Sealaska Shareholder Descendant Plans Denali Summit this Summer
Thursday, April 8, 2021

Growing up in Juneau, Rain Felkl had no fear of the mountains, she said.

Her parents would let her play at the glacier or spend the night on top of Thunder Mountain unsupervised, entrusting XTRATUF boots, hand-me-down outdoor gear and the unwavering confidence that characterizes childhood with her safe return home. “They [my parents] didn’t instill fear in us when it came to the outdoors,” Felkl said.

Back then, she “didn’t really do anything extreme,” she said. But, today, Felkl—who describes herself as a lover of human-powered adventure—is planning an expedition to climb Mount Denali.

Named after a Koyukon Athabascan word meaning “the high one,” Denali is the highest mountain peak in North America at 20,310 feet, located 650 miles northwest of Juneau. Felkl, a Sealaska shareholder descendant whose Tlingit name is Kuwaats’, could be the first Tlingit woman to summit Denali, though she has not been able to locate historical climbing records of this nature.

She will be accompanied by several other members of AK Mountain Women (AKMW), a group “dedicated to challenging and educating themselves and others about glacial ski mountaineering in remote mountains.” Felkl joined the all-female community after returning from college in the red rock deserts of Grand Junction, Colorado, and reconnecting with two childhood friends, both outdoor enthusiasts who wanted to create a platform for women mountaineers.

During the three-week-long journey, funded in part by Sealaska’s philanthropy program, the AKMW crew will create multiple base camps and live on the glacier, traveling by two rope teams of three via the West Buttress, a route that the majority of climbers on Denali attempt. They plan to split-board or ski off the summit, but reaching Denali’s peak is not an easy feat—of the roughly 35,000 people who have attempted to do so, less than 60 percent have been successful.

“The biggest thing we’re going to be up against is altitude and the weather,” Felkl said. On top of the overall technical and physical difficulty of the endeavor, climbers face unpredictable storms and extremely windy conditions, as well as acclimation to Denali’s tremendous base-to-summit elevation, which is greater than that of Mount Everest.

Born out of a love for the ‘vast, icy, rugged terrain of Alaska,’ AKMW has organized two expeditions to date, both successful: a 21-mile ski mountaineering climbing project with two first ascent objectives of unnamed, unclaimed peaks on the remote Stikine Icefield in Southeast Alaska, and an expedition high into the mountains of Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve, an area that has seen only one other recorded visit.

Though most of the expedition members live in-state, Felkl currently resides in the Wasatch Mountains of Salt Lake City, Utah.  She and the rest of the group arrange phone calls about once a week to prepare for upcoming expeditions; they mostly talk about logistics—route planning, gear, medical training, and more—but also about topics like sustainability, mindfulness and diversity and inclusion.

AKMW focuses on female empowerment, but its members are working to break down barriers in the outdoors for people of all gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, cultural backgrounds and racial and ethnic groups. “We ask ourselves how can we include more people and how we can make them feel welcome,” Felkl said.

The ‘don’t loop,’ a term coined by former Forest Service biologist John Robinson, suggests that people are less likely to engage in activities that they don’t see people like themselves involved in. Among the overwhelming evidence that minority groups are underrepresented in the outdoors, one example is a 2014 review of Outside magazine—a publication which ‘aims to inspire active participation in the world outside,—’ which found that only 103 of the 6,986 photographs published in issues between 1991-2001 featured Black people. Even less represented are Indigenous people, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people with disabilities.

Both on and off the mountain, the women of AKMW are on a mission to close the ‘adventure gap,’ or lack of access to wilderness environments for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) and other minorities in America, by increasing representation of underrepresented groups in the outdoors.

“It’s a heavy topic to kick off the weekly phone chats, which shows how deeply rooted this topic is for us [AKMW],” Felkl said. “But we all come together to share our thoughts, dreams, backgrounds and experiences in hopes to inspire and enable others, and for love of the mountains.”

At the end of the phone calls, the women usually assign each other challenges for the week, from practicing roping to keeping an exercise log. And while technical skills and physical fitness are a priority, Felkl said that mental health is critical, too. “We always check in with one another and gauge how everyone is feeling,” she said. “You really feel supported and heard.”

