Every year, AFN honors those who have made outstanding contributions to their families and the Native community. Please read on for a list of this year’s AFN President’s Awards honorees and scroll to the bottom of this email for brief overviews of each award.
Dr. Malia Villegas
Dr. Walter Soboleth “Warrior of Light”
The Dr. Walter Soboleth “Warrior of Light” award goes to Dr. Malia Villegas. Dr. Villegas currently serves as a Tribal Councilmember with the Native Village of Afognak and the Senior Vice President of Community Investments at Afognak Native Corporation. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a graduate degree from Harvard University. Previously she served as the Director of the Policy Research Center at the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI). Dr. Villegas is a Board member for Alaska-based Data for Indigenous Justice, a non-profit that advocates for murdered and lost indigenous women, girls, and relatives. While at NCAI, she promoted an effort to center love, joy, and hope in national policy and data work related American Indian and Alaska Native youth and communities, including the use of the hashtag #lovemore, especially since this work has more commonly centered trauma, gaps, and violence. This approach has characterized her work since that time where Dr.Villegas attempts to lead with love and hope. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked with others to address the divisions that emerged between Alaska Native communities and across Alaska Natives and Tribes in the Lower 48 that resulted in a Supreme Court case – work that she continues to engage in to this day. In stewarding these efforts, she often refers to what it means to be an Afognak Alutiiq person – “Ag’waneq, the traditional name for Afognak, means ‘the place that is split apart’. As a result, my responsibility as an Afognak person is to help bring unity with our people and places.”
Emilie Swenning
Culture Bearer
This year’s Culture Bearer award goes to Emilie Swenning, born in Anchorage and raised in Nanwalek, Emilie is a respected cultural leader and educator. As the first female Chief of Nanwalek and a long-serving Indian Reorganization Act (IRA) Councilmember, Emilie has led her community through significant challenges, including infrastructure and financial issues. Her leadership helped stabilize and strengthen tribal operations, and she has continued to serve as the Nanwalek Village Coordinator since 2005. Emilie’s dedication to youth and cultural preservation is unmatched. For nearly 20 years, she has directed the Summer Youth Program, engaging teens in subsistence activities, elder support, and environmental stewardship. She also runs afterschool programs, craft nights, and scholarship assistance, ensuring that community members of all ages have access to resources and cultural learning. With an Occupational Endorsement in Alutiiq Language, Emilie is a cultural bearer who bridges generations. She teaches traditional arts, supports language revitalization, and connects elders with youth to preserve and celebrate Alutiiq heritage. Her work is deeply rooted in service, compassion, and a vision for a thriving, culturally rich future. Emilie’s impact is felt not only in the programs she leads but in the relationships she nurtures. Her legacy is one of resilience, generosity, and cultural pride – qualities that make her a truly deserving nominee for this award.
Gail Schubert
Public Service
This award goes to Gail R. Anagick Schubert, Inupiaq from Unalakleet, is a distinguished advocate for Alaska Native peoples and a pivotal leader in advancing Indigenous governance and economic sovereignty across the state. As the former President & CEO of Bering Straits Native Corporation, she transformed the organization into a multimillion-dollar enterprise while fiercely protecting subsistence rights, promoting education, and empowering shareholders. Gail’s legal and financial expertise, paired with her cultural grounding, enabled her to serve her people with competence and care. She served on numerous statewide and national boards, including the Alaska Federation of Natives, ANCSA Regional Association, and Alaska Native Justice Center. A Stanford and Cornell alumna, Gail has always prioritized the next generation—creating internship programs, mentoring young leaders, and advocating for representation. Her legacy is one of transformative leadership, cultural stewardship, and unwavering dedication to community service.
Samuel Diementieff
Elder of the Year
The Elder of the Year award goes to Samuel S. Demientieff, born in 1939 in Holy Cross, is a lifelong advocate for Alaska Native people whose leadership and dedication have shaped the cultural and political landscape of Alaska’s Interior. Raised in a family of ten who operated a river freighting business, Sam’s formative years in Holy Cross, Nenana, and Fairbanks gave him a deep connection to the land and its people. After serving honorably in the U.S. Army, Sam earned a Mineral Petroleum Technology certificate from University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) and worked for Atlantic Richfield before dedicating his career to Native advocacy. He assisted village corporations through the Interior Village Association, served on the Doyon, Limited Board—including terms as chairman and acting president—and later became Executive Director of the Fairbanks Native Association. As Superintendent of the BIA Fairbanks Agency, he was instrumental in establishing federally recognized tribes in Alaska. Beyond formal leadership, Sam devoted himself to cultural preservation, working with Howard Luke’s Spirit Camp, contributing to UAF research projects, and serving on the State Board of Fisheries. Renowned as a storyteller, he shares lessons of humor, resilience, and Athabascan tradition. Sam and his wife Mary have raised three children, ten grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren in the spirit of Ch’eghwtsen’, always placing family and community above all. His life’s work reflects a tireless commitment to uplifting Alaska Native people and safeguarding heritage for future generations.
