2025 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.

WALES NATIVE CORPORATION
Gene R. Angnaboogok

[Link]Gene Angnaboogok is an Inupiaq hunter, artist, Indigenous knowledge holder, and lifelong resident of Kiŋigin (Wales), Alaska. He is the son of the late Edna and Roland Angnaboogok, Sr. Gene began carving ivory at the age of six, learning from his father and brothers. Over the years, he has become a renowned ivory carver whose artwork has been sold across Alaska, the Lower 48, and beyond. Raised to hunt throughout all seasons, Gene has harvested polar bear, walrus, seals, wolverines, ducks, and has hunted bowhead whale as a member of Luther Komonaseak's whaling crew. He is also an avid navigator of the ocean and rivers surrounding Kiŋigin, with deep knowledge of sea ice and ocean currents.

One of Gene's most well-known hunting experiences occurred in March 1988, when he fell into a polar bear den while hunting off the coast of Wales. Walking along an ice ridge, he slipped waist-deep into the den, where a mother bear punctured his thigh with her claws. Gene pulled himself out just as the bear emerged, rising on her hind legs. Acting in self-defense, he shot the bear. Inside the den were two cubs, which were first brought to Gene's home, then tagged in Wales by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, before being relocated to a zoo in the Lower 48. His story has since been widely shared through interviews and online platforms, becoming part of the collective memory of life and hunting in the region.

Gene has contributed his expertise to numerous Indigenous Knowledge research and documentation projects across the Bering Strait region, including studies on walrus, polar bears, fish, and sea ice. He served as a knowledge holder and research assistant for Kawerak, Inc.'s ocean currents and non-salmon fish studies, and contributed to research conducted by the Eskimo Walrus Commission and the Alaska Nannut Co-Management Council. He was also interviewed by the University of Alaska Fairbanks' Project Jukebox on Sea Ice in Northern Alaska. Through this work, Gene has helped bridge Indigenous Knowledge and scientific research to inform management decisions.

In addition to his cultural and research contributions, Gene worked for many years for the City of Wales and continues to serve as a council member today.

SITNASUAK NATIVE CORPORATION
Helen C. Bell

Helen C. Bell, born and raised in Nome, Alaska, has faithfully served with Sitnasuak Native Corporation (SNC) since 1987, which marks 38 years of dedication to serving the shareholders and protecting the land.

Throughout the years, she has held various positions, committees and its subsidiaries among these being secretary of the corporation and SNC Trust, and executive committee; chair of Elders Committee, SNC Technical Services, director of Sitnasuak Properties, Technical Services, Bonanza Fuel, Sitnasuak Health Solutions, and Nanuaq; and member of the Bylaws and Personnel Committee and Land Committee.

Her loyalty to SNC has been genuine and steadfast. As chairperson of the Elders Committee, Helen has been vocal in involving youth, often saying, "They have much to learn from participating in Elder Committee meetings." She involved students by tasking them with purposeful activities relating to Elder projects. Helen has invited shareholders to attend during "Story Sessions," community individuals and leaders from the City of Nome and Nome Public Schools to discuss shared issues, and other entities such as Fish and Game and National Park Service to collaborate on projects and solutions to current events and issues.

Her leadership has been evident by the endeavors she deems so strongly, those being: The Two Eskimo Boys, the Sitnasuak Cultural Guide, and the yearly SNC calendar. Through these projects, she has ensured our corporation preserves and showcases the rich culture and heritage of Sitnasuak. Board members have fond memories of gathering at her Nuuk camp at Safety Sound to conduct their Elders Committee meetings.

Helen has a wealth of historical knowledge, which she adds to many SNC meetings. At meetings, she supports positive, joyous interactions among members often woven with respect and integrity.

She is the proud mother of Lisa Nason, Christine Oles, and Simon Bell.

