October 27th, 2025  

Contact: [email protected],  

907-677-1700   

ANNOUNCING 2025 AWARDEES OF THE FAI HOWARD ROCK & TED STEVENS SMOKEHOUSE GALA  

First Alaskans Institute (FAI), a statewide Alaska Native advocacy nonprofit, is proud to announce our 14th Annual Howard Rock & Ted Stevens Smokehouse Gala Awardees.  

The Gala will be held in-person in Dgheyey Kaq’; Dena’inaq ełnen’aq’ qilan (Anchorage, Alaska; lands of the Dena’ina) on Saturday, November 22nd at Marriott Anchorage Downtown. The Howard Rock & Ted Stevens Smokehouse Gala will open with the VIP reception from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The ballroom doors open at Marriott Anchorage Downtown at 6:30 PM and the program will start at 7:00 PM. The closing ceremony will be at 9:30 PM and the event will end at 9:45 PM.  

To buy a ticket, table, or sponsor the Smokehouse Gala, please visit HERE.

Named in recognition of the late Howard Rock (Iñupiaq) and Senator Ted Stevens, the Smokehouse Gala celebrates significant contributions of Alaska Native peoples and our friends. With deep respect and gratitude, the FAI Trustees and Staff are honored to celebrate our peoples, cultures, communities, friends, and families.  

Howard Rock Alaska Native Leader Award: Lyman Hoffman (Yup’ik)  

A dedicated businessman, fisherman, and lifelong Alaskan, Senator Lyman Hoffman has built a career rooted in public service, community leadership, and a deep connection to the land and people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.  

Throughout his career, he has served in numerous leadership roles in both government and business. His public service includes positions as Co-Chair of the Senate Finance Committee (2007–2012), Co-Chair of the House Finance Committee (1989–1990), State Representative (1986–1990, 1993–1994), and State Senator (1991–1992, 1995–present). Before his legislative service, he was City Manager of Bethel from 1977 to 1985.   

In the private and professional sectors, he has held roles such as Deputy Director of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Owner of Bethel Drilling and Welding, and Former Owner of North Star Gas.  

Beyond his professional and civic work, he enjoys spending time outdoors and pursuing his passions for hunting, fishing, boating, Alaska history, and energy development.  

He and his wife Lillian have two children, Trina and Douglas, and are proud grandparents to Madilyn, Karis, and Elizabeth.  

First Alaskans Institute Young Native Leader Award: Akalleq Mary Peltola (Yup‘ik)  

Mary served as Alaska's At-Large Representative in Congress, the first Alaska Native to be elected to the office, where she secured critical federal funding for infrastructure projects and natural resource development while serving on the Natural Resources and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees. For ten years, she served as a State Representative in the Alaska Legislature. She was appointed Executive Director of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, a role she held for five years.  

Mary possesses a deep understanding of Alaska's distinct regional ecosystems, economic drivers, and cultural landscapes. She leverages a collaborative approach and strong relationships within federal agencies, Congress, Alaska state government, and Native communities to advance client objectives and build lasting alliances among diverse stakeholders.  

Friends of First Alaskans Ted Stevens Award: Bill Dann   

Born and raised in California, and attended Cornell for Hospital Administration. He was then stationed at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage in the summer of 1968. While managing ANMC, Bill met John Shively, who was seeking sources of funding to build and stabilize AFN. Bill was asked to go to Nome, form a governing board, and start the health corporation. A 3 month ask became an 11 year commitment. Bill helped create the health aide training program to serve the villages of Nome and Kotzebue, and the program was ultimately adopted as the statewide standard for Community Health Aide training.   

He helped Norton Sound create the first Native-operated dental program, the first optometry aide program, along with building mental health services, environmental health, and home health care. Norton Sound was the first Native health corporation to contract with the IHS under the Indian Self-Determination Act.   

Bill then started a consulting firm, named Professional Growth Systems (PGS), and has worked with more than 100 Alaska Native organizations. Bill has written two books and is currently writing a third regarding leadership, supervision, and management.  

Howard Rock Alaska Native Leader - This person has shown through their quality of character and effort to be a leader of distinct caliber because they put their community and people before themselves.  

• Lyman Hoffman (Yup’ik) - 2025 
• Shakeewas Julie Kitka (Chugach Eskimo) - 2024
• Aviññaq Terri Walker (Iñupiaq) - 2023
• Dr. Aveogan Oliver Leavitt (Iñupiaq) – 2022
• Yeidiklasókw, K̲aaháni Rosita Worl, Ph.D. (Tlingit) – 2021
• Melanie Bahnke (St. Lawrence Island Yupik) – 2020
• Nelson Angapak (Yup’ik) – 2019
• Emil Notti (Koyukon) – 2018
• Poldine Carlo (Koyukon) – 2017
• Roy S. Ewan (Ahtna) – 2016
• Eliza Jones (Koyukon) – 2015
• Dr. Paul and Martina John (Yup’ik) – 2014
• Mary Jane Evans Fate (Athabascan) – 2013
• Marlene Johnson (Lingít) – 2012

First Alaskans Young Native Leader - This young leader has shown through dedication they are working to help Native peoples and our community with significant and profound purpose. 

• Akalleq Mary Peltola (Yup'ik) - 2025
• Ḵaayák’w Kyle Worl (Tlingit/Deg Hit‘an Athabascan/Yup‘ik) - 2024
• Qaaġraq Corina Kramer (Iñupiaq) - 2023
• Vera Starbard, T’set Kwei (Lingít/Dena’ina) – 2022
• Nicole Borromeo (Upper Kuskokwim Athabascan) – 2021
• Dr. Lance Twitchell (Lingít) – 2020
• Dr. Pearl Brower (Iñupiaq) – 2019
• Barbara Blake (Lingít/Haida/Ahtna) – 2018
• AlexAnna Salmon (Yup’ik) – 2017
• Raina Thiele (Dena’ina/Yup’ik) – 2016
• Samuel Johns (Ahtna/Gwich’in) – 2015
• Tanana 4-H Club (Athabascan) – 2014
• Evon Peter (Gwich’in/Koyukon) – 2013
• Jason Metrokin (Unangax/Sugpiaq) – 2012

Friends of First Alaskans Ted Stevens - This award is given to a person that has shown through their support of Native issues and partnership with our common cause that they are friends of the Alaska Native community.  

• Bill Dann - 2025
• Eric Sieh - 2024
• Sue McHenry - 2023
• Dr. Rick Knecht – 2022
• Dr. Herb Illisaurri Schroeder – 2021
• Dr. EJ R. David – 2020
• Gov. Bill Walker – 2019
• Lloyd Miller – 2018
• Myra Munson – 2017
• Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. – 