2026 BSNC Elders of the Year

BSNC is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of the following Elder shareholders. Their efforts to maintain our traditional lifestyle and share their valuable knowledge with our youth are essential to preserving the culture and heritage of the Bering Straits Region.

Council Native Corporation
Flora Ann Simon

Flora Ann Simon was born on Cape Nome to Anna Wilkalkia and was adopted by Walter and Belinda Simon of Council, Alaska. She grew up in Council alongside her brothers, Mike Simon, Henry Cramer, and Walter Simon, Jr. Flora's upbringing was deeply rooted in her Inupiat culture, traditions, family, and connection to the land. Her adoptive mother, Belinda, and her brother Henry were important teachers in her life, passing down the traditional knowledge and ways of living that have remained an important part of who she is.

Through them, Flora learned the importance of subsistence living and how to provide from the land. She learned traditional practices such as harvesting food, hunting, fishing, picking berries, gathering greens, drying fish, and caring for the resources around her. These teachings became more than skills; they became a way of life and a connection to her Inupiat heritage.

To Flora, being Native means being proud of her culture, staying connected to her Native family, and sharing her Inupiat traditions with the generations that follow. She has carried these teachings into her own family, passing on the knowledge and values she received from her Elders.

Flora is the proud mother of Renee, Angela, and Shawn Knoedler and a grandmother of six. One of the things that brings her greatest pride is watching her grandchildren grow, accomplish their goals, and become good and respectful people. She especially enjoys spending time with them while berry picking and fishing, continuing the traditions of spending time together and learning from the land. When she isn't enjoying time with her family, Flora also enjoys playing bingo.

Being recognized as Elder of the Year is especially meaningful to Flora. She is thankful for the recognition and grateful for the opportunity to continue passing on her traditions, culture, and way of life to the best of her ability. She believes that future generations should be proud of their heritage and take the time to learn from their Elders about their traditions and culture.

Flora's life is a reflection of the strength of family, the importance of culture, and the responsibility of passing knowledge from one generation to the next. Her hope is that the traditions she was taught will continue to live on through her children, grandchildren, and future generations.

Elim Native Corporation
David Nakarak

David Nakarak, whose Eskimo name is Calaaluk, was born and raised in Shaktoolik and moved to Elim in 1968. He is the son of Ida and Andrew Nakarak and graduated from Nome-Beltz High School in 1977.

Nakarak enjoys spending time outdoors. "I like to get wood and go boating, and I like to go hunting and pick berries," he said. Although he does not have children of his own, he values supporting young people. When asked what advice he would offer the younger generation, he said, "I like to help out some of my younger generation."

Golovin Native Corporation
Jack P. Fagerstrom

Jack Fagerstrom was born in Golovin on January 23, 1960, to the late Floyd and Alice Fagerstrom. He was raised in Golovin, where he has spent most of his life and continues to reside.

Jack is an important part of the Golovin community. For many years, he has served on the local search and rescue team. With his extensive knowledge of the land and local landmarks, he does not hesitate to assist with searches-even during storms with visibility so poor that he can see only the front of his snowmachine skis. His care for the land and wildlife was also evident when he rescued an eagle caught in a trap and safely released it.

Jack was instrumental in the repatriation of cultural artifacts and ancestral remains from the Smithsonian Institution. He traveled to Washington, D.C., to help bring them home to Golovin and organized and led their reburial.

The community of Golovin is fortunate to have Jack, who is always willing to lend a helping hand. Golovin Native Corporation proudly congratulates Jack on being recognized as its Elder of the Year.

Golovin Native Corporation
Ruth Hunt

Ruth Hunt was born in Nome, Alaska, on June 8, 1950, to the late Phillip and Marilyn Dexter. She is the third of five children. Her brothers are the late Peter Dexter, the late John Dexter, and Joseph Dexter, and her sister is Phyllis Farrell.

