Anyone who worries that the younger generation is not willing to work hard needs to meet Cheyanne Esmailka. In her early 20s, Cheyanne has been a health aide since 2019. Born in Fairbanks and raised in Ruby, she went to high school in Nenana, first as a boarding student and later as a day student who lived in town.
Talking to Sharon Demoski to get the information to write this profile about her was like being given a shot of enthusiasm and energy. Throughout our conversation, it was clear that fifteen years as a health aide, mostly in her home village of Nulato but sometimes as an itinerant, has not dimmed her passion for her work.It was not a …
Mary Malemute officially started as a health aide in December of 2008, but her heart had long been pushing her toward that career choice. “Even as a kid, I was interested in the health field and in helping my community, and being a health aide combined both of those desires. My father’s sister and my husband’s auntie were both health …
There are not that many of us who know from our youngest years what we want to do with our lives, but Daphne Williams is one of the fortunate ones. “Being a health aide was always in the back of my mind. My grandma, Pauline Peter, was one of the first-generation health aides, back before the Health Aide Program even …
Although Sheena Tanner resides in Missouri, she is very much rooted in Alaska. As an itinerant health aide for Tanana Chiefs Conference, Tanner works in any of the 42 villages in the TCC region where she is needed but often works in Circle. Tanner grew up in Arctic Village and left to be with her husband Michael in military service. …
WHEREAS, Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) is an Alaska Native tribal health and social services consortium established by the Interior Alaska tribes and tribal communities, to provide a unified voice in advancing sovereign tribal governments through the promotion of physical and mental wellness, education, socioeconomic development and culture of the Interior Alaska Native; and WHEREAS, Alatna is a remote village situated …