Kiana Traditional Council Honored with 2026 Eileen Devinney Award

The Western Arctic National Parklands announced that the Kiana Traditional Council, together with Tessa Baldwin‑Cyrus, Robin Kornfield and Thomas Jackson, will receive the 2026 Eileen Devinney Award. The honor recognizes their enduring partnership with the National Park Service and their role in safeguarding and sharing Indigenous knowledge across Northwest Alaska.

The NPS highlighted how the council’s efforts support conservation and cultural preservation, strengthening ties between park management and local communities. The ceremony underscores the value of traditional expertise in protecting the region’s wildlife and habitats, a message that resonates with hunters who depend on healthy ecosystems.