A long time Alaska Native leader and executive director of the Nanuuq commission died recently. Charlie Johnson, an Inupiat from the Nome area passed away on April 12. He was 72. Johnson’s list of accomplishments and titles stretches across decades. He was a former chair of the Alaska Federation of Natives as well as a former leader of Kawarak and the Bering Straits Native Association. He is being remembered by friends and co-workers as a man who worked tirelessly for Native issues, but also stayed deeply involved with his family. Nanuuq commission deputy director Jack Omelak and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist Susi Miller sat down to talk about their colleague and friend. Miller says Johnson built the nanuuq commission.
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Lori Townsend is the news director and senior host for Alaska Public Media. You can send her news tips and program ideas for Talk of Alaska and Alaska Insight at ltownsend@alaskapublic.org or call 907-550-8452.