Ruth is the proud mother of five children: Carl, Robert Jr., Doris, Jamie, and Mary. She also has 14 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. Ruth has passed down the subsistence knowledge and practices she learned to her children and grandchildren.

Ruth resides in Kenai, which she has called home for 40 years. She has also lived in England for two years, Kansas for four years, and Arkansas for one year. Ruth and her husband, Steve Hunt, have been married for 36 years. They are proud to live sober lives; Steve has been sober for 40 years and Ruth for 38 years.

Golovin Native Corporation proudly congratulates Ruth on being recognized as its Elder of the Year.

Inalik Native Corporation
Orville Ahkinga, Sr.

Orville Ahkinga Sr., age 90, is recognized as the oldest living Inaliqmiut. He spent most of his life on Little Diomede and now resides at Icy View in Nome.

Orville began working as a postal clerk before Diomede had a post office building. At that time, mail was brought from Wales by skin boat and delivered by small aircraft during the winter ice season. In the mid-1970s, he became an educational aide at the Bureau of Indian Affairs school, where he taught his own classroom of students. He also served as a first sergeant in the U.S. Army and traveled to several countries before returning home to Diomede.

In the mid-1980s, Orville began working in maintenance at the Diomede school. He made it his career and retired at age 77. He earned his GED on June 12, 2008.

Subsistence has been central to Orville's life since childhood. He hunted walrus, seals, and auklets and also fished and harvested king crab. He married Dora Iyapana in 1965. They initially raised four children in a home lit by a seal-oil lamp and relied on year-round subsistence resources. In 1975, the family moved into a newly constructed HUD home which he built. They later raised five more children, whom he taught subsistence skills and Iñupiaq values.

Orville also served for several years as a Tribal Council member and director of Inalik Native Corporation. In 2013, he moved to the mainland to be with his wife. He continues to visit Little Diomede by helicopter, returning to the home and community where he built a lifetime of cherished memories.

King Island Native Corporation
Rosemary Heinz

Rosemary Heinz was born on December 2, 1950, to Clara Capron, whose Eskimo name Engak. She was adopted by Bernard and Catherine Kasgnoc, all from King Island. Her Eskimo name is Angnoyuk.

Rosemary graduated from Copper Valley High School in Glennallen, Alaska, in 1969. She attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks from 1969 to 1971 and later attended Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, for half a year.

From 2010 to 2017, Rosemary served as office manager for Sitnasuak Native Corporation, where her responsibilities included organizing the corporation's annual meetings. She also served on the King Island Native Corporation Board of Directors from August 2020 through 2022.

Koyuk Native Corporation
Merlin Howard Henry

Merlin Howard Henry was born on July 27, 1946, in Ungalik, Alaska, to Archie Sr. and Alice Henry. His Eskimo name is Anannaqsuq. He spent his childhood in Koyuk, where he attended school through the eighth grade.

At the age of 13, Merlin began working alongside his father herding reindeer on foot. Through this work, he developed an intimate knowledge of the surrounding countryside. Over the years, he managed a herd that at one point reached approximately 1,800 reindeer which eventually migrated with the caribou.

In 1960, Merlin enlisted in the National Guard, serving honorably until his discharge in 1978. On July 27, 1979, he married Myra, with whom he built a large and loving family. Together they raised seven children and adopted one more, and today they are blessed with 24 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren.

Merlin dedicated his life to both subsistence living and community service. He commercial fished for NSEDC, worked with Search and Rescue, served as a power plant operator, held the position of IRA President for a number of years, and completed one term on the City Council. Myra often describes his subsistence lifestyle as outstanding, crediting him with teaching her and their children not only how to live off the land, but also when and why each part of that way of life matters.

In recent years, Merlin has developed aggressive Alzheimer's disease, which keeps him close to home. Even so, he remains active in the ways he can and continues to share his knowledge with those around him.

