Dora Mae is originally from Teller, has lived in Nome and is currently attending UAA studying business admin.

My fathers parents are both from the heart of Maine. After my grandfather, Kenneth Jr. spent time in Alaska during World War II, he was bound to return with a lovely lady Althea. In 1957, they taught school in Teller, Alaska for two years. Mid October in 1959, my father was born in Nome. After the school year was over they moved to the interior. Settled under the G.I. Bill they homesteaded in Gakona, Alaska where they still reside today. Spending Christmas below with my grandparents.

My mothers parents are Alfred Salhin from Nome and Dorothy K. Isabell born at Pilgrim Hot Springs. The Kakaruk family has a rich history with reindeer herding, caretakers of Pilgrim Hot Springs during 1940-1945, gold mining, trapping, trading and dog mushing. My grandmothers family spent alot of summers camping and gold mining in Candle, Alaska. As her only granddaughter she instilled our traditional values, lifestyle, and Kaweramuit language in me. As I grew older her and her brother Norbert and sister Sarah taught me the way they were traditionally from her elders. Every sumer as soon as the ice broke up, I knew it was time to go to camp. At the age of eight, I was given my first small ulu and taught to cut, prepare, dry salmon. I can make traditional tools, pick greens, berries, roots, patch nets, skin sewing, beading and cook traditional foods; these are the things I truly enjoying doing, living a subsistance lifestyle.

I love living in Teller. Fishing and reindeer is a primary source of activity. Although we have all sorts of salmons, trouts, cods, smelts, moose, musk oxen, reindeer, caribou, seals, walrus, foxes, wolfs, wolverines, and bears. I grew up with Joe Garnie and his family as my next door neighbor. Arrival of new pups ensured plenty of playing in the dog pen time. I was able to help him in the winters feed, harness, and eventually ride my own sled of dogs. I was able to participate in local dog races. Who knows maybe in 25 years for the fifth All Alaska Sweepstakes, I'll be in it.

I believe that I grew more, emotionally, socially, and intellectually, during my three and half years of high school than during any other period thus far. Mt. Edgecumbe High School at Sitka, Alaska attracted students from every part of Alaska, and in a sense was a way for me to escape what my middle-school teacher perceived as an academic dead-end for me in my village. First off this boarding school had more students then residents in my village. Indeed, it provided a rigorous academic environment, and with one college advisor for a graduating class averaging 75 students, I managed to learn some important lessons about dealing with “the system.” It was at MEHS that I found my academic strengths and was given the tools to pursue them to the fullest extent possible. It was also at MEHS I was able to distinguish myself athletically competing in volleyball, cross-country running and track. In cross-country and track my senior year, I was the team captain of both the boys and girl’s team, which was, is extremely rare but they allowed me to be their leader. My prowess in athletics has allowed me to continue the habits of good health, exercise and competition after they are no longer involved in organized sports but implied as predictor of leadership and success in life. At MEHS I maintained great study habits hence maintained high grades while at the same time involved in many activities like Russia Club, Sitka Youth Court, National Honor Society and Environmental Club just to name a few. While in high school I had a attended the Della Keats Enrichment Program, Ethel Lund Health Occupations Program, Presidental Classroom Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Internship and a full time position at Norton Sound Health Corporation before receiving my diploma. Immediately after high school, I went to Australia to play volleyball for Team Alaska for two weeks. The coach chose me as the captain and I was so humble.

I attended my first year of college at Oregon Institute of Technology wishing to pursue a career in the Health Field. After being gone from home for 5 years, I decided to take a year off to spend time with my little brother, nieces, and great auntie and uncle. While at home, I was elected to the Teller Traditional Council and asked to represent Mary’s Igloo Native Corporation serving as a Board of Director for Norton Sound Health Corporation and took online classes. The high school students asked for me to coach volleyball and cross-country skiing. I was so proud that I was able to take a team that had not gone to a regional tournament in five years and have one of my two seniors make the regional M.V.P. Team.

I returned to school only a jet and plane ride away from home, Univeristy of Alaska Anchorage. After completing my year, I had a lifetime opportunity to spend a summer in Washington D.C. interning with Cynthia Ahwinona, Native Affairs Director for Congressman Don Young. My summer of 2006, I had a festive time gaining an in-depth understanding of national politics in our nation’s capital. I enjoyed networking and meeting people from all over Alaska and the World.

This last summer I had the opportunity to the First Alaskans Institute summer internship and was placed at our parent corporation, Bering Straits Native Corporation. Working in all departments this gave me a GREAT inside look of what and how they operate. I am going to finish school with a double B.S. in Business Management and Anthoroplogy with minors in Alaska Native Studies and Communications. Later on in life, I wish to pursue masters in Rural Development through University of Alaska Fairbanks and something along the lines of Business from a prestigious school on the east coast. I love to learn, travel, and eat.

I am determined and willing to work diligently to achieve my dreams and strive to transform my weaknesses into strengths. I am an open-minded person willing to share my thoughts, experiences, and up for new opportunities. I find myself as a young active native woman trying to find better ways for my native culture and environment. For my personal attributes, I am determined, caring, compassionate, willing to help self-motivated, responsible and treasure my heritage. I work very hard to accomplish my goals, have the capacity to grow, and plan to continue in my growth and future endeavors. Thank you for your time. Quyanna, Paniruaq

To vote:

• 1 vote equals $5.00 (U.S. Dollars)
• Submit the nomination form to P.O. Box 1696, Nome, Alaska 99762 with nomination votes minimum of 20 x $5.00 ($100) Check, money order, gold or cash accepted
• Applications are due to Kirsten Timbers by March 1st 2008.
• The contest winner will be determined by the greatest number of votes submitted to Kirsten Timbers, on March 19, 2008 at 6:00p.m. AST (Alaska Standard Time).