Every year, AFN honors those who have made outstanding contributions to their families and the Native community.
The Citizen of the Year Award recognizes the contributions of a Native person who has demonstrated strong commitment, dedication, and service to the Alaska Native community and to rural Alaska. This year, the Citizen of the Year award is bestowed upon an individual selected by the AFN Board of Directors for exemplary work that has improved the lives of Alaska Native people. The 2026 Citizen of the Year is:
- Dimitri Philemonof, Anchorage, Alaska
Read on to learn more about this year’s awardee.
2026 DENALI AWARD WINNER
Dimitri Philemonof, is an Aleut from St. George Island, Alaska. Dimitri began his life of service when he joined the Army and served in the pathfinder detachment at Fort Rucker in Alabama 1965-1966.
He has served the Aleut People, the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Region, Alaska Tribes, and all American Indians in various ways through his 48 years of service working mostly as the President/CEO of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association. He began working for the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association, Inc. April 14, 1978 under the Community Services Department. Dimitri has continued to serve as the President/CEO(formerly named Executive Director) of the Association since April 24, 1985, now managing an $30 million budget and 130 programs funded through federal, state and private grants, to advance the health, economic, social and cultural development of the Aleutian Pribilof Islands Region.
Dimitri travels extensively, learning about the legislative process, building alliances with organizations sharing common goals and objectives, educating grantors about the needs of the Aleut People, and working to strengthen the voice of the Aleut People, Alaskan Natives, and American Indians. Over the years, Dimitri has served as a board member on the St. George Village Corporation (Tanaq), Aleutian Housing Authority, Alaska Federation of Natives, The Aleut Corporation, Gold Cache Bingo, Lucky Strike Bingo, the Aleut League, St. Herman’s Seminary, St. Innocent Orthodox Brotherhood, and the Aleutian Finance Corporation, just to name a few.
He has been married to Victoria Philemonof since 2010. Between them they have 5 grown children, 6 grandchildren and currently reside in Anchorage, AK.