WHITE MOUNTAIN NATIVE CORPORATION
Rita Buck

Born in 1952 in her grandmother'scabin in Golovin, Alaska, Rita Buckhas devoted her life to servingothers. After completing high school at Covenant High School in Unalakleet, she began her path in community health as an alternate health aide in 1973. Trained under the mentorship of Willa Ashenfelter, and later certified in 1987, Rita became a full-time health aide in 1994. In 2000, she rose to the role of Village Supervisor/Instructor with the Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, supporting the communities of Shishmaref, Brevig Mission, Elim, Koyuk, and Shaktoolik. Her steady leadership, skill, and compassion helped strengthen the health aide program across the region.

Rita's work continues a powerful legacy of service. Her mother, Martha Agloinga, trained Willa Ashenfelter, who trained Rita, who then inspired her own daughter to follow in her footsteps. This unbroken chain of mentorship across three generations reflects the spirit of resilience, knowledgesharing, and commitment that lies at the heart of Alaska's Community Health Aide Program. As a mother and grandmother, her family is her main priority. Rita upholds our culture, our values, and our language by practicing her traditional culture and centering her family around her traditional fish camp, Camp Chulung. As a provider and leader in her community and for her family spread across the state, she keeps many friends and family supplied with traditional food. She is an expert in family and community history, remembering and teaching genealogy and family stories to each generation.

Deeply spiritual and compassionate Rita shares her knowledge, her culture, her food, and many times her home with family and friends near and far. She has been active in the Covenant Church for many decades and has been leading the local church governing committee for the past several years supporting the local pastors and working hard to support the Covenant Church congregation in the region.

STEBBINS NATIVE CORPORATION
In Memorium: Morris Coffey

Morris J. Coffey was born on April 29, 1946 to Esther Tom-Liptrap in St. Michael, Alaska. He was later adopted and raised by Charlie and Maria Coffey of Stebbins, Alaska. There he met and married Clara Pete on January 26, 1968. Morris passed away on January 2, 2016. They had five children: Karen, Debra, Darryl, Garrett, and Darla. Morris loved his community and family members profoundly. He purposefully dedicated his whole life to sustain their inherent way of life, but also worked tirelessly to create jobs and improve the lives of his community members. Morris was actively involved with all local organizations in one way or another and collaborated closely with statewide, regional, and local leaders to protect the rights of all tribal and corporate members and to ensure productivity and participation for the Stebbins Native Corporation.

Morris was a visionary and he was able to help everyone locally and keep his dream alive by contributing his expertise about tribal law and corporate representation. Morris worked vigilantly to live in both worlds and preserve the tribal lifestyle, but also to compete and survive within the outside culture. His leadership, ongoing hard work, and dedication was out of genuine love and kinship for the people of Stebbins. Morris worked tirelessly as a local leader to improve the lives of the people of Stebbins.

He was actively involved in local politics ensuring community participation and care to better his hometown. He served on the Native Corporation for 40 years as president and CEO, and started Stebbins Rock Products, which is now Tapraq Rock and Stebbins Housing Authority. He was also actively involved with the Stebbins IRA, Stebbins Native Store, Tapraq Fuel Company, Kawerak, NSEDC, State of Alaska Natural Resources, Federal Fishing Game, BSNC, and other local and regional organizations for countless years. He strongly believed in participating in local and regional entities to help his community and region.

Stebbins Native Corporation dedicated their corporate offices to Morris in Stebbins in September of 2020. He worked hard to get that up and running when he was alive. Morris was a driving force for his community and worked hard to better it. Morris is survived by his wife Clara and his children Karen Coffey, Debi McAlister, Darryl, Garrett, and Darla Coffey, 20 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. Morris' vision and hard work is coming to fruition in Stebbins today. He is greatly missed by his family, friends, and community of Stebbins.

SOLOMON NATIVE CORPORATION
Christine Dalilak

Christine was married to the late Eugene Dalilak and together they raised three daughters - Genevive Benton, Kim Henry and Elizabeth Dalilak - = and lived in Nome for many years. They spent much of their time in Solomon with the Okitkon brothers-Edison, Garfield, Franklin and Eugene and Eugene's mother, Willette Dalilak.