For Felkl and many of her peers, practicing mindfulness continues beyond the process of preparing for an expedition: being in the throes of a wild adventure is often the greatest opportunity to be mindful, she said. “I find peace in the mountains,” Felkl said. “It’s like a moving meditation.”

To be mindful is also to be aware of those who paved the way before you, Felkl said. Ever since the group decided to take on Denali, they have been engaging in conversations about role models like Arlene Blum, who led the first all-female ascent of the mountain in 1970.

Not even a decade later, Blum led the first US (and first female) ascent of Nepal’s Annapurna Circuit, considered the most dangerous and possibly most difficult of the world’s 8000-meter peaks. She wrote a book about it, titled ‘Annapurna: A Women’s Place,’ which Felkl highly recommends.

Blum raised funds for the 1978 Annapurna trip by selling t-shirts printed with the slogan ‘a woman’s place is on top,’ which raised over $80,000. “She [Blum] is really inspirational because she led the way for a lot of female mountaineers,” Felkl said. “She did it in a lighthearted way. And I really love the t-shirt cause it’s just rebellious and fun.”

As a grassroots project, AKMW decided to follow in Blum’s footsteps by designing a t-shirt to help fund their Denali expedition. Five percent of the proceeds will be donated to the Coalition Snow Native Scholarship, which supports access to avalanche training and backcountry skiing and riding in Indigenous communities.

“It’s really cool because we finally feel like we have the means to support something beyond ourselves,” Felkl said. “That has been a goal for us…to support and build stronger communities, and to inspire other people to join us and find meaning in our experiences.”

Later this year, Felkl will embark on the endeavor of a lifetime to climb Mount Denali with AK Mountain Women, funded in part by a donation from Sealaska’s philanthropy program. Launched in 2014, the program invests in the greatest positive impacts to traditional homelands and the environment, as well as enrichment and protection of the livelihoods and cultures of our people and communities, to help lead a thriving future.

The company’s charitable efforts prioritize opportunities to provide a direct benefit for our shareholders and shareholder descendants in four focus areas: generational work, environmental guardianship, cultural practices and physical, social and economic health. Learn more about philanthropy at Sealaska here.


News Search


40 results found

Posted 8/30/2024
Posted 8/30/2024
Sealaska interns unload after a long journey to Howkan, a traditional Haida village site. Sealaska interns left to right: Evan Link, Operations Fellow at Icemar; Allison Mills, Natural Resources Intern at Sealaska; Addy Mallot, Storytelling & Engagement Intern at Sustainable Southeast Partnership; and Alicia Maryott, Traditional Food Security Intern at Tlingit & Haida Earlier this summer… Source

Posted 7/29/2024
Posted 7/29/2024
It’s that time of year again! Bring OUR FUTURE to life during the 2024 #SealaskaWayOfLife photo contest for a chance to win prizes. The contest begins Monday, July 29 and runs through Friday, August 30. Storytelling is at the heart of who we are at Sealaska. We want to continue to tell our story from your vantage point. Introduced in 2020 as a way to foster connection and engagement… Source

Posted 11/11/2023
Posted 11/11/2023
Two incredible individuals, Anthony Mallott and Jaeleen Kookesh, have announced they are leaving their roles at Sealaska. As they move on to pursue new opportunities, we take this moment to reflect on their contributions to our company and communities. Anthony Mallott’s tenure at Sealaska has been nothing short of transformative. His leadership as CEO has been marked by a commitment to our… Source

Posted 7/17/2023
Posted 7/17/2023
It’s that time of year again! Bring OUR VALUES to life during the 2023 #SealaskaWayOfLife photo contest for a chance to win prizes. The contest begins Monday, July 17 and submissions will be accepted through Friday, August 11. Storytelling is at the heart of who we are at Sealaska. We want to continue to tell our story from your vantage point. Introduced in 2020 as a way to foster… Source

Posted 7/13/2023
Posted 7/13/2023
Each year, Sealaska’s board of directors appoints a young adult shareholder or shareholder descendant to the position of Board Youth Advisor (BYA). By serving in this role, young shareholders and descendants can share their perspectives and insight with the board, creating powerful impact while learning the ins and outs of the board room and leadership role. In 2023, changes to the term length… Source

Posted 6/13/2023
Posted 6/13/2023
At Sealaska, shareholders are at the center of everything we do. We cherish every opportunity we have to meet with each of you, learning more about your values, priorities and vision for our shared future. This May, we were grateful to host meetings in 10 communities — the first time we have been able to host a full community meeting rotation since 2019. Sealaska shareholders were invited… Source

