Keiren Fitka

• Trainings focused on Alaska Native cultural values, life skills, workforce development, and leadership skills.
• Introduction to potential health care, administrative, and related careers,
• Personal Records, customer service in the gift shop, organized office.
• Elders Program, ensured cleanliness of facility, prepared snack greeted elders with snack, prepared and served lunch to elders, performed kitchen duty.
• Hard Worker who puts in extra effort
• Reliable and can be trusted to arrive on schedule
• Dependable to complete tasks without reminders
• Able to work with little supervision
• Teachable and willing to learn
• Active and enjoys putting energy into projects
• Team player who completes his assignments and fills in when needed
• Willing to accomplish tasks indoors or outdoors

Fostered positive identity development and achievement, built supportive network of peers.

Summer 2022: Cohort raveled to Bethel for their rural immersions experience. Stayed at the Kuskokwim Campus and toured the Cultural Center. Engaged in cultural experiences, story telling, food preparation, built strong relationships with peers and participated in Yupik dancing.

Summer 2023: Cohort traveled to Juneau for the urban immersion experience. Stayed in UAS dorms, visited Sealaska Heritage Institute, made cedar bracelets, and explored downtown Juneau, among other activities.

• Positive self- and cultural identity formation
• Cross-cultural experiences
• Peer-to-peer learning and discussions
• Elder and culture bearer teachings
• Art and storytelling

Summer 2024 Ilakucaraq Alumni Leader, supervise youth on trip to Dillingham

• Actively get to know all participants, be welcoming and inclusive towards everyone
• Role model active participation, check I with youth to offer emotional support and guidance
• Plan and lead an activity with youth
• Provide general support to program staff

Alaskan Native Heritage Center June 2020-August 2020

• Ensure the safety of staff and visitors to the center
• Led tours to different sites and explained cultural traditions
• Completed craft projects and shared process with visitors