Suluŋaq Austen Erickson

Iñupiaq

Advancement Director

Austen Suluŋaq NukaqSiaġaq Erickson is Inupiaq and Norwegian, born and raised in St. Michael and Unalakleet, Alaska. His Aaka Mabel named him Suluŋaq after her uncle, and Guerie Towarak named him NukaqSiaġaq after her father. Suluŋaq’s grandparents are the late Harvard and Mabel Brown of Utqiagvik/Nome/Shishmaref, and the late Donald and Kathryn Erickson of Unalakleet. His parents are Jeff and Donna Erickson, also of Unalakleet. He is a member of the Unalakleet Tribe, a descendant of Bering Straits and Ukpeagvik Inupiat Corp, and an ASRC Shareholder.

Suluŋaq’s favorite time is spent on the ocean. He spent the majority of his life salmon fishing with his dad, as well as hunting ugruk and natchiq in the Norton Sound. He’s been fortunate enough to spend lots of time with family from the Yukon to the North Slope, subsisting and harvesting across our regions. His favorite meditative space is on the water.

Suluŋaq has spent most of his professional life working on capacity building initiatives for our communities, focusing on grant writing, food security, language revitalization, and healthy communities. He loves to travel and spend time in our myriad and vibrant villages. He has three wonderful children, Gunayaguk (Stieg), Naulik (Viggo), and Naiŋaruk (Freja).