OUR MISSION
Mission: The PNWACC provides community to Alutiiq People residing outside traditional homelands in Washington State, by delivering both in person and online opportunities which will reawaken traditional ways of being; help Alutiiq/Sugpiaq people root themselves in their cultural identity, improve health outcomes, build multigenerational community connections, encourage respect for the environment, and promote the active use of the Alutiiq language.
Vision: PNW Alutiiq Culture Camp connects Sugpiaq people to each other, their cultural arts, and their community through revitalizing cultural practices and language.
Values: The Values of the PNWACC are centered on the people, the land and culture; with the goal that we will pass Sugpiaq culture down to our future generations. Our Values include:
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Courage – To reclaim our culture, language and ways of being.
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Collaboration – Partnership with and support of other native organizations.
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Inclusiveness – All Sugpiaq people are Sugpiaq enough.
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Integrity – Providing quality service in all facets.
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Healing – Harm caused by generations of colonialism.
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Breaking down artificial barriers between Sugpiaq people.
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Compassion – For where each Sugpiat is in their journey.
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Respect – For our elders, our culture, the environment, and all people including ourselves.
We are excited to do this work to help our people and ourselves heal through our ways of being.
OUR TEACHERS
2027 Teachers:
Main In-person Camp Teacher TBD
Loren S Anderson
Elena Laurice
Ashley Jensen
Adriana Furlong
Alumni Teachers:
Adriana Furlong (2026)
Alexandria Christiansen Troxell (Koniag Rep) (2022)
Alicia Drabek, Phd. (2020, 2023)
Anna Uyeda (2023, 2024)
Andrew Abyo (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
Christine Redmond (2023, 2024)
Dehrich Isuwiiq Chya, M.A. (Alutiiq Museum Reg) (2019)
Djuna Davidson (Alutiiq Museum Rep) (2019)
Ed Tiulana (2026)
Elena Laurice (2025, 2026)
Ezra Sholl (2020)
Hanna Agasuuq Sholl (2019, 2020, 2021)
Heather Metrokin Cannon (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
Ingrid Hansen (2023, 2024)
Jessica Towns-Camara, MS. (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
June Pardue (2020, 2021, 2026)
Loren S. Anderson (2023, 2024, 2025, 2026)
Mari Hansell (2023, 2024)
Melissa McKee (2023, 2024, 2025)
Mellisa Meyer (2022)
Michaila Taylor (2022. 2023)
Natalia Schnieder (2021, 2022)
Sheryl Blackman (2025)
Stevi Frets (2019)
Sven Haakanson, PHD. (2019)
Tanya Larson (2022)
Tim Metrokin (2022)
Vicki Puquisqaq Era-Pankretz (2020)
OUR HISTORY
The Alutiiq Culture Camp impetus was a hunger for our culture. A small group of Washington Sugpiaq Alutiiq, including Ellie Dinglasa Stewart, Vickie Era-Pankretz, Ingrid Hansen, Brandee Era-Miller and Jessica Towns-Camara, founded PNW Alutiiq Culture Camp in 2018 to create space to share our Alutiiq knowledge and stories and simply be with other Alutiiq people.
The Evergreen State College House of Welcome generously provided the support, space, and community partnership that made Alutiiq Culture Camp possible and helped it grow into what it is today. We deeply value this longstanding relationship and are grateful to continue working together.
Shunpike is our fiscal sponsor, providing nonprofit financial and administrative support. A 10% administrative fee is retained by Shunpike from donations, with the remaining 90% supporting Alutiiq Culture Camp programs and activities.
The Alutiiq Culture Camp team maintains autonomy over our programming and activities, and we remain committed to building strong community partnerships.
OUR TEAM
Director
Jessica Towns-Camara (Native Village of Pilot Point & BBNC)
Ikayut Team (Volunteer Helpers)
Team Lead - Ashley Jensen (Koniag) -
Team Member -- Katrean Hall (Koniag Descendant) - Advisory, and FB Group Moderator
Team Member - Melissa McKee (Koniag, Afognak) - Afognak Advocate
Team Member - Adriana Furlong - (BBNC, Koniag)
Quyakapet Members (Honorary Members)
Elder - Ingrid Hansen (Pilot Point and BBNC)
Past Team Members
Marissa Vinberg - (TNV & Koniag) - 2024-2025
Heather Metrokin Cannon (Sun'aq Tribe & Bristol Bay Native Corp)
Ellie Dinglasa Stewart (Koniag & Natives of Kodiak) - 2018-2019, 2025
Ingrid Hansen (BBNC) -2019
Tanya Larson (Koniag, Afognak Des.) -2023-2024
Christine Redmond (CIRI, Ninilchik) - 2023-2024
Anna Uyeda (Koniag Des., Tangirnaq) - 2023-2024
Vickie Era Pankretz (Koniag & NOK) - 2018-2019 (Quyakapet 2020-2023)
Brandee Era-Miller (Koniag & Natives of Kodiak) - 2019-2020
Ronna Myles-Era (Koniag & Natives of Kodiak) - 11/2019-1/2020
Hanna Agasuuq Sholl (Koniag, Sun'aq Tribe, Leisnoi, Afognak Native Corporation & Natives of Kodiak) - 2019-2021
Interested in joining our volunteer team? Email us us at pnwalutiiiqs@gmail.com
Honored Community Member of the Year
2026 Recipient - Heather Metrokin Cannon
For five years, Heather has generously shared her time, cultural knowledge, and expertise with the Alutiiq Culture Camp community. Through her volunteer service, she has helped create meaningful learning experiences and strengthen the connections that make our camp special. We are grateful for the time, care, and generosity she has given to our community and are pleased to recognize Heather as our Honored Community Member of the Year. Her contributions have made a lasting impact, and we are thankful to have had her as part of our camp journey.
We wish her well as she embarks on her next chapter!
2025 Recipient - Loren S Anderson (Koniag, Afognak)
2024 Recipient - Ingrid Hansen (BBNC, Native Village of Pilot Point)
2023 Recipient - Ellie Dinglasa Stewart (Koniag, NOK)
2022 Recipient - Vickie Puqisqaq Era-Pankretz (Koniag & Natives of Kodiak)
Puqisqaq was very important to the PNW Sugpiaq Community and we, along with The Evergreen State College S'gʷi gʷi ʔ altxʷ House of Welcome, were privileged to honor her at PNWACC In-person Camp in 2022 in a blanketing ceremony naming her Honored Elder. Puqisqaq leaves a wonderful legacy within her daughters Ronna and Brandee, her grandchildren and the Sugpiaq Community.