Tayler Higgins
Lu Young Youth Leadership
This award goes to Tayler Higgins, a driven first-generation college student, youth advocate and emerging Alaska Native leader who is already making a meaningful impact in her community. She is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a minor in Alaska Native studies at the University of Alaska Anchorage, where she combines academic excellence with a deep commitment to cultural awareness and community service as a University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Indigenous youth advocate. In addition to her studies, Tayler works in CIRI’s Shareholder Relations department where she supports engagement and communication efforts that strengthen connections between shareholders/descendants and the corporation. Known for her professionalism, empathy and strong work ethic, she brings the same energy to her workplace as she does to the broader Alaska Native community. At only 22 years old, Tayler has a lengthy and growing track record of involvement in youth programs, advocacy efforts and outreach initiatives focused on empowering the next generation of Alaska Native leaders. Grounded in traditional values and inspired by her heritage, Tayler is a rising changemaker who leads with both courage and compassion. Her journey is only the beginning, but her impact is already being felt across the communities she serves.
Abra Patkotak
Della Keats “Healing hands”
The Della Keats “Healing Hands” award goes to Abra Patkotak. Abra Patkotak is Iñupiaq from Utqiaġvik and now lives in Anchorage, Alaska. She’s a full spectrum birthworker, doula, and student midwife, and serves as the Co-Founder and Co-Director of the Alaska Native Birthworkers Community. Through her work, Abra is helping to improve safety and support for Indigenous mothers and families across Alaska. Abra’s held many roles over the years, including managing the pre-maternal home in Utqiaġvik and working as a 911 dispatcher. In every role, she brings compassion, cultural insight, and a clear understanding of the needs of rural communities. She earned her Bachelor of Social Work in 2023 from the University of Alaska Anchorage and is currently working toward a master’s degree in maternal-child health systems at Bastyr University. Abra serves on the State of Alaska’s Maternal Child Death Review Committee as a subject matter expert, where she reviews both child and maternal deaths. She was also selected as a 2023 Healing & Leadership Fellow with the Seventh Generation Fund, a 2024 Prenatal-to-3 Leaders Fellow with Rockwood Leadership Institute, and the 2024 Anagi Leadership Award from the Arctic Education Foundation.
Timothy and Lydia Matthew
Parents of the Year
This award recognizes Timothy and Lydia Matthew for their outstanding parenting. Timothy and Lydia Matthew reside in Quinhagak and together they have two girls, Rehana and Jordyn. Rehana recently graduated from high school and is into basketball. Jordyn is in Elementary school and is into crafts and fishing. They both help out with gathering subsistence and cleaning, putting away their catch. Their children are very respectful to everyone and their grades in school are above average.
The Matthew’s are active year-round with subsistence – fall, winter, spring, and summer, and teach their children to hunt, fish, and prepare and preserve foods for the year. Timothy and Lydia tell their girls to not give up on what they started.
2025 PRESIDENT’S AWARDS
- Culture Bearer – Recognizes an Alaska Native who demonstrates strong involvement in the arts. Individuals nominated for this award may be involved in theater, music, dance, painting, sculpture, and storytelling. This award can also recognize an artist, an arts administrator, or a preserver of Native culture.
- Della Keats “Healing Hands” – Named for the late Dr. Della Keats, an Inupiaq healer who served the health care needs in the Northwest Alaska area for over 50 years. This award recognizes an Alaska Native who has demonstrated strong commitment, competence and sensitivity as a tribal healer or health care provider, and whose accomplishments have most directly affected Native people in their home communities.
- Elder of the Year – Recognizes an Alaska Native Elder who exemplifies the highest of values and qualities important to Native people. This individual is recognized as a leader, an educator, and preserver of Native culture whose contributions have benefited Native peoples throughout his/her life.
- Lu Young Youth Leadership – Named for the late Lu Young, who encouraged young people to expand their horizons and challenge themselves to become future leaders. Nominees must be a young woman, 18-30 years of age who demonstrates leadership qualities. The young men’s category will be available in 2026.
- Parents of the Year – Recognizes Alaska Native parents who exhibit many of the qualities and values important to the continued physical, social, and cultural survival of Native people. These values may include sharing and teaching of Native culture, love of children, respect for Elders, spirituality, cooperation, and responsibility and involvement in the community.
- Public Service – Recognizes an Alaska Native who has demonstrated dedication, competence, and sensitivity in the area of public service. This award recognizes individuals who have promoted and assisted in the development of their community, or whose accomplishments and leadership qualities have most directly affected and benefited Native peoples.
- Dr. Walter Soboleff “Warriors of Light” – Named for the late Dr. Walter Soboleff, this award recognized individuals who uplift our people, enrich our spirits, and unify our people.