FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 2003
Matilda Kushnick is elected as "Tlingit & Haida Citizen of the Year"
April 11, 2003 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 the process of Citizen of the Year at this year's Tlingit & Haida General Assembly of Delegates Convention held in Sitka.
Ketchikan Delegate, Carrie L. James, niece to Tillie spoke at the General Assembly of the many lifelong achievements fulfilled by her aunt Tillie Kushnick.
Tillie is Double Headed Raven & Dog-Salmon Clan from Kuiu Island. She is mother of 15 children and 67 grandchildren & great grandchildren.
Matilda is known by all as "Tillie", she is an elder of Saxman and is proud to represent the community in various capacities; she is involved with the following committees and elected positions:
- On the Board of Commissioners of Tlingit & Haida Regional Housing Authority and currently serves 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 the Ketchikan General Hospital.
- A Commercial fisherman.
- A student of Anthropology & Archeology from the UAS Ketchikan Campus.
These are only a few of the attributes she has contributed that made a difference and impacted many lives in our community and other surrounding communities.
As well as 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 all over S.E. Alaska.
Other nominees for T&H Citizen of the Year were Gerald Bennett of Juneau and Joe Bennett Jr. of Seattle.
Written by Carrie L James, Ketchikan Delegate
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