Sustaining the Path: Stephanie Olanna's Work in Tribal Governance and Tradition

April 2, 2026

"I took a long break because life happened," shares Stephanie Olanna, the Tribal Coordinator for the Native Village of Brevig Mission. For Olanna, a married mother of five, "life happening" wasn't a detour—it was the motivation.

Brevig Mission (known in Iñupiaq as Sitaisaq) is a community located on the Seward Peninsula, perched at the mouth of Shelman Creek on the north shore of Port Clarence. It sits roughly 65 miles northwest of Nome and despite its small geographic footprint of just about 2.6 square miles, it’s a growing and vibrant village of approximately 430 residents. 

Since earning her Certification in Tribal Governance from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) in May 2023, Stephanie has seamlessly woven her academic training into her deep-rooted commitment to her village of Brevig Mission. Now approaching her fourth year as Tribal Coordinator, she continues to use her education and expertise to bridge the gap between formal policy and lived realities of residents on the north shore of Port Clarence.

A Passion Rooted in Service

Stephanie’s return to academia was born directly from her professional responsibilities. "I love my job," she explained. "A lot of my passion for starting school again was from my job. I wanted to learn more about how to manage the tribes to do my job better."

In rural Alaska, "doing the job better" means navigating a complex landscape of food security and cultural preservation. Brevig Mission faces distinct challenges: fresh, affordable food is often scarce, and maintaining traditional subsistence practices is not just a cultural choice—it is a necessity for survival.

For Stephanie and her family, these traditions are a daily reality. Between her full-time duties managing tribal affairs, she and her husband and five children remain active in subsistence harvesting. This connection to the land ensures that her work in the tribal office remains grounded in the actual needs of her people.

Strengthening Sovereignty Through Education

The Tribal Governance program at UAF’s College of Indigenous Studies—the first of its kind in the country—was a strategic choice for Stephanie. The curriculum is designed to empower tribal members to create local laws, manage resources, and develop programs that reflect Indigenous values.

By focusing on practical skills, Stephanie has been able to advocate for:

• Food Sovereignty: Developing local solutions to ensure the community has reliable access to traditional and store-bought food.

• Community Well-being: Strengthening initiatives to address social disparities and mental health, particularly for the village’s youth.

• Resource Management: Applying legal frameworks to protect tribal lands and interests.

The Power of the Drumbeats Consortium

Stephanie’s success was bolstered by the Drumbeats Alaska Consortium. For over two decades, Drumbeats has supported UAF students through scholarships and course development focused on food and energy sovereignty. Funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), the program ensures that education remains "place-based."

This support allows students like Stephanie to study ethnobotany, high-latitude range management, and Native language studies—subjects that have immediate, real-world applications in places like Brevig Mission. By fostering connections between students, faculty, and elders, Drumbeats ensures that the curriculum is a living, breathing resource for rural Alaska.

A Balanced Life

Today, Stephanie’s life is a busy, meaningful juggle of governance, family, and culture. UAF and the College of Indigenous Studies continue to support nontraditional students, proving that academic pursuits don’t have to come at the expense of family life or traditional practices.

As Stephanie enters her fourth year of service, her journey remains a blueprint for how indigenous leadership can be strengthened through a blend of modern education and ancestral wisdom.

To learn more about the Department of Tribal Governance, visit: uaf.edu/tribal.

To learn more about Drumbeats, visit: uaf.edu/drumbeats.

Many thanks to USDA NIFA for its continued financial support of the Consortium. #NIFAimpacts