Posted 3/24/2023
Posted 3/24/2023
Sealaska is proud to welcome the Moananuiākea Voyage to the traditional lands of the A’akw and Taku Kwaan people this summer. The Moananuiākea Voyage is a four-year journey by the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) to circumnavigate the Pacific. The voyage’s leaders hope to inspire future navigators while bringing awareness to our changing climate and the impact climate change is having on our… Source

Posted 2/23/2023
Posted 2/23/2023
On Monday, Jan. 20, ‘Fancy Dance’—a film about matrilineal love and the complexities of family and care in Indigenous communities—premiered at Eccles Theater at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah. Sealaska shareholder and descendant Miciana Áak’w Ta Sháa Alise co-wrote the film alongside Seneca–Cayuga filmmaker Erica Tremblay, who recently worked as a writer and executive story… Source

Posted 9/14/2022
Posted 9/14/2022
Sealaska hosted a lunchtime policy update on Tuesday, September 13, to provide shareholders with up-to-date information about Sealaska’s public policy efforts. The policy committee, Naxtoo.aat / Wayi Wah / Hágwsdaa – each of which translates loosely to “Let’s Go!” – works to bring forth and advocate for state and federal policies that align with Sealaska’s vision and shareholder priorities. Source

Posted 9/13/2022
Posted 9/13/2022
Sealaska applauds historic milestone while encouraging voters to choose Peltola again in November’s race Sealaska celebrates as Alaska’s new – and sole – member of Congress Mary Peltola is sworn in today to serve out the remainder of former Congressman Don Young’s term. Sealaska endorsed Peltola ahead of the special-election primary and continues to encourage Alaskans to rank her first in… Source

Posted 7/29/2022
Posted 7/29/2022
The Sealaska Board of Directors today endorsed Bill Walker and Heidi Drygas for Alaska Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Sen. Lisa Murkowski in the race for U.S. Senate and will oppose the ballot measure that would initiate a constitutional convention in Alaska. The actions follow the board’s decision a week prior to support the candidacy of former state lawmaker Mary Peltola to fill the… Source

Posted 7/28/2022
Posted 7/28/2022
Today, Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy signed House Bill 123, the Alaska Tribal Recognition Act – legislation that generations of Alaska Native advocates have worked tirelessly to bring about. This specific piece of legislation was sponsored by Representative Tiffany Zulkosky of Bethel and championed by Alaska Native leaders from around the state, including Sealaska’s board of directors. Source

Posted 7/11/2022
Posted 7/11/2022
On August 16, Alaska will hold a special election to fill out the remainder of former Congressman Don Young’s term in the U.S. House of Representatives. Alaskans will have three choices to rank in order of preference on the August 16 ballot: Nick Begich, Sarah Palin and Mary Peltola. Sealaska encourages Alaskans to choose Mary Peltola first as they rank the special election candidates. Source

Posted 5/23/2022
Posted 5/23/2022
Sealaska announced today that it will award $1.2 million in scholarships to 426 recipients for the 2022-2023 school year. Scholarships were awarded to full- and part-time degree-seeking students as well as students enrolled in vocational-technical programs. Sealaska prioritizes investing in education and is dedicated to supporting Indigenous students seeking to further their education. Source

Posted 2/21/2022
Posted 2/21/2022
The Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS) Grand Camp organizations brought Alaska Native leaders together to celebrate the life and legacy of Elizabeth Kaaxgal.aat Peratrovich during a virtual event held Wednesday, February 16. Peratrovich is remembered as a powerful Tlingit civil rights leader who served in the ANS alongside her husband Roy who served in the ANB. Source

Posted 1/21/2022
Posted 1/21/2022
Every two years, Sealaska conducts a shareholder survey to identify your priorities. Those priorities are the road map to our public policy work and help guide the shareholder benefits we are grateful to be able to provide through the success of our businesses. In 2021, Sealaska’s board and executive leadership launched what will be a multiyear effort to hold leadership meetings in… Source

Posted 11/23/2021
Posted 11/23/2021
Today, Alaska Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan introduced a companion bill to Rep. Don Young’s House Bill 3231, which, if adopted would resolve 50 years of injustice for five landless communities in Southeast Alaska. The bills, which will work their way through committee assignments and hearings in the coming weeks and months, would amend the Alaska Native Claims… Source

