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Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina

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Five Elected to Council at Annual Meeting

April 13, 2016

Tribal members listen to discussion during the Annual General Membership Meeting

Tribal members listen to discussion during the Annual General Membership Meeting

More than 120 voting members attended the tribe’s Annual General Council Meeting in October 2015, electing three new members and reelecting two members to fill five open positions on the Executive Council.

Bernadine Atchison, Clinton Lageson and Wayne Wilson were elected to serve two-year terms as new members. Liisia Blizzard and Audre Gifford will serve two- and one-year terms, respectively, as returning members. Those five join Rosalie A. Tepp and Jennifer Showalter Yeoman to make up the seven-member Council.

After the meeting, which was held at the Dena’ina Wellness Center, the new Council elected its officers as follows:

Chairperson, Rosalie A. Tepp
Vice-Chairperson, Audre Gifford
Secretary, Liisia Blizzard
Treasurer, Clinton Lageson
Council member, Bernadine Atchison
Council member, Wayne Wilson
Council member, Jennifer Showalter Yeoman

Before tribal members cast their ballots, they had an opportunity to make comments from the floor. Much of the discussion revolved around the recent removal of Mary Ann Mills and Susie Wells from the Council. Mills and Wells addressed the audience.

Tribal leadership also offered reports highlighting the past year across the tribe.

Executive Director Jaylene Peterson-Nyren said the tribe is in a strong position financially, with its facilities and in many other areas as it continues to grow.

She said representatives from the M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust recently traveled from the Lower 48 to visit the Dena’ina Wellness Center, an indication that the tribe is being noticed not just locally but also beyond.

Sasha Jackson casts her ballot

Sasha Jackson casts her ballot at the Annual General Membership Meeting in October.

“It meant so much that 40 trustees from around the nation would come and see little old us,” Peterson-Nyren said. “Well it’s not little old us anymore … It is a tremendous honor to be a part of a team serving tribal members.”

James Segura, Chairperson for the Hunting, Fishing and Gathering Commission, said the tribe is working to increase the tribal fishery’s quota.

Gifford, Chairperson for the Finance Committee, reported that tribe ended the 2015 fiscal year with $1.4 million in savings and has increased its total assets from $11.67 million to $57 million over the past five years.

Members also approved adding 51 people to the tribe’s roll, increasing membership from 1,583 to 1,634.

Throughout the morning, booths showcasing different areas of the tribe were displayed in the upstairs area of the wellness center, giving tribal members a chance to learn about the tribe’s many programs and services.

Filed Under: Stories

Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Locations

Kenaitze Administration • (907) 335-7200
Dena'ina Wellness Center • (907) 335-7500
Education and College and Career Support • (907) 335-7667
Tyotkas Elder Services • (907) 335-7280
Na’ini Family and Social Services • (907) 335-7600
Kenaitze Tribal Court • (907) 335-7219

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Heidi King, NCAC II, CDCS

Recovery Support Manager/Counselor
Heidi has eight years of experience in the chemical dependency field. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, with a minor in Women’s Studies, from the University of Alaska. She is a nationally accredited Chemical Dependency Clinician, and a state accredited Chemical Dependency Clinical Supervisor.

Heidi has a background in providing residential chemical dependency counseling. She is certified as a Conflict Resolution and Relapse Prevention Trainer with the National Association of Addiction Counselors. She is also a certified Peer Supports Trainer and Supervisor through the Alaska Commission of Behavioral Health Certification.

When she’s not serving un’ina, Heidi teaches yoga as a certified and registered instructor. She also enjoys hiking, fishing, and spending time with her child, spouse, and numerous pets, camping all over Alaska.

Heidi provides chemical dependency counseling services in group settings and individual sessions.

Heidi can personally relate to chemical dependency and is passionate about helping those seeking recovery supports. For Heidi, healing is community, and community is an important part of connection with one’s self. She sees the positive ripple effect that healing can provide throughout the community.

Fridrik Rafn Gudmundsson, MSW, LCSW

Recovery Support Manager
Fridrik has earned his master’s degree in Social Work and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. He studied massage therapy in Iceland, and became fascinated with the mind-body connection. He completed his undergraduate degree in philosophy with a psychology minor.

Fridrik has had the opportunity to live in four countries and to travel to many others. He counts finding and marrying the love of his life and adopting his son among his greatest accomplishments. He is grateful to be able to live in this beautiful and sacred part of the world and to serve the Tribe and un’ina, “those who come to us.”

When he’s not serving un’ina, Fridrik loves spending time with his family, hiking, kayaking, camping, fishing, traveling, and having fun. He enjoys learning, listening to music, and taking time for spiritual practice.

Fridrik provides assessments and individual, family and group psychotherapy at Chuq’eya Qenq’a, Birch Tree House.

For Fridrik, coming to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe felt like coming home. The more he learned about the Tribe and its history, as well as the history of the Alaska Native people, the more he knew he had found a place to be of service.

Teresa A. Ford, MSW, LMSW

Behavioral Health Clinician
Teresa earned her bachelor’s degree in Social Work at Limestone University in South Carolina, and her master’s degree in Social Work from Campbellsville University in Kentucky. Teresa’s experience includes serving homeless and other disadvantaged populations, as well as work in outpatient rehabilitation, hospice, chemical dependency, adult and adolescent counseling, and prevention.

Teresa appreciates the Kenaitze Indian Tribe’s traditional values. She sees them as a driving force in how we treat ourselves and others, and how we serve those in need of help.

When not serving un’ina, “those who come to us,” Teresa spends her time bonding with her family, creating and traveling. She also enjoys learning about Alaska Native culture, exploring new hobbies, and gardening.

Teresa provides individual, family, and group therapy services. Teresa takes a variety of approaches to therapy, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Trauma Focused Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Person-Centered Therapy, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy.

Teresa has always been a helper at heart. Being able to overcome the things she experienced growing up in South Carolina empowered and inspired her to help others navigate through their life journeys.