Each year at the CIRI Friendship Potlatch, a CIRI shareholder is recognized for promoting pride in Alaska Native cultural heritage, demonstrating a commitment to the economic and social well-being of Alaska Native people, or working to preserve Native customs, folklore, and traditional arts. Over the years, CIRI has recognized individuals such as Howard Wilson, Joseph Oskolkoff, Janie Leask, Emil Dolchok, Daisy Demientieff, Lillian Lapp, Katie Wade, Sava Stephan, Sr., and Feodoria Kallander Pennington.

This year’s recipient, Alberta Stephan of Eklutna, is one of the last speakers of the Dena’ina Athabascan language.  She is also the author of “Traditional Athabascan Fish Recipes,” “The First Athabascans of Alaska: Strawberries,” and “Cheda,” a story about her grandmother.  

Alberta is working with the Native Village of Eklutna in order to create a new Dena’ina dictionary. She is also on the “Dena’ina Team” working with Archeologists such as Nancy Davis to identify cultural sites throughout the CIRI region. Over the years, she has taught cultural sewing and traditional Athabascan design, and for the last two years she has run her own daycare to show her family how to raise their children in the traditional way.  

At the Friendship Potlatch, CIRI Board member Clare Swan presented Alberta with a framed pair of deer skin, beaver, and beaded mittens by Alex Ketzler from Nenana in recognition of being named the 2004 CIRI Shareholder of the Year.