Category Archive

Gush Tlein (Levi Rinehart) is a Lingít (Tlingit language) graduate and immersion preschool teacher committed to the revitalization and sustainability of Tlingit language and culture. Raised on Tlingit land, he brings both lived experience and professional practice to his work, including teaching his own children and supporting young learners in a language immersion setting. Gush Tlein’s approach centers land-based learning, …

Whitney Leigh Staub, MAT, Med, is an academic achievement facilitator in Great Falls, Montana. Over the past 10 years, she has taught in both reservation school and urban school settings. She transitioned from teaching high school English on the reservation to teaching Native American literature and advocating for urban Indigenous students’ success. She completed her doctoral certification in Administration and …

Jordann (Bright Trail Woman) Lankford is an educator and Indigenous Education for All instructional coach with Great Falls Public Schools in Montana. She teaches American Indian Studies and Native American Literature at the high school level and assists educators throughout the country with infusing Indigenous content into their classrooms and learning spaces. Jordann serves as the Chairwoman of the Montana …

Karina Iceberg Gardner holds an MFA in writing for children and young adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her first two picture books, A Good Hide and Free to Fly, were published with Heartdrum in 2026. Her work has appeared in two anthologies: the Printz-award winning Legendary Frybread Drive-In, edited by Cynthia Leitich Smith, and Onward: Climate Fiction …

Tlagoonk Amelia Wilson, a Tlingit and Irish community doer from Hoonah, Alaska, and member of the Chookaneidí Brown Bear clan, serves as the Executive Director for the Huna Heritage Foundation. In this role, she oversees the foundation’s library, archives, scholarships, and community programming, having previously led the development of the award-winning Huna Heritage Digital Archives. Beyond her work in cultural …

Kaasteen Sonya Johnson serves as the Project Coordinator for the Huna Heritage Foundation, where she manages the organization’s scholarship, archival, and cultural programs. Deeply connected to her Tlingit heritage, she is an accomplished and skilled practitioner of traditional harvesting and spruce root and cedar weaving. Sonya uses her extensive knowledge of local history and traditions to help preserve and share …

Ghagetch Rebekah Sawers serves as the Administrative Coordinator for the Huna Heritage Foundation, where she is dedicated to perpetuating Tlingit culture and way of life through community programs, cultural initiatives, and educational outreach. Of Yupik and Caucasian descent, she was adopted into the Tlingit Shangukeidí clan (Eagle/Thunderbird) and is deeply committed to serving her community and strengthening cultural connections for …

Karl Schleich is a 40+ year educator, having served as a middle school teacher, building principal, director, trainer, and consultant.  He has served as an elementary and middle school principal for 24 years in Alaska, having had the opportunity to open three new schools during his career.  Karl was recognized with Alaska’s National Distinguished Principal Award in 2000.  In 2011, …

Lisa X’unyéil’ Worl currently works at the Association of Alaska School Boards (AASB) as a Family Partnership Coordinator.  She works with education partners, teachers and administrators throughout Alaska to incorporate family engagement, trauma engaged schools, and cultural integration practices within the schools and communities. Prior to AASB, Lisa worked as a legislative aide at Alaska State Legislature, served on the …

Dawn Biddison works in equitable collaboration with Alaska Native Elders, Knowledge-Holders, artists, educators, learners, and cultural organization staff on Indigenous heritage projects. Her work began with community-based museum research, exhibition, and website work, and continues through museum outreach, collections access, research, fieldwork, artist residencies, workshops, public programs, and shared interdisciplinary documentation and resources that respect Indigenous protocols and goals, support …