Christine was a stay-at-home mom and a steady supporter of Solomon attending annual shareholders meetings every year and even board meetings with her husband Eugene who served as a board member of Solomon Native Corporation alongside Robert Curran, Sr., RoseAnn Timbers and Joe Curran.

Christine is an original shareholder of Solomon Native Corporation, always voicing her opinions at shareholder meetings, even when she could no longer attend in person due to health reasons, she made sure SNC received her proxy. One year, while standing at her front door, she received her door prize check from the annual meeting. She had guessed she might have won something, but laughed out loud when she realized it was the grand prize drawing of $500!

Today, Christine Dalilak resides in Seward, Alaska and has 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren in Nome and Anchorage area.

UNALAKLEET NATIVE CORPORATION
Frances Degnan

Frances "Fran" Degnan was born and raised in Unalakleet in the early 40's. She attended Mt. Edgecumbe High School for four years and then went to the University of Alaska Fairbanks for four years. Fran then worked in Nome at the William E. Beltz school at the Adult Education Institution where she trained adults in their communities for their future. During that time, she was involved in the War on Poverty programs in Alaska and was elected as the regional director for the Inupiaq Development Corporation, which was a part of Rural Cap. The war on poverty program was designed by President Johnson to create jobs in rural communities. This specific program helped start federal sponsored development agencies with health and community funded jobs like Rural Cap, health corporations and other federally funded agencies.

In 1972, Fran served as a part of the Alaska State operated school board, which was a statewide rural school board to help with making high schools in Alaska. Fran also worked as a social worker for three years, where she set up an office in Unalakleet to help community members sign up for food stamps, public assistance and child welfare.

Fran was elected to the Unalakleet Native Corporation (UNC) board in 1974 and still serves on the UNC board today. Her vision has always been for us to keep our land, so that we will have the land for our people to live on and use for generations to come. Fran was elected to the BSNC Board of Directors in 1976 and served for 25 years, until 2001, much of that time as board secretary.

All throughout life, everything Fran has done is volunteer and pursue a subsistence way of life as our ancestors had brought us up to do. The service she has done for our community and region has been mostly volunteering. She has served off and on the City of Unalakleet council and the Native Village of Unalakleet tribe. Fran currently serves on the Unalakleet Valley Electric Cooperative board.

Fran Degnan is the daughter of Ada and Frank Degnan. Her Inupiaq, Yupik and Unaliq names are Nanauq, Qiłłiq, Amuaŋuaq, Alvan, and Kilegneq (Qiliġniq- which means "all knotted up"). Her names reflect the grandmothers of the community of Unalakleet. Degnan is the author of the book "Under the Arctic Sun: The Life and Times of Frank and Ada Degnan."

The advice she gives is, "We do our very best. Everyone has talents and we appreciate all the talents people have, and to be thankful to everyone. We just need to keep our land as our ancestors have kept it. We know who we are as a people. Also people need to know that there are training and opportunities out there in the world and should learn to do something in order to be tied into what is going on in the communities and what is needed."

TELLER NATIVE CORPORATION
Virginia Mendadelook

Virginia Menadelook is a lifelong resident of Teller, Alaska, and the daughter of John James and Rachel Otoyuk. She was married to the late Roger Menadelook, Jr. of Little Diomede, and together they raised six children. Today, Virginia is blessed with 20 grandchildren and soon-to-be five great-grandchildren.

In honor of her late husband, Virginia has devoted her life to carrying on the traditions they shared. Together, they lived a subsistence lifestyle-camping at Nuuk near Teller, upriver at Aguipaq, Tunuu, Graphite Bay, and at Kuzitrin during reindeer roundup. They fished, hunted migratory birds and moose, owned and managed the Menadelook reindeer herd, and gathered berries and greens. Virginia was grateful to be a stay-at home mother, while her husband provided for their family.

