Native Peoples Action Community Fund (NPA CF) is an Alaska Native statewide grassroots movement advancing the transition to a just society that provides for the continuation of our way of life and the wellbeing of Alaska Native people.
We listen and directly respond to the needs of our communities; our work heavily depends on feedback, information sharing, and direction led by our people. We are building an inclusive movement to protect Alaska Native ways of life centered on Indigenous values, sovereignty and wellbeing, and elevate the voices of Alaska Natives in all levels of policy making and regulation.
We are the only Indigenous non-profit organization of its kind in Alaska operating two sister organizations – Native Peoples Action (c4) and Native Peoples Action Community Fund (C3) to influence systems change. We continually focus on outreach to our Tribal leaders and communities to collect insight and guidance for our work, uplift the work of our communities and build partnerships that help to further our mission and goals.
NPA Community Fund Operating Principles
NPA Community Fund Board of Directors
La Quen Naay Liz Medicine Crow, Tlingit/Haida
President
La quen náay Kat Saas is from Keex Kwaan (Kake), Alaska. On her Haida side she is Eagle Tiits Gitee Nei, Hummingbird. On her Tlingit side she is Raven Kaach.adi, Fresh Water-marked Sockeye Salmon. Integrating Native knowledge and values into organizations, governance mechanisms, and everyday life is a primary passion and responsibility she has pursued through her education and career. Liz received her BA (BFA Equivalency) from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado, and her professional degree from Arizona State University College of Law, graduating with a Juris Doctorate degree and a Certificate in Indian Law. She currently serves as the President/CEO of First Alaskans Institute
Jonathan Tullek Samuelson, Yup’iaq & Dene
Vice President
Jonathan Tullek Samuelson (Yup’iaq & Dene), was raised on the banks of the Kuskokwim River alongside his siblings, cousins, and fish. His family ties span the watershed, and his parents are Debby Hartman (Vanderpool) and Sam Samuelson. Driven by a passion for people and cross-cultural sharing Jonathan’s work has always centered around making connections and helping others realize the potential of tools they already have. He currently works for The Kuskokwim Corporation whose vision is a sustainable, collective future. Jonathan is a citizen of the Native Village of Georgetown, where he serves on the tribal council as well as their appointed commissioner to the Kuskokwim River Inter Tribal Fish Commission (KRITFC). As the current chair of KRITFC, he aims to elevate tribal voices in fisheries stewardship and weave together ways of knowing. He also works toward systems change as an advisor to the Tamamta and Indigenizing Salmon Science & Management programs through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Jonathan enjoys time on the land, binging a good tv show, and stringing together words into poetry.
Marina Anderson, Haida & Tlingit
Treasurer
Marina Anderson is a Haida and Tlingit harvester and advocate for our ways of life. Marina is from the Taakw.aaneidi clan from Heinya Kwaan and is from the Sculpin House. Marina grew up on Prince of Wales Island where harvesting traditional things out on the lands and waters was her school. Marina has spent time on her tribal council, is on the board of directors for her ANC village corporation, and most recently in her professional life Marina has transitioned from being the tribal administrator for the Organized Village of Kasaan to be the deputy director for the Sustainable Southeast Partnership.
Carrie Stevens
Secretary
Carrie Stevens previously served the Council of Athabascan Tribal Government (CATG), an Alaska Native Tribal Consortium serving ten Gwich’in and Koyukon Tribes to promote Tribal Self-Governance. Mrs. Stevens served as the lead negotiator for CATG on their two Non-BIA self-governance agreements with the Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service. She began working with CATG in 1999, when she moved to Arctic Village to work with Indigenous rights activists for the protection of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. She now serves as faculty for the University of Alaska Tribal Management program. Carrie holds a Masters degree in International and Intercultural Management. She is a mother and warrior for sustaining Alaska Native ways of life.
Brooke Woods, Athabascan
Director
Brooke Woods is Koyukon from Rampart and currently lives in Fairbanks, Alaska with her children. She attends the University of Alaska Fairbanks, continuing her education after receiving a Tribal Management Associate of Applied Science degree. She works as an Arctic Policy Coordinator, serves as Executive Chair for the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and advises the Indigenizing Salmon Management project. She and her children enjoy spending time in Rampart fishing, gathering, and hunting.
NPA Community Fund Steering Committee
Saagulik Elizabeth Hensley, Iñupiaq
Saagulik focuses her practice on meeting the unique legal needs of Alaska Native corporations, tribes and tribal nonprofit health and social service organizations. She maintains a general counsel practice providing advice in contract strategy, negotiation and enforcement; employment law; investigations and compliance; grants management; conflicts of interest and other ethics standards; and governance. Saagulik has been active in Alaska and Native American affairs for many years. Her experience includes working as a legislative aide with the Alaska State Legislature, as a staff attorney and public policy liaison with an Alaska Native (ANSCA) regional corporation, and as general counsel for a 600-employee regional tribal nonprofit corporation. She served as senior policy advisor at the United States Department of the Interior Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs and has provided international human rights law support to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through coursework and a fellowship.
Ruth Miller, Dena’ina Athabaskan & Ashkenazi Russian Jewish
Ruth is a Dena’ina Athabaskan and Ashkenazi Russian Jewish woman, raised in Anchorage, Alaska. She is a member of the Curyung Tribe, and also has roots in Bristol Bay, where her family descended downriver after leaving the Lake Iliamna region. She is a recent graduate from Brown University, built on occupied Wampanoag and Narragansett lands, and received a BA in Critical Development Studies with a focus on Indigenous resistance and liberation. She has worked many years towards Indigenous rights advocacy and climate justice in Alaska, as well as in Rhode Island and the south of Chile. She centers themes of wellness and community care, and is thinking a lot about growth and regeneration and imagination in our activism work. Ruth also does International Indigenized climate justice work with the United Nations Association and SustainUS. Most of all, she loves singing as her Grandma Ruth did, practicing traditional beadwork with her mother late at night, slowly discovering her Dena’ina language, and building radical communities of love!