Congratulations to CIRI Shareholder Gloria O’Neill (Yup’ik), president and CEO of Cook Inlet Tribal Council, Inc. (CITC)! In August, Commonwealth North announced Gloria as the 2025 recipient of the William A. Egan Award for Visionary Alaskan Leadership, which recognizes an individual who embodies the late governor’s legacy of uniting Alaskans for a stronger future.
Gloria has served at the helm of CITC since 1998, shaping the organization’s mission around holistic wellness and endless potential for individuals, families and communities, while reaffirming the vital importance of Indigenous values, tradition and identity.
Under Gloria’s leadership, CITC has experienced exponential growth. The organization now serves more than 12,000 Alaska Native and American Indian people annually, with culturally guided programs in youth education, career development, family preservation and addiction recovery.
Additionally, Gloria has led the establishment of CITC Enterprises Inc., CITC’s for-profit entity that holds a growing portfolio of investments in video gaming, venture capital, Tribal consulting services and direct government contracting. Through this, Gloria spearheaded the development of the groundbreaking Indigenous-created video game “Never Alone” (Kisima Ingitchuna). The BAFTA- and Peabody Award-winning game has been downloaded more than 16 million times.
Gloria recently served as chair of the national Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children, which issued a comprehensive report designed to improve outcomes for Indigenous youth across the U.S. She also serves as executive chair of E-Line Ventures; oversees the Alaska Native Justice Center; previously served on the University of Alaska Anchorage Board of Regents (2013-2021) and the Alaska Federation of Natives board of directors (1998-2017); and has advised national bodies, including the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Census Bureau.
The 2025 Hickel & Egan Awards Gala will be held Oct. 23 in Anchorage. Congratulations, Gloria!