Virginia is an active member of the Teller Dance Group and fondly remembers her Elders: Sig Wien Omiak, James Okpealuk, James Omiak, Paul Omiak, Fannie Okpealuk, Maria Omiak, and her husband, Roger Menadelook, Jr. who taught her the songs and dances of his culture from Inaliq.

She continues to pass on these cultural teachings to her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and youth in her community. Known for her great sense of humor and kind spirit, Virginia is a role model to many. She is 71 years young.

GOLOVIN NATIVE CORPORATION
Nina Ann Miller

Nina Aukongak was born on July 17, 1955, in Nome at the Maynard McDougal Memorial Hospital to the late Martin and Esther Aukongak. The oldest of nine children, Nina was raised in Golovin, where she has lived for most of her life and where she still resides today. She is a proud mother of one child and a grandmother to twelve grandchildren.

Nina works for the Chinik Eskimo Community, where she has served in many roles over the years. She currently serves as the IGAP Bookkeeper.

In her free time, Nina enjoys berry picking, gathering greens, and spending time with her family. She offers this advice and encouragement to others:

"When you see someone or feel hurt, address it. Compassion matters to God. This is the time for service, not self-centeredness. Your conscience is the measure of the honesty of your selfishness-listen to it carefully."

ELIM NATIVE CORPORATION
Sheldon Nagaruk

Sheldon Nagaruk was born in Elim in 1943, in his aunt's new log cabin. He spent his early years in Koyuk until the age of five, when his family returned to Elim in 1949. Growing up with dog teams, he recalls the sound of the 9-horse Johnson motors carrying across the ice from Moses Point.

He began school in Elim at age six. His first teachers were Major and Tony, an Inupiaq couple from Kotzebue, with Major teaching grades 1-3 and Tony teaching grades 5-8. After completing the eighth grade, he attended Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka from 1959-1963, graduating with a class of 135 students. After high school, he lived with his Auntie and Uncle Fredolph before moving to Los Angeles, where he studied electronics and worked for Technical Products Company until being drafted into the U.S. military in 1967. He completed boot camp in San Diego, underwent weapons training in North Carolina, and then served 13 months in Vietnam before returning home in 1969.

Following his service, he spent two years studying electronics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and later graduated from UAF. He married Emily, and together they raised their children: Stu, Gerald, Cheryl, and Diane. Their son Stu tragically passed away at age 20 in a snowmachine accident. Gerald now lives in Anchorage, while Cheryl lives in Elim, where she works as a Health Aide and raises three children. The family also adopted Floyd, Gerald's son, who is now a senior in high school and an avid hunter.

A lifelong hunter and fisherman, he has harvested seal, beluga, bear, moose, caribou, and crab, and spent many summers commercial fishing. For about 30 years, he worked as a heavy equipment operator in Elim, contributing to projects such as the airport expansion and the road to Moses Point. He also served the community as a bilingual teacher for 26 years, coached Native Youth Olympics (NYO), and built a strong skiing program alongside Jon Miles for the youth of Elim.

Today, he continues to call Elim home, proud of his family, his contributions to the community, and a lifetime rooted in tradition, teaching, and the land.

SHISHMAREF NATIVE CORPORATION
Winfred Obruk

Winfred Obruk was born on January 14, 1939, the second oldest son of Sergie and Esther Obruk. The best brother and a genuine good-hearted person. Born and raised in Shishmaref, Alaska, Winfred lived there most of his life, aside from several years spent living and fishing in Seattle.

Winfred worked for AVEC for more than 15 years. He loves living the subsistence lifestyle. He would camp, fish, hunt and berry pick until he was unable to. He is also a proud grandpa to all his nieces and nephew's children.