One of the most memorable experiences of his life was traveling to the Soviet Union, where he lived among reindeer herders for approximately ten days. He often recalls how little they had-no soda, no candy-and how they lived simply, eating bread and relying on their environment. The journey stands as one of his greatest adventures!

Shaktoolik Native Corporation
Ethel Fuller

Ethel Fuller is a lifelong resident and pillar of the Shaktoolik community. Born to the late Timothy Kenick and Maude Weston, she learned the value of hard work at a young age. She passed traditional knowledge and values on to her children and the many students she taught.

Ethel worked for the Bering Strait School District as a bilingual-bicultural teacher for many years before retiring. She also served Shaktoolik Native Corporation as a council member.

Known for her warm spirit and strong faith, Ethel loves the Lord wholeheartedly. Many people turn to her for prayer, and she continues to place everything in God's hands.

Shishmaref Native Corporation
Steven "Aleekson" Kiyutelluk

Steven "Aleekson" Kiyutelluk was born on February 3, 1937, in Teller, Alaska. He married Lillian in 1964, and together they have five children: Janet, Lloyd, Archie, Peggy, and Rachel. They also have 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Steven began his career as a tugboat captain and later worked as a skipper for 13 seasons with Lomen's, B&R Tug and Barge, and Arctic Lighterage. After returning home to Shishmaref, he worked for the Bering Strait School District as a custodian and maintenance worker for 13 years.

Steven taught his children subsistence skills and especially enjoyed hunting ugruk and walrus. He and Lillian camped together during their time off from the school. After retiring, they continued camping every summer through late fall.

A skilled builder, Steven constructed his home in 1984 and has also built boats and three cabins. He enjoys playing guitar at church and has sung there as well. Humble, caring, kind, and respectful, Steven generously shares his knowledge and is always willing to help others.

Sitnasuak Native Corporation
John Ervin Garrison

John Ervin Garrison was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. His mother, Myrtle (Ivanoff) Garrison, is from Unalakleet, and his father, Harold Garrison, Sr., served in the Navy during World War II. He later joined the Air Force and while stationed in Nome, Harold met Myrtle. John graduated from Covenant High School in Unalakleet with the class of 1971 and went on to study Business at Alaska Methodist University (AMU) from 1971 to 1974. During college, he worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Anchorage as a supply clerk, helping manage Land Status Plats and gaining early experience in land and resource work.

In 1974, John moved to Nome for a job interview with Bering Straits Native Corporation and joined the Land Department, where he worked until 1978. He took on the daily challenges of shifting land selection status and often signed village land selections himself when unreliable U.S. Postal mail and airline service threatened important deadlines. John also worked closely with the National Park Service, traveling throughout the region, interviewing elders, and helping document historical and cemetery sites, ensuring local history and stories would be preserved for future generations. During this time, the Regional Corporation addressed many issues that would shape village and regional land selections for years to come. John later worked for Sitnasuak Native Corporation in various departments, ranging from managing building construction and maintenance to operating the Corporate Land Department, overseeing Village land selections, management, and leasing over 161,000 acres.

Over the years, John has built up more than five decades of experience in building maintenance, plumbing, and heating. His work includes design, installation, reading and interpreting blueprints, and hands-on preventative maintenance of mechanical systems. He is certified by the State of Alaska as a Journeyman Plumber, is a licensed Mechanical Administrator, and holds a First-Class Boiler Operator Certificate. His work in land preservation still guides us and inspires us today.

Family has always been at the center of John's life. His first marriage was to the late Laraine (Karmun) Garrison. Married for 33 years, they raised three daughters, Marie Tozier, Nellie Scott, and Shari Murphy, and one son, Leonard Gary Garrison. After Laraine's long and courageous battle with cancer, she passed away in 2008.

In 2024, John began a new chapter when he married his second wife, Francine (Hopson) Garrison. Together, they welcomed a new joy into their lives in April 2026, when they adopted their son, Elijah William Gary, lovingly called "Boyuk." John gave Elijah his nuniaq name in honor of his favorite first cousin, Boyuk Ryan, carrying family tradition and love forward to the next generation.

