Clarence Alexander

Clarence Alexander at 2004 ILA

Clarence Lee Alexander (March 12, 1939- ) is a former Grand Chief of the Gwich'in of Alaska. He was 1st Chief of Fort Yukon from 1980-1994. He was raised at "Shoo Taii," the "Happy Hill," which is also known by the name "Alexander Village". Alexander Village is approximately 20 miles north of Fort Yukon. He co-authored the "Gwich'in Dictionary" with his wife, Virginia E. Alexander.

He co-founded the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments with Paul Williams Sr., the former Chief of the village of Beaver Alaska [1]. He is one of four co-founders of, and Chairman of, the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council, a group of 70 First Nations and Tribal Governments spanning the Yukon River Watershed dedicated to "to the protection and preservation of the Yukon River Watershed" [2]. He is the former Chairman of the Gwichyaa Zhee Corporation, the local ANCSA village corporation. He founded Gwandak radio, KZPA 900 am, which broadcasts from Fort Yukon throughout the area known as the Yukon Flats.

Early life

Military career

Tribal Governance

Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments

He is credited, with Paul Williams Sr. of Beaver, of founding the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments, also known locally as "CATG".

Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council

Awards

November 30th, 2004, Clarence Alexander was the recipient of the 2004 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award for his many years of work advocating for environmental justice, tribal rights and protection of the Yukon River Watershed.

October 20th, 2011, Clarence Alexander was awarded the 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal by President Barack Obama.

Family

Citations

References

• http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2011/10/12/president-obama-honors-recipients-2011-citizens-medal
• http://64.38.12.138/News/2006/014953.asp
• http://www.ecotrust.org/indigenousleaders/2004/clarence_alexander.html
• http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/canada/view-yukon-flats-interview-gwichin-leader-clarence-a
• http://www.tribalgov.pdx.edu/interviews.php
• http://sites.google.com/site/mkiemele/thetwo-leggedonesaremissing
• http://www.uaf.edu/anla/collections/search/collectionList.xml?collection=KU&name=Gwich%27in&list=author
• http://www.akforum.com/keynotes4.htm
• http://www.catg.org/ourstory.html

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Name	Alexander, Clarence
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Date of birth	March 12, 1939
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