COUNCIL NATIVE CORPORATION
Raymond T. Pederson

Raymond "Ray" Pederson was born in Solomon, Alaska in November 1953. He is the fifth child and second son to Steve and Kitty Pederson. His Eskimo name Uning-ii-Uke, like one of the tallest mountains on the Seward Peninsula, was given to him by Pauline Bowtnuk Curran, a cousin to his grandmother Emily Agloinga Pederson. As a young child, Ray was shy but showed an ability to fix, repair, or put things together with ease. As Ray grew older, he learned to hunt and was successful in bringing home small and large game animals. The animals were used to feed the family and provide materials to his mom to craft winter garments. In the spring and fall each year he became a more productive and successful hunter.

Because the family entered the gold mining industry inCouncil in the late 1950's, Ray began operating and repairing small machinery. With his older and younger brothers Ray would make toys such as tractors and trucks, even wagons out of wood and metal found at the family mine. Ray and his
brothers were always at the work bench if not working on the mine.

With his mechanical ability he could repair the trucks and tractors the family owned and operated, but the main machinery was the bucket line and flume dredge. Ray learned at a young age to work on engines of all sizes and other operating parts of the dredge.

An important operation in gold mining was to use the bulldozers to clear the land of brush, overburden, divert water on and from mining areas. Ray would often be required to remove the topsoil to help thaw the ground and allow access to the minerals to be mined. Once his older brother was drafted into the Military during Vietnam, Ray became the main dozer operator at the family mine in Council. Ray also learned carpentry and other handyman skills, while working in Nome in the 1970's. Ray later in life
applied those skills for the Village of Solomon in converting the old school into the Solomon B&B.

Ray was always willing to help and assist people that lived in Council in the 1960's to early 2000's. As friends, nieces, and nephews visited the family, Ray was glad to tell them stories or help in repairing cars, bicycles, and other mechanical items. Ray would give helpful advice when he thought it was appropriate. To this day Ray can be found at the house in Nome helping family and friends to fix and repair, chainsaws, generators, vehicles and other small and large equipment. Ray served on the Council Native Corporation board for several terms in the late 1970's and 1980's.

SHAKTOOLIK NATIVE CORPORATION
Hannah Takak

Hannah Ann Takak, age 90, was born on June 25, 1935, in a small log cabin in Koyuk, Alaska, to the late Paul and Maggie Nagaruk. Although
originally from Koyuk, Hannah moved to Shaktoolik at around age 20, where she made her lifelong home. On December 23, 1953, she married the late Lynn Takak Sr. Together, they raised 12 children (one adopted out), 42 grandchildren (two deceased), and 37 great-grandchildren.

Hannah was a devoted stay-at-home mother who dedicated her life to her children and husband. She managed her home with care and ensured her family was always provided for. From an early age, she learned and embraced the subsistence way of life. If there were one word to describe Hannah, it would be provider. She worked tirelessly to put food away for her family: cutting fish, preparing and storing them, and gathering berries so that there was enough for every season. She processed whatever her husband and sons brought home-beluga, seal, moose, caribou, fish, and ducks. She prepared many fermented foods.

Hannah and Lynn's home was always open to others. Their table was prepared not only for family but also for evening visitors and community events, filled with the foods they harvested and prepared together.

In her later years, Hannah served as an Election Judge for both State and Local Governments and is still capable of doing it today. She also worked odd jobs in the village,
including several years as an annual cook for the Reindeer Herder's Corral. Alongside her husband, she volunteered as an Iditarod Checker, welcoming mushers and staff into their home. Together, they were honored with the "Checkpoint of the Year" award.

Hannah is known for her gentle, tender spirit and the love she shows to all. She is humble, forgiving, affectionate, compassionate, and radiates warmth to those around her. A devoted churchgoer, she often says, "All I can do is pray." She is also a die-hard fan of the Shaktoolik Wolverines, with basketball being her favorite sport. Though she cheers loudly and sometimes a little rowdily, she is quick to ask forgiveness afterward. No matter how stormy the weather, Hannah has never missed a game.

When she reflects on her life, she says, "I did not have a day that I did not have joy in it because you need to find joy in something every day."

