Matilda Kushnick Named "Tlingit
& Haida Citizen of the Year"
April 18, 2003
Friday - 9:45 am
April 11th was Matilda Kushnick's day for recognition for her
22 plus years of serving in the Tlingit & Haida Saxman Community.
Tlingit & Haida's Saxman and Ketchikan Chapter nominated
Matilda "Tillie" Kushnick for "Citizen of the
Year" at this year's Tlingit & Haida General Assembly
of Delegates Convention held in Sitka.
| Matilda Kushnick,
at the podium, is honored as "Tlingit & Haida Citizen
of the Year". Standing behind Kushnick is Ed Thomas who
is the President of the Tlingit & Haida Central Council.
Holding the plaque is Dr. Blake Kazama. Also pictured are the
Board of Commissioners. Photo by Carrie L. James |
The Ketchikan Delegate, Carrie
L. James who is Kushnick's niece and the source of this news,
spoke at the General Assembly of the many lifelong achievements
fulfilled by Kushnick.
Matilda Kushnick is known as
"Tillie". She is an elder of Saxman and proudly represents
the community in various capacities. Kushnick is Double Headed
Raven & Dog-Salmon Clan from Kuiu Island. She is the mother
of 15 children and has 67 grandchildren & great grandchildren.
A few of Kushnick's contributions
that have made a difference and impacted many lives in the Saxman
& Ketchikan and other surrounding communities are:
- On the Board of Commissioners
of Tlingit & Haida Regional Housing Authority and currently
serving as the Vice Chairman and has been with the Housing Authority
for 22 years.
- Board of Director for Cape
Fox Corporations as secretary/treasurer and has been on the CFC
board for over 20 years.
- Camp Mother for Alaska Native
Sisterhood Camp #15 and a lifetime member.
- Serves on the S.E. Native
Subsistence Commission as a representative for the Village of
Saxman and a subsistence fighter for all of Alaska.
- A cultural teacher of the
subsistence ways and life style for gathering food and preparations.
- A retired nurse from Ketchikan
General Hospital.
- A commercial fisherman.
- A student of anthropology
& archeology from the UAS Ketchikan Campus.
Along with being elected "Tlingit
& Haida Citizen of the Year", Central Council President
Edward Thomas, Dr. Blake Kazama and the Board of Commissioners
presented gifts and comments honoring Mrs. Matilda Kushnick for
her 22 years of service on the Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing
Authority Board. Matilda "Tillie" Kushnick was one
of the key players responsible for getting over 500 homes built
in communities in Southeast Alaska.
Other nominees for Tlingit & Haida Citizen of the Year were
Gerald Bennett of Juneau and Joe Bennett, Jr. of Seattle.
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