Refuge Information Technician James Sipary, recently recognized as a National Native Elder Hero.

Yukon Delta Refuge Information Technician (RIT) James Sipary has been honored as a “National Native Elder Hero” by the National Resource Center of Native American Aging which confers the award to “honor individuals who have dedicated their time, talent, and energy to help Native elders to solve local problems, share cultural traditions, and to build stronger communities.”

James was nominated for the award by Dr. George Charles, Director of the Alaska National Resource Center for Elders at the University of Alaska, Anchorage.  Dr. Charles’ nomination noted that James Sipary “is a Yup’ik…who believes that the solutions to many present day problems lie within the cultural knowledge of our elders.” The nomination noted Sipary is a member of the Alaska Native Elder Health Advisory Committee and lives as a subsistence fisherman and hunter while working as an Information and Education Technician with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  According to the nomination, James Sipary’s work “in educating others in the management and conservation of the plants, habitat and environment of our fish and game has contributed to maintaining the Yup’ik way of life, their culture, and identity.  He advocates for prevention of suicide, injuries caused by snow machine and four wheelers, and drug abuse.”

While not mentioned in the nomination, Sipary is also a board member of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation and has testified repeatedly before the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council on behalf of the people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.  He has served as a RIT at Yukon Delta refuge since 1996.  One of the refuge's four purposes is to provide "the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents."  On the job and off, James Sipary has worked years to earn this distinction. We are proud to have this award-winning Native hero as a member of our staff.