BSNC’s Eldest Shareholder: Elizabeth “Betty” Anagick

February 2, 2023by Media

BSNC shareholder Elizabeth “Betty” Anagick is an inspirational Elder. Born in Koyuk, Betty is the eldest great-grandchild of Chief Nashalook, the last traditional Chief and Shaman of Unalakleet. She is 96 years old and resides in Unalakleet.

From an early age, Betty understood the importance of an education and hoped to attend high school, but that would have required her to leave Unalakleet.  Back then, formal childhood schooling lasted only through the 8th grade. While she was willing to leave Unalakleet, Betty’s mom needed her to help raise her siblings, so she was not able to continue her education. Betty soon married Lowell Anagick, and together they raised nine children. As her children grew older, Betty made up her mind that she would not stop them from leaving home to get an education. Since she always wanted to finish high school, Betty eventually studied for and passed the high school equivalency test.  She then enrolled in the University of Alaska distance learning program, and earned an associate college degree while she worked as a teacher’s aide.

Betty says her time teaching and seeing young students “catch on” while learning to read, or learning the concepts of math, will always be one of the greatest joys in her life.

In between helping with lesson plans at school and teaching life’s lessons at home, Betty fished every summer, hunted every fall, and planted two large gardens each spring to help keep her family fed during the long winter months. Her children have long since grown and left home, so Betty’s gardens, and the winter stockpile of dried and frozen fish, are smaller than they used to be. Betty still finds joy in the rhythm and activities of living a subsistence lifestyle. You may have seen her fishing at the North River bridge in Unalakleet last summer. The video of Betty fishing, which BSNC posted on Facebook, received more than four million views from people around the world.

With her many years of accumulated wisdom, Betty is one of a rapidly growing number of fluent Inupiaq speakers in Unalakleet. She is respected for her Indigenous-based knowledge of the climate and natural world. In 2021, Betty was honored as the Alaska Federation of Natives Elder of the Year for her commitment to education, cultural values, resilience and traditional knowledge. She also received the Elder of the Year award at the BSNC 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

While Betty happens to be BSNC’s eldest shareholder, she is also the mother of BSNC President and CEO Gail Schubert. Gail says her mother’s commitment to education consistently inspired her and many other family members, who went on to successful careers in law, business, accounting, medicine and other professions.

“Mom is the eldest child of the late Peter and Martha Nanouk, and she and our Dad always stressed the importance of higher education and hard work. She remembers Chief Nashalook stopping by more than 90 years ago to watch her and a friend play in the village. While there have been many changes during Mom’s lifetime, we have also been blessed by a resurgence of traditional dances, Iñupiat language classes, and pride in who we are as Iñupiat people.”

Everyone in the BSNC family congratulates Betty on living a full life based on traditional values, respect, love and personal achievements. Quyaana and best wishes for the future, Betty!

OFFICESWhere to find us?
Bering Straits Native Corporation is headquartered in Nome, has a business office in Anchorage and site locations and offices across the U.S.
OUR LOCATIONS
ANCHORAGE
3301 C Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503
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PO Box 1008. 110 Front Street, Suite 300, Nome, Alaska 99762
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OFFICESBering Straits Native Corporation
OFFICESWhere to find us?
BSNC is headquartered in Nome, has a business office in Anchorage and site locations and offices across the U.S.
OUR LOCATIONSWhere to find us?
ANCHORAGE
3301 C Street, Suite 100, Anchorage, AK 99503
NOME
PO Box 1008. 110 Front Street, Suite 300, Nome, Alaska 99762
GET IN TOUCHStay Connected
Follow BSNC for news, updates, stories, and opportunities to share in this journey.
Sign up for our newsletter

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