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Rooted in Anchorage and shaped by her upbringing in Eagle River, CIRI Shareholder Shalon Harrington (Dena’ina Athabascan) weaves the experiences of a life spent across the Cook Inlet region into her work with communities statewide. She spent childhood summers on the Kenai Peninsula, where she and her brother lived with their grandmother for several of their elementary school years—an experience that shaped her perspective of moving between “two worlds.”
“I’ve been working in government relations for over 25 years now,” Shalon said. Today, she brings that experience to priorities that matter to CIRI Shareholders and Descendants.
Since July 2024, Shalon has served as senior director of CIRI government affairs. “While my weeks rarely mirror each other, my focus stays steady,” she said. “I connect policy with relationships to ensure our mission isn’t just met, it’s lived in everything we do.”
Shalon’s work includes engagement with members of Congress, federal and state agencies, legislators and key staff, Tribal leadership, and trade associations to advance legislative priorities for CIRI and the Cook Inlet region. She also partners with other Alaska Native corporations and trade groups to collaborate, share clear information and advocate for shared interests.
Shalon’s path to CIRI began in Washington, D.C., where she served as a clerk for the U.S. House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs. Her love for Alaska called her back home. “Family, mountains and rivers,” she said. Meanwhile, she continued building experience across government and industry, including resource development and mining.
Shalon holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Nevada Reno. She became a CIRI Shareholder when her mother gifted her shares, and she and her children are enrolled members of the Kenaitze Indian Tribe. She values opportunities for Shareholders and Descendants, including scholarships, cultural and educational activities, mentorship programs and internships.
Outside of work, Shalon’s reset button is the Kenai River. Family member Paul Karaffa taught her how to process and smoke fish. “Fishing is my therapy,” she said, and each summer she keeps a “go bag” in her truck so she can head to the Kenai when the fish are running.
At the heart of Shalon’s story is a commitment to heritage, culture and community. “Nobody was going to come to me,” she said. “Sometimes you have to go out and find someone willing to teach you, and that willingness to learn has guided me throughout my career.”
