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

Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Information Technician James Sipary was recently recognized as a National Native Elder Hero.  The National Resource Center of Native American Aging 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.”

Mr. Sipary 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 letter noted that Mr. Sipary “is a Yup’ik…who believes that the solutions to many present day problems lie within the cultural knowledge of our elders.  He is a member of the Alaska Native Elder Health Advisory Committee, and Information and Education Technician with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and is still a subsistence fisherman and hunter.   His 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.”

Although it was not mentioned in the nomination letter, Mr. Sipary is also a board member of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, and he 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 Refuge Information Technician at the Yukon Delta refuge since 1996.  One of the refuge's four purposes is to provide "the opportunity for continued subsistence uses by local residents."  Both on the job and off, James Sipary has worked for years to achieve this.  We are proud to have this award-winning Native hero as a member of our staff.