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Kenaitze Indian Tribe

Kahtnuht’ana Dena’ina

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Zirul appointed to GAO Tribal Advisory Council

October 3, 2022

Diana ZirulTribal Member Diana Zirul has been appointed to the new 16-member U.S. Government Accountability Office Tribal Advisory Council.

Zirul is part of the first round of appointments of Tribally-elected leaders from 13 federally-recognized Tribes across the nation. There are also appointees from a Native Hawaiian organization, a state recognized tribe and a Native entity.

She is joined on the Advisory Council by Akiak Native Community Tribal Council Member Sheila Carl and Cook Inlet Region Inc. Chief Strategy Officer Sarah Lukin. Together these appointees will tap their knowledge and experience serving Tribes and Native communities to assist the GAO in overseeing federal programs and addressing challenges facing Native Communities across the country.

“I am honored to serve on the first-ever Tribal Advisory Council to the Government Accountability Office,” said Zirul, who has served as a Kenaitze Tribal Council officer and serves in a number of leadership roles with regional and national tribal organizations.

“The Council’s first meeting was held in Washington, D.C., earlier this week. It was refreshing to meet with the GAO staff who made it abundantly clear that they wanted to engage with the Council to ensure that issues that impact the health and well-being of Indigenous peoples are heard and addressed in their reports to Congress. One of the first tasks of the TAC will be to provide input on the GAO’s strategic plan later this year.”

Senator Lisa Murkowski, Ranking Member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, said each of the Alaska Native women appointed to the Advisory Council will provide the Government Accountability Office with important insight on matters affecting Alaska Native people.

“The government watchdog agency provides research that is invaluable to ensuring the federal government meets its constitutional responsibilities, including upholding the federal trust obligations to Native peoples. Whether it’s reviewing health care, economic development, housing, natural resources, telecommunications or funding for federal programs and services, GAO’s findings and recommendations are important to Congress’s oversight duties,” Murkowski said.

The GAO established the Tribal Advisory Council to help inform the agency’s future work and priorities in examining federal programs that serve tribal communities and Indigenous peoples. The appointments will last two to three years.

Filed Under: Stories

Kenaitze Indian Tribe

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Kenaitze Administration • (907) 335-7200
Dena'ina Wellness Center • (907) 335-7500
Early Childhood Center • (907) 335-7260
Yaghanen Youth Programs • (907) 335-7290
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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.