Posted 8/20/2021
Posted 8/20/2021
One of the few remaining birth speakers of the Northern Haida dialect of Xaad kíl, Jane Kristovich (K’ujúuhl), joined her ancestors on August 18, 2021 at the age of 93. Kristovich was a treasured speaker of Xaad kíl who gave her time and knowledge generously to generations of her people through her involvement with language and dance groups, community events and even on film. Source

Posted 8/9/2021
Posted 8/9/2021
What does the Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian way of life look like through your lens? Show us in a snapshot during this year’s #SealaskaWayOfLife photo contest! Sealaska is dedicated to doing our part to improve ocean health and protect our way of life. Over the past six years, we’ve advanced our twin goals of economic prosperity and environmental protection by investing in a range of… Source

Posted 4/12/2021
Posted 4/12/2021
The following letter from Sealaska Board Chair Joe Nelson was published in the Q1 newsletter, which mailed to shareholders in early April. To view the full newsletter, click here. Dear Shareholders, For many of us, the first signs of spring are a welcome change. The increase in daylight lures us outdoors. The fresh air and physical activity improve our state of mind. We start gearing up… Source

Posted 3/30/2021
Posted 3/30/2021
Amy Hallingstad was a champion for civil rights causes in Alaska, desegregating schools and other public facilities, advocating for equal pay for women and quality health care for Alaska Natives, and tearing down signs that read “No Natives Allowed.” She fought the most serious challenges faced by her people for most of her life, earning the unofficial title of “First Lady for the First… Source

Posted 3/29/2021
Posted 3/29/2021
Sealaska’s most recent virtual event invited panelists to share their experiences with cold water dips, an ancient ritual among our people that was designed to fortify the body and spirit against a wide range of difficulties, from weather to warfare. The live virtual event, moderated by Sealaska Board Chair Joe Nelson, featured Richard Peterson, Sarah Dybdahl, Barbara Blake… Source

Posted 2/24/2021
Posted 2/24/2021
San Diego’s new mayor, Todd Gloria, is Tlingit, Filipino and has Dutch and Puerto Rican roots. He often describes himself as the proud son of a hotel maid and a gardener. Gloria is San Diego’s first non-white mayor, and also its first LGBTQ mayor. “I’ve been the first of many things in my career,” Gloria said. “The goal is always not to be the last one. Source

Posted 11/22/2020
Posted 11/22/2020
Earlier this year, Sealaska marked an important milestone in its growth and development as a company – following the board election this spring, our board is now majority female, with seven of 13 members who are women. Balance and reciprocity are important values we hold as Tlingit, Haida and Tsimshian people, and they’re part of our company values at Sealaska, too. Source

Posted 11/19/2020
Posted 11/19/2020
Close your eyes. Clear your mind. When you hear the word ‘scientist,’ who do you envision? Is it an ‘old guy,’ with ‘crazy hair’ in a ‘lab coat’ with ‘glasses’? Is he ‘white’? If those are the words you used, you’re just like the kids in Hydaburg City School District used to be. That is, before they met Wendy F. Smythe and learned a new way to think of themselves and to value their… Source

Posted 9/15/2020
Posted 9/15/2020
Late this summer, a series of happy coincidences led 40 Yakutat kids out of the doldrums of the pandemic and into the icy waters of the North Pacific for a series of surf camps in Yakutat’s legendary waves. Their time in the water brought welcome joy, healthy connection to the ocean, and an opportunity to open minds and overcome fears. “I’ve been so used to everything being sad this year… Source

Posted 8/17/2020
Posted 8/17/2020
The coronavirus pandemic brought twin disasters to organizations like HOPE (Helping Ourselves Prevent Emergencies), a nonprofit provider of support and advocacy to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in Craig. First, as has been well documented around the world, the pandemic brought a sharp uptick in rates of domestic violence. Sheltering in place with family members who are… Source

Posted 8/3/2020
Posted 8/3/2020
Sealaska shareholder Kendra Kloster joined two other Alaska Native women as appointees to Anchorage’s Public Safety Advisory Commission in June. Kloster was born in Wrangell, Alaska, and is Tlingit, Raven, Kiks.ádi (Frog Clan), Gagaan Hít (Sun House). Kloster said she and her fellow appointees — along with friends and colleagues from other organizations working on behalf of Alaska Natives… Source

