he’s been able to make on behalf of all Alaska Native veterans, including by advocating for traditional healing for his fellow veterans.

Barret Eningowuk, a Village Police Officer with the City of Shishmaref for the last 13 years, was presented with the Glenn Godfrey Law Enforcement Award. Eningowuk was born and raised in the community where he works, and said he feels he’s “providing a better quality of life” for his family and neighbors through his police work.

Hilda Haas of Shungnak was awarded the Hannah Paul Solomon Woman of Courage Award for her work in cultural preservation, particularly with the Inupiaq language. Haas has worked for more than 40 years for NANA Regional Corp. in different roles, including working with elders and youth as a fluent Inupiaq language speaker. “Through the lens of our elders, I learned what courage means,” Haas said on Friday. “(Me and my husband) have three boys, and we all have six grandchildren. I teach them my language. I teach them my culture, so they will know where I come from.”

Colleen Anagick accepted the Health Award on Friday for her nearly three-decade-long career in behavioral health for her people. Currently, Anagick serves as a tribal doctor and traditional healer for Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage. Southcentral Foundation President April Kyle said that she appreciates how Anagick values culture and connects with people to support them in their wellness. “There are people among us who give their professional lives to care for the community,” Kyle said. “And you are one of them.”

Chief Patrick Norman of the Port Graham Village Council was granted the Katie John Hunter-Fisher Award for his work in teaching the next generation the subsistence way of life. Norman was ill and unable to accept the award in person, but his daughter, Vanessa Norman, accepted the award on his behalf. “He’s dedicated his time to fighting for our subsistence rights and passing our traditional knowledge to us as children,” said Vanessa Norman. “I love going home and seeing them teach youth how to cut and clean a seal to distribute to elders.”

North Slope Borough Mayor Josiah Patkotak was awarded the Roger Lang Youth Leadership Award. Patkotak, 30, has served as mayor since October 2023. As a teenager, he was a youth delegate with the Alaska Federation of Natives. Prior to his mayorship, he was a councilman for the Inupiat Community of the Arctic Slope, a board member for Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp. and a state representative in the Alaska Legislature. Patkotak said his message to aspiring leaders at AFN is, “There is nothing more unique than the culture back home. Just because you were born and raised in a traditional environment doesn’t mean you can’t succeed in the Western world, and succeed in both at the same time.”

AFN’s Small Business Award went to Daphne Nicholai. Nicholai has operated Blackbull Native Store in Midtown Anchorage since 2022. Originally from the village of Oscarville, near Bethel, Nicholai opened her business with the intention to cater to Alaska Native and rural residents. Nicholai said that her favorite part of her job is meeting new people, laughing and talking with them. “Coming from a small village to a bigger village is sometimes challenging,” said Willie Kasayulie, chair of the Calista Corp. “But nevertheless, that never stopped Daphne.”

AFN this year gave a special merit award for voting and the census to civil rights attorney James Tucker. Tucker was recognized for his 2020 work with AFN ensuring that Alaska Natives were correctly counted in the 2020 census. He also served as counsel for AFN for several voting rights cases, representing Alaska Native voters. “Really what we’ve been trying to do over all these years is to make sure that Alaska Natives count and that their voices are heard,” Tucker said. “Of course, going along with that is voting.”

U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski received AFN’s Denali Award, which recognizes the contribution of a non-Native to the Alaska Native community. Murkowski joined the Senate in 2002. As vice chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, much of her efforts in the Senate have focused on improving life in Native communities. Murkowski accepted the award Saturday after giving a speech to the convention. She said it was “very special. As I understand, it’s not been given to one in elected office. It has been to those who have worked as researchers, as scientists, as health care providers, those who have helped to again make the lives of Alaskan Native people that much better.”

Daily News reporter Alex DeMarban contributed.