shawna hotch

north dakota state university | ilíiaitchik: indigenous correspondents program (icp)

shawna hotch is from the jilkáat kwaan in southeast alaska, and a proud tribal member of the chilkat indian village of klukwan. she is deeply committed to advancing tribal sovereignty, advocating for tribally-led efforts to protect and sustain the traditional way of life, and upholding tribal values in contemporary initiatives. her work is dedicated to strengthening the health and resilience of the chilkat valley through tribal initiatives rooted in environmental stewardship, community empowerment, and tribal infrastructure development. guided by the foundational principles of haa kusteeyí (our way of life) and Áat yaa awuné (respect for all things), shawna draws inspiration from the enduring ancestral teachings of previous generations. these values inform her roles as a mother, sister, granddaughter, and tribal councilwoman, shaping her approach to nation-building, cultural revitalization, and sustainable place-based programming.

shawna earned a bachelor’s degree in public health from fort lewis college and a master’s degree in public health with a focus on community health sciences from north dakota state university. currently, shawna is pursuing a master of rural community development, concentrating on strategies that enhance native communities and nonprofit management. her work now focuses on integrating tribal values into environmental and social justice efforts, including housing, geohazard mitigation, water and air quality monitoring, and emergency management. shawna continues to advocate for tribal sovereignty and self-determination efforts by working across systems using an indigenous lens, tribal participatory research methods, and social capital theory. shawna enjoys playing basketball and softball, attending her son’s little league games, berry picking and plant harvesting, going out fishing with her family, and advocating to keep the chilkat river free of acid-generating mines forever.