Dr. Alisha Drabek, a Kodiak resident, community educator, and one of the first Alutiiq second language speakers of her generation, has been selected to lead the Alutiiq Museum.

The Alutiiq Heritage Foundation chose Drabek as it Executive Director following a three-month search. Drabek assumes the position formerly held by Dr. Sven Haakanson, Jr., who resigned in June to pursue other career interests.

Drabek brings a host of skills to the museum. In 2012, she earned her doctorate in Indigenous Studies from the University of Alaska, with a focus on education and Indigenous Knowledge Systems. She is well known for her work with the Alutiiq language, which she learned as an apprentice to Elder Phyllis Peterson and many other Kodiak Elders. She is also an accomplished grant writer, college professor, graphic designer, and an award-winning writer. A children’s book, The Red Cedar of Afognak: A Driftwood Journey, which she co-authored, won an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation.

Margaret Roberts, Chair of the Alutiiq Heritage Foundation, the museum’s governing organization said, “Alisha Drabek is an inspiration and role model to our people celebrating Alutiiq heritage through living culture. Alutiiq Heritage Foundation Board of Directors are pleased and exceptionally proud that Alisha will lead the Alutiiq Museum in preserving and sharing the culture and history of the Alutiiq people.”

Drabek begins working for the museum on August 5^th. She is the museum’s third Executive Director and has a history of partnership with the organization. She has produced language learning materials, designed and edited publications, and served on the museum’s collections advisory committee.

“Being able to strengthen community connections and wellness are what most excite me,” said Drabek, “Whether this comes from fostering Alutiiq language usage, culturally relevant education in our schools, increased access to cultural knowledge, or sharing our heritage with the world to improve cross-cultural communication, I want to continue the progress we have made in these areas as a community.”