Princess Daazhraii Johnson

Sophie Pfisterer

Who is She?

Princess Daazhraii Johnson is Neets’aii Gwich’in from an arctic community in Alaska. She works closely with her home as an advocate for environmental and social issues surrounding native Alaskan people. Additionally, Johnson has a quite diverse heritage. She was born in Israel, but she lived most of her young life in Alaska. Her mother is Neets'aii Gwich'in and her father is of Romanian and Lithuanian ethnicity.

Achievements and Contributions

Johnson is the former Executive Director of one of the oldest non-profit groups in Alaska, Gwich’in Steering Committee and previously worked as Alaska director at the Indigenous Leadership Institute. She is also a founding member of the Fairbanks Climate Action Coalition. She also has experience working on climate adaptation for tribes through her on-going work with the Cold Climate Housing Research Center.

Work and Volunteering

Johnson has worked for, or volunteered with:

  • Native Voices at the Autry National Center

  • WriteGirl

  • Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre

  • Alaska State Council on the Arts

  • She has been a member of the SAG-AFTRA Native American Committee since 2007

  • She serves on the Board of Dancing with the Spirit, a program that promotes spiritual wellness through music.

Johnson was a Sundance Fellow for the Filmmakers, Producers and Screenwriters Lab, and she was an Emerging Voices Rosenthal Fellow with the PEN Center.

Education

Johnson grew up attending a different school every two years and as a result of this, she faced a lot of discrimination and adversity. This was the very start of her passion to see a more just and equitable society. Furthering her passion, she truly realized the impact of arts when she saw the portrayal of a strong native woman in "Thunderheart" for the first time. Finally, she saw someone who looked like her on television.

As for post-secondary education, Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from George Washington University, and a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a focus on Environmental and Science Education.

her passion for the arts

Stemming from her passion to see more indigenous representation on screen as a young child, Johnson has primarily pursued a career in the arts. In her career as a Sundance Fellow for the Filmmakers, Producers and Screenwriters Lab, as well as working with the Emerging Voices Rosenthal Fellow with the PEN Center, Johnson has produced and directed many films such as JERICHO, BIG MIRACLE and MOLLY OF DENALI, which is an animated series starring a 10 year old Alaskan Native as she explores the importance of family and intergenerational relationships through her many adventures.

Johnson also promotes spiritual wellness through music, particularly as a representative on the Board of Dancing with the Spirit. In 2015 Johnson was appointed by President Obama to serve on the Board of Trustees for the Institute of American Indian Arts. She has been a member of the SAG-AFTRA Native American Committee since 2007 and she was even appointed to work on the Board of Trustees for the Institute of American Indian Arts.

Johnson's Aspirations as an Artistic Producer

“It is important to me in my role as Creative Producer to advocate for Indigenous representation in all aspects of the creative process,” said Johnson. “I aspire to see more Indigenous people gaining narrative and visual sovereignty over the images and stories that appear on screen. I hope that we start to see more and more original content created by Indigenous people, because no one can tell our stories like we can. These stories contain our values and that's something the world needs. I’d like to inspire the next generation to continually ask questions and examine their own cultural stories, the ones that have shaped who they are and honor where they’ve come from.”

involvement with environmental initiatives

The Gwich'in Nation has been working at protecting the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge now for over 30 years. The birthing & nursing grounds of the Porcupine Caribou Herd, for which Gwich'in villages throughout Alaska and Canada depend upon. The Coastal Plain also continues to be the target for oil & gas development. However, not only is the area a treat to exploitation for its natural resources, but Alaska is on the frontline in the battle against climate change. In the video to your right, Princess Daazhraii Johnson will discuss the grassroots efforts of the Gwich'in to protect their way of life and how they have been able to sustain these efforts over the years.

Princess Daazhraii Johnson; “Protecting the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge”

Significance

Johnson's work is wide and impactful but her work is particularly significant because she is bringing a passionate female indigenous voice to the fight for her land in particular, but for the Earth as a whole, and for the fight to protect culture and spirituality. Johnson is a strong advocate in the fight for a healthy Earth which we can live off of and maintain a sustainable way of living in the traditional sense. This is unequivocally important in order to support our future generations. She is also bringing indigenous representation and culture to our televisions and modern artistic culture, which will work towards decreasing discrimination and prejudice against indigenous people. Princess Daazhraii Johnson's work is unbelievably impressive and has had a wide range of positive impacts; she is truly a role model worth aspiring to.