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Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina

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Tribal Member receives public service award

October 7, 2021

Sweet Award

Sweet Award

Kimberley Sweet, a Magistrate Judge in Kenai and a former Kenaitze Tribal Court Chief Judge, was recently honored for her public service.

Sweet, a Tribal Member, received the 2021 Jay Rabinowitz Public Service Award, presented by the Alaska Bar Foundation. The award was presented during the Alaska Bar Association’s virtual annual meeting in September.

The award honors an individual whose life work demonstrates a commitment to public service in Alaska.

In her remarks accepting the award, Sweet said that a piece of advice from a Tribal Elder has guided her work.

“My great uncle always used to say that everything that you put your hand to do, remember, it will affect generations to come. It’s not just you, it’s everybody in your future. And I’ve always taken that to heart,” Sweet said.

Nikole Nelson, Executive Director of the Alaska Legal Services Corporation, presented the award.

“She is incredibly smart, dedicated to improving the lives of those around her, and unafraid to speak the truth – even when it is inconvenient,” Nelson said.

Nelson noted Sweet’s service with the Kenaitze Tribal Court, her extensive work with the foster care system, and her service on numerous advisory committees. As the Kenaitze Tribal Court’s Chief Judge, Sweet was instrumental in the formation of the joint-jurisdiction Henu Community Wellness Court. Sweet also served as co-lead negotiator for the state’s Indian Child Welfare Compact, which seeks to address the over-representation of Alaska Native children in the state foster system due to systemic inequalities.

“She has consistently dedicated hours to showing up to help educate our state and national leaders about the need to listen to and include Alaska Native voices, and how by doing so, we would all be better off,” Nelson said.

Nelson noted Sweet’s commitment to serving the needs of vulnerable children during her time as a Kenaitze Tribal Court Judge. Sweet has also served as a foster parent herself, opening her home to seven foster children over the past decade.

“She now serves our community as a magistrate judge, and I can say that Kim has given her heart and soul to bettering the lives of those around her,” Nelson said.

Sweet said she was honored and humbled by the recognition, and credited others for the support and mentorship she’s had over the years.

“It’s just part of being who we are as a people and as a community,” Sweet said. “It’s not anything that I do that is particularly better than anyone else, it’s the support of all of our community members. All of those (accomplishments), I can’t take ownership of them all on my own. I’ve had great teams everywhere I’ve gone.”

Sweet credited “lots of dedicated people who made all of those things happen.”

Sweet said she’s also been inspired by her mother, Alexandra “Sasha” Lindgren, who recently passed away.

“I didn’t realize how much of my mother came forward in me, as far as being dedicated to our community, until she passed, and I’ve been receiving so many things from Elders and youth on how much she did for them,” Sweet said. “I want to continue to walk that walk that she taught me, and thanks to all of the people who have listened and moved forward with me in a good way.”

In 2019, Sweet was honored by the Alaska Bar Association with the Judge Nora Guinn award, which recognizes an individual Alaskan who has made an extraordinary or sustained effort to assist Alaska’s rural residents, especially its Alaska Native population, overcome language and cultural barriers to obtaining justice through the legal system.

Filed Under: Stories

Kenaitze Indian Tribe

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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.