KING ISLAND NATIVE CORPORATION
Lillian Tiulana

Lillian Annaoyuk Tiulana was born in November 1949 to Paul and Clara Tiulana of King Island, Alaska. She attended Nome Public Schools
and graduated from Nome High School in 1968. Her family moved to Anchorage in March 1968, so she stayed with her Uncle Simon and Aunt Helen Pushruk till graduation in May 1968 then moved to Anchorage. She went on to attend the University of Alaska Fairbanks and later earned an Associate of Arts degree from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 1971.

Lillian began her career with ARCO Alaska, Inc., where she worked for 30 years before retiring in February 2001. After retirement, she dedicated her time to caring for her five grandchildren while their parents worked, until the children reached school age. To supplement her income, she turned to traditional sewing, beading, and knitting, selling crafts at various events. She learned her skills from her grandmother, Marie Sagmiganna, her mother, Clara Tiulana, and her aunts, Helen Pushruk and Frances Binford Wood. Lillian continues to sew using her mother's owithlquaq patterns, which she sells. She works on her crafts year-round, as many pieces require extensive time to complete.

Deeply connected to her heritage, Lillian has always been involved with the King Island Eskimo Dancers, a tradition her grandchildren now enjoy as well. She also treasures spending time with her family, whether traveling on road trips with her hockey-playing grandson, Justin, and basketball-playing granddaughter, Taylor, or enjoying family vacations with her son Charles, her daughter Brenda, and their families.

BREVIG MISSION NATIVE CORPORATION
Bob Tocktoo Sr.

Bob Tocktoo Sr. was born in July 1949 to Arthur and Polly Tocktoo of Brevig Mission. He was married to his late wife, Inez Tocktoo, for 46 years until her passing on Jan. 1, 2019. Together, they raised five sons and four daughters, and were blessed with 40 grandchildren and 34 great-grandchildren. Bob attended school in Shishmaref and Nome-Beltz. In his ninth-grade year, he joined the Army National Guard, where he served as a cook for 24 years. He also worked with the Public Health Service and the Bering Strait School District. Since 2018, he has served on the Elder Advisory, sharing his knowledge and guidance.

Bob and Inez lived a full subsistence lifestyle, and he continued to pass that knowledge on to his family. He enjoys subsistence camping, hunting and picking greens and berries.

SITNASUAK NATIVE CORPORATION
John Waghiyi Jr.

John Waghiyi, Jr. was born to Reverends John and Della Waghiyi and grew up in Savoonga and Nome. He currently lives in Savoonga with his wife, Arlene, and their extensive family members, raising their grandchildren to this day. John and Arlene celebrated 51 years of marriage in 2024.

Throughout his life, John has dedicated himself to being a culture bearer and a passionate advocate for Indigenous people. He is a lifelong subsistence provider and captain of a whaling crew and serves on the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission.

John has worked tirelessly to strengthen connections and celebrate the shared cultural traditions and knowledge of the St. Lawrence Island Yupik people, engaging in dance and cultural exchanges with several Siberian Yupik villages in Chukotka, Russia. He has conducted art workshops across Alaska, where he shares traditional carving and sewing techniques and materials to help preserve and pass on these important cultural practices.

For over two decades, John has worked for the Bering Straits School District as a Yupik Language and Cultural History Teacher in Savoonga. He has also coached the high school Native Youth Olympics and basketball teams. At events, he proudly showcases his cultural heritage by performing traditional dances and playing his drum, sharing
the traditions he learned from those before him.

As lifelong drummers and dancers, John and Arlene established the Savoonga Youth Drummers and Dancers, a program aimed at revitalizing drumming and dancing among the youth. They also founded the Mangtak Eater's Elementary & Youth Basketball Tournament in Savoonga, inviting elementary and middle school teams from the
Bering Straits Region to participate.

An accomplished Siberian Yupik artist and dancer, John embodies the essence of a culture bearer, drawing strength from his ancestors and his steadfast faith. He remains committed to revitalizing and preserving Yupik culture, with a primary focus on engaging the youth in these vital efforts.