Author Archives: Media

Village Life Stories

Whaling in Gambell, Alaska by Ethan

By Media | Published: June 17, 2019

There was a crew of Native men that always went boating from spring to the end of summer time. One morning, they were getting ready to go out whaling, dressing up warmly, making hot beverages, and making food for the trip. As soon as they were done getting ready, they then picked up the gasoline […]

Village Life Stories

Grandma’s Secret Berry Picking Spot by Sarah

By Media | Published: June 6, 2019

As I looked all over, there were trees like giants in one corner and mountains in the other. “Where are we grandma? I don’t remember this place.” “That’s because you never been to my secret berry picking place.” she replied smiling. My Grandma was still sitting on her four wheeler with her eyes meeting the […]

BSNC Hires Shareholder Lucille Sands as new Shareholder Development Director

By Media | Published: May 31, 2019

Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC) is pleased to announce the hire of shareholder Lucille Sands for the newly-created position of Shareholder Development Director. In this new position, Sands will actively design and implement strategies to align shareholder development with organizational goals and business needs, work to recruit shareholders and descendants for open positions, source qualified […]

Village Life Stories

Arctic Arc by BSNC shareholder Vernae Angnaboogok of Wales

By Media | Published: May 28, 2019

The Iñupiat community of Wales, Alaska, traditionally known as Kiŋigin, lies along a long sandy beach at the base of the Wales Mountain and is located at the most northwestern tip of the Seward Peninsula on the Cape Prince of Wales. Kiŋigin rests alongside the Bering Sea, about 25 miles from Big Diomede Island, traditionally […]

Village Life Stories

About Shishmaref and Hunting by Kaden

By Media | Published: May 28, 2019

Hunting walrus we need to go in the ocean. Walrus do not be on the ground they be on the ice. Walrus snore really loud. When we shoot not too far from the walrus, they don’t wake up. Hunting walrus it is very dangerous. The walrus can make a hole in our boat. Some Walruses […]

BSF Welcomes Three New Directors

By Media | Published: April 23, 2019

The Bering Straits Foundation (BSF) welcomes Jed Ballard, Kevin Dillard, and Luisa Machuca to its Board of Directors. Ballard, Dillard and Machuca joined the BSF board on March 18. BSF and BSNC thanks outgoing directors Tabetha Toloff, Clara Langton, and Kirsten Timbers for their committed service to the Foundation. BSNC shareholder Jed Ballard is the […]

BSNC Announces Executive Promotions

By Media | Published: April 23, 2019

BSNC has announced three promotions within the company’s senior management team. Krystal Nelson was promoted to Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, Dan Graham was promoted to Senior Vice President and Karla Grumman was promoted to Chief Human Resources Officer/Associate Vice President. “Krystal, Dan and Karla have contributed significantly to the success and growth of BSNC,” […]

Shareholder Spotlight: Dr. Donny Olson

By Media | Published: April 23, 2019

BSNC shareholder Dr. Donald (Donny) Olson is known by many throughout the Bering Strait region. Dr. Olson was born to Martin and Maggie Olson in Nome and raised in Golovin. He has an extensive list of academic credentials and his occupations include physician, pilot, businessman, reindeer herder and state senator. Dr. Olson attended Covenant High […]

Spring 2019

A Message from the President & CEO

By Media | Published: April 23, 2019

The longer days we are now seeing are a welcome and telltale sign of spring. This past winter produced record snow for some of our villages, and several others experienced a complete loss of shorefast and winter ice coverage more than once during this time. The sun’s reappearance brings renewed energy, an increase in time […]

BSNC Announces Bereavement Assistance Increase to $2,500

By Media | Published: January 28, 2019

The Bering Straits Native Corporation (BSNC) Board of Directors has voted to increase bereavement benefits from $1,500 to $2,500. Bereavement assistance helps defray the cost of funeral expenses for an original BSNC shareholder, a lineal descendent of an original BSNC shareholder, or the spouse of a living original BSNC shareholder. “We recognize that families have […]

