I was born in Juneau and raised in Yakutat by Maggie Harry, my very wise, old grandmother whose Tlingit name was Neechx yaa nas.at of the Kwasshkakwaan clan.

I belong to the Kwasshkakwann Humpy (chass) clan. My house is the half moon house (Dis Hit). I first moved to Angoon when I was 8 years old to live with my mom and dad.

I have been an elementary teacher (grades 2-5) in Angoon for the past 13 years. I’m currently teaching 5th grade and am also the head teacher at Angoon Elementary School. I also teach Tlingit language and culture to grades 1-6.

I teach in the same classroom where I was once a student. After attending Angoon for my elementary education, I went Mt. Edgecumbe and Sand Point High Schools.

I moved to Sitka with my family to attend Sheldon Jackson College, earning my B.A. in elementary education in1990.

My grandmother taught me that it is very important in our Tlingit tradition to know one’s name, moiety, clan, and protocol. She said to me, “This is the way things are; this is the way it must be.” She gave me an understanding of what was right and wrong, of identity and place, which stayed with me like a seed, ready to grow when I was ready to find it.

My hobbies are hiking, fishing, reading, seeing my grandchildren, putting up fish and gardening.