Barbara Wáahlaal Gidaag Blake

About Barbara Wáahlaal Gidaag Blake

Barbara \'Wáahlaal Gíidaak Blake is from Prince of Wales Island and currently lives in Dzántik’i Héeni (Juneau) on Lingít Aaní.\'Wáahlaal Gíidaak is of Haida, Tlingit and Ahtna Athabascan descent and belongs to the Káat nay-st/Yahkw Jáanaas (Shark House/Middle Town People) Clan. She is the daughter of Sandra Demmert (Yahkw Jáanaas) and Kenneth Johnson (Naltsiina), and the granddaughter of Frances Demmert Peele (Yahkw Jáanaas), Franklin Demmert, Sr.(L’eeneidi), Irene Johnson (Naltsiina) Walter Johnson (Norwegian), and mother to two amazing kids. She currently serves as the Director of the Alaska Native Policy Center with First Alaskans Institute, where she promotes the self-determination of Alaska Native peoples through strengthening opportunities for indigenous voices to be at the forefront of leading, solving, confronting, and advocating for Indigenous communities. She also sits on the City and Borough of Juneau Assembly as an elected city official and on the Sealaska Board of Directors. She received her master’s degree from UAF in Rural Development focusing her thesis on Fisheries Development in Rural Alaska. She received her undergraduate degree(s) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks with a BA in Rural Economic Development and an AA in Tribal Management. She also holds Onaben’s Indianpreneurship and Sandford’s First Nations Futures Program certificates.\'Wáahlaal Gíidaak formerly served as Director of Native Relations and fish/game staffer for Governor Bill Walker and Lt. Governor Byron Mallott. She spent two sessions in the legislature working with Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon and Senator Albert Kookesh. She also served as Government Affairs Liaison for The Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska and tenure track Assistant Professor for the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In addition, Barbara has worked as the Technical Assistant Specialist for Intertribal Agriculture Council and Program Assistant in the Office of the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Office of Tribal Relations. She was elected to serve on the board of directors for Sealaska Corporation. She is a member of the Woosh.ji.een Dancers, Xaadaas Dagwii Dancers, Alaska Native Sisterhood, Polynesian Voyage Society, and the Heinyaa Kwaan Dancers.

Experience

1. Vice President, Arctic

   Ocean Conservancy

   Apr 2024 — Present · AK, US

Education

• University of Alaska Fairbanks

  BBA/AAS, Rural Development, Tribal Management

  2008 — 2010

• University of Alaska Fairbanks

  Master's degree, Rural Development

  2012 — 2013

Skills

• Fundraising
• Software Documentation
• Public Policy
• Economic Development
• Program Development
• Leadership
• Academia
• Public Speaking
• Policy
• Graphic Design
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Microsoft Office
• Funding
• Consulting
• Grants
• Inventory Management
• Environmental Awareness
• Business Objects
• Program Management
• Accounts Receivable
• Teaching
• Database Administration
• Research
• Business Communications
• Human Resources
• Cabling
• Accounts Payable
• Finance
• Community Outreach