Quyana for all of your work and dedication, John and congratulations! Your leadership continues to be an inspiration to our Corporation.

Sitnasuak Native Corporation
Sally Mae Johnson

Sally Mae Johnson was born in the fall of 1944 in Nome to Mamie and Alfred Karmun of Deering, Alaska. Her wonderful family included three brothers, Gilbert, Harry, and Martin, along with two sisters, Penny and Mamie (Chuck). She grew up in Candle before moving to Deering and attended Candle and Mt. Edgecumbe. She loved participating in basketball and track during her school years.

In 1968, she married Cecil Clifford Johnson, and together they joyfully raised three children: Clifford, Clayton, and Clinton Johnson. Cecil and Sally were fortunate to spend over four decades together before his passing in 2012. She often says her greatest achievement is raising her kids. She beams with pride when talking about her grandchildren, Ashley, Christian, Delaney, Shyloah, Karmun, Stephen, Avery, Jenelle, Quinten, Devyn, Dylan, Meagan, Kaitlyn, Monica, and Kassie.

Her first job was with Miners & Merchants Bank in Kotzebue, which later moved to Nome. Over the years, she also worked with the Alaska Court System, Wien Airlines, Bering Air, and VFW. She has dedicated countless hours volunteering with local organizations and truly cares about giving back to her community. Her employment was always much more than that and volunteering at VFW Post 9569 during the 2000s was always appreciated and impactful. Her notorious steak and potatoes dinners and minestrone soup were staples that were always looked forward to. She continues to bake and cook for local fundraisers, organizations and shelters to this day.

One of her favorite subsistence activities is picking berries, especially blueberries for blueberry delight, and gathering greens. Her home always has Eskimo food on hand. In her free time, she enjoys cutting seal and oogruk. She loves cooking, cleaning, and baking, especially her famous white bread, which she happily shares, often saying, "I could bake every day if I could." Her advice for our future leaders, young Shareholders, and youth is "Don't give up!" She shares that her journey has been inspired by survival. Her granddaughter, Delaney proudly shares, "My Gram is everything I hope to be one day! She is the ultimate example of a kind woman who cooks with her heart. If I could feed half the people she has fed, touch half the lives she has touched, or share laughs with half the people she has laughed with, I will have lived a full life. She's my greatest friend."

Sally's story is a heartfelt reminder of what truly matters in life: family, perseverance, and doing what brings you joy. Quyana for sharing your wisdom, family history, and traditional food!

Stebbins Native Corporation
Theodore Katcheak

Theodore Katcheak was born and raised in Stebbins, Alaska, to Benedict Lawrence Katcheak and Minnie Pauline Dan. His father was a reindeer herder, commercial fisherman and Alaska National Guard member, while his mother worked at the Head Start school and, like his father, practiced subsistence. Their example inspired Theodore to pursue his education and serve his community.

Katcheak dedicated his career to community leadership, serving as mayor and council member of Stebbins, president and manager of the Stebbins Native Corporation and Stebbins Community Association, and in various roles with Bering Straits Native Corporation. His work included community development, grant writing, land and resource management, and advocating for Native land rights. He helped implement the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93-638) and was involved in successfully challenging the Navarin Basin oil and gas sale and exploration through the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals.

Katcheak also studied economics and political science at Alaska Methodist University, as well as Arctic Biology at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Through his work as a community leader, corporate manager, land advocate and student, Katcheak has spent his life advancing opportunities and advocating for the people of western Alaska.

Teller Native Corporation
James Noyakuk

James Noyakuk lives a traditional subsistence lifestyle and remains very active. He is a wonderful role model who continues to demonstrate the value of healthy living while preserving our traditional way of life. He is often found out on the land whether he is hunting, gathering, or hauling water. His dedication to living our traditions is an inspiration to those
around him.