Posted 6/28/2020
Posted 6/28/2020
Shareholders receive news at 2020 annual meeting The 47th annual meeting of Sealaska shareholders featured record-breaking news for the company. The election of three women to the board of directors means that, for the first time ever, women make up the majority of board members. The company also announced record financial performance, which enabled significant growth in shareholder… Source

Posted 6/22/2020
Posted 6/22/2020
After discussing where Maka came from and how she was taking on her current projects on climate change and social injustice, we asked her flat out, “why?” Why youth, why now? Her answer… “My people are resilient people. I remember, as a child, sitting at our old wooden kitchen table after dinner while my grandfather spoke about how the Tlingit people trained to stay strong and healthy. Source

Posted 6/19/2020
Posted 6/19/2020
We had a chance to connect with Sealaska Board Youth Advisor Maka Monture, a Tlingit and Mohawk from Yakutat, Alaska. She currently resides in Anchorage, Alaska, and is working on a few different projects at the time of this interview. We wanted to catch up on what she has been doing and, more importantly, learn more about why she is so dedicated to leading a youth charge on climate change and… Source

Posted 4/9/2020
Posted 4/9/2020
Applications for Sealaska’s scholarships close on April 15th! A scholarship can be a tremendous source of support. Over the course of the next week, we’ll bring you stories of former scholarship recipients who are pursuing great careers and making a difference in our communities. For more information on scholarships and how to apply, go to the shareholder portal MySealaska. Source

Posted 3/18/2020
Posted 3/18/2020
We are living in extraordinary times and the world is collectively responding to the impacts associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Like many of you, we are learning by the hour about the impacts of this pandemic. The situation is evolving rapidly and we want to share some of the steps we’re taking as a company to respond. We also want to highlight how important simple actions can be by… Source

Posted 3/9/2020
Posted 3/9/2020
After 30 years as the boys varsity basketball coach at Petersburg High School, Rick Brock has seen a lot: several regional titles, a couple state titles, and countless nights when the Petersburg High School gymnasium has echoed with a boisterous home-team crowd. But he says the most meaningful part of his tenure with the team hasn’t been the victories, cheering fans or highlight-reel moments. Source

Posted 7/29/2019
Posted 7/29/2019
Molly of Denali YouTube channel. Follow the adventures of 10-year-old Molly Mabray. Molly of Denali is a new animated series that follows the adventures of 10-year-old Molly Mabray, an Alaska Native girl from the Gwich’in/Koyukon/Dena’ina Athabascan tribes in the fictional village of Qyah. The show is produced by Boston public television station WGBH and aired on PBS stations this month. Source

Posted 6/22/2019
Posted 6/22/2019
ANCHORAGE – Shareholders elected Barbara Blake, the first-ever shareholder descendant to join the board of directors. Barbara is a former Sealaska Board Youth Advisor and currently serves as the director of the Alaska Native Policy Center with First Alaskans Institute. “It is an incredible moment in Sealaska history to witness the first shareholder descendant elected to the board. Source

Posted 5/2/2019
Posted 5/2/2019
Barbara Blake was selected to join the 2019 endorsed candidate team for the Sealaska board of directors. If elected, Barbara would be the first-ever shareholder descendant and youngest member on the board of directors. As a former Sealaska board youth advisor from 2010 to 2011, Barbara brings a strong understanding of Sealaska board structure and governance. “To me this is a sign… Source

Posted 10/7/2018
Posted 10/7/2018
Sealaska is the first Native Corporation in Southeast to adopt a tobacco-free campus policy This year, Sealaska Corporation headquarters officially became a tobacco-free campus and is the first Alaska Native Corporation in the State of Alaska to implement such a policy. SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) commends Sealaska for protecting their employees, shareholders, tenants… Source

Posted 9/6/2018
Posted 9/6/2018
A blog post about intern development week by Andrew Wysocki, 2018 Sealaska communications intern Several times this spring, my grandmother and parents urged me to apply for Sealaska’s ten-week summer internship. They saw it as a great source of experience and told me to take advantage of the opportunity in front of me. I was hesitant in even starting the application process simply because… Source