In Memoriam: Shareholder Lela Kiana Oman

By Media | Published: December 19, 2018

BSNC shareholder Lela Kiana Oman passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family members on Monday, July 9. Lela was BSNC’s oldest shareholder at 102 and a half years of age. Lela was born in 1915 in Noorvik, Alaska. She moved to Nome as a young girl and resided there for the remainder of her life. […]

Lonny Piscoya Awarded Glenn Godfrey Law Enforcement Award

By Media | Published: December 19, 2018

The Alaska Federation of Natives awarded BSNC shareholder Lieutenant Lonny Piscoya the Glenn Godfrey Law Enforcement Award. Lieutenant Piscoya’s law enforcement career has spanned nearly 25 years and during that time he has served Alaska and its communities from the Southeast panhandle to the Northern Interior. The knowledge he gained growing up in rural Alaska […]

In Memoriam: Shareholder June Degnan

By Media | Published: December 18, 2018

BSNC mourns the passing of shareholder June Degnan who served on BSNC’s Board of Directors from 1985-1989. June passed away on July 9. Born in 1937 and raised in Unalakleet, June was the daughter of Ada and Frank Degnan. June earned a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science with Phi Kappa Phi Honors […]

BSNC Offers Scholarship for Maritime Career

By Media | Published: December 18, 2018

BSNC is offering qualified shareholders and descendants a one-time scholarship for up to $2,000 for a career opportunity with Edison Chouest Offshore (ECO). The scholarship will help hired candidates obtain prerequisite TWIC and U.S. Coast Guard Merchant Mariners certificates, and pay for air travel to ECO’s training facility in Louisiana. Once hired, training starts immediately. […]

U.S. Army to Repatriate Remains of Students Who Died at Boarding School

By Media | Published: December 18, 2018

The U.S. Army will repatriate remains of young students buried at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School in Pennsylvania. The school’s mission was to remove children from their culture and assimilate them into mainstream American culture. The boarding school operated between 1879 and 1918. More than 10,000 Native American children were required upon arrival to have […]

BSNC Awarded Community Champion of the Year Award

By Media | Published: December 18, 2018

BSNC is pleased to announce that it has been selected as the Arctic Indigenous Investment Conference’s (AIIC) Community Champion of the Year for the Alaska region. This award honors a business, nongovernmental organization, development corporation or a company with aboriginal partnerships that has demonstrated a significant commitment to community enhancement. The award was presented at […]

Introducing Board Director Becka Baker

By Media | Published: December 18, 2018

Edna “Becka” Baker was elected to BSNC’s Board of Directors at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on Oct. 6 in Anchorage. Baker resides in Nome, where she was born and raised. In addition to serving as a Director of Bering Straits Native Corporation, she also serves as a Director of Sitnasuak Native Corporation. Baker […]

Shareholder Cindy Massie Honored at AFN

By Media | Published: December 18, 2018

BSNC shareholder Cindy Massie and her husband Tom were awarded the Alaska Federation of Natives Small Business Award for their generous philanthropic efforts advancing causes in Alaska. Tom and Cindy met in Nome, Alaska where Tom was working. Cindy was working construction as a flagger. From the day Tom spotted Cindy flagging, he never wanted […]

Shareholder Lisa Anaya Earns Professional Certification

By Media | Published: December 18, 2018

BSNC congratulates shareholder employee Lisa Anaya on receiving Basics of Government Contracting and Federal Acquisition Regulation Workshop certificates. Obtaining these certificates, along with her past experience with contracts, allows her to test for the Certified Federal Contract Manager Certification. Anaya has 26 years of experience in the oil industry as a business analyst. She was […]

Shareholder Spotlight: Tom Piscoya

By Media | Published: December 18, 2018

BSNC shareholder and Bering Straits Foundation scholarship recipient Tom Piscoya is a Boeing 737 Captain for Alaska Airlines and has been flying professionally for more than 35 years. Captain Piscoya spent most of his childhood in Nome, where he remembers walking to grade school in his mukluks, and a great fascination for airplanes. As a […]