Writer and advocate for Native rights Laureli Ivanoff of Unalakleet is the new executive director of Native Peoples Action and Native Peoples Action Community Fund, where she will lead efforts to protect Native ways of life.
“In our Native community, we have needed a trusted statewide advocacy organization solely focused on protecting our ways of life — our inherent rights of hunting, fishing, harvesting, gathering, sharing and ceremonies for some time,” said La quen naay, NPACF board chair. “It is the singular goal of NPA to become worthy of this status. Laureli will bring her strong Native spirit, connection to our ways of life, and knowledge to build critical relationships and help shape this work for us.”
“Hunting, fishing and harvesting is central to who I am,” Ivanoff said. “I look forward to using my energy to protect our right to harvest and continue a way of life I have been privileged to practice and continue to learn from. I appreciate the NPA and NPACF board and steering committee for their trust and support and look forward to, with staff, advancing the important mission.”
Ivanoff, an Unalakleet resident of Inupiaq and Yup’ik descent, is a columnist for High Country News, who explores “the seasonality of living in direct relationship with the land, water, plants and animals in and around Uŋalaqłiq (Unalakleet).” She has been published in the New York Times, Anchorage Daily News, Outside Magazine, and various publications with her writing that aims to bring representation to a way of life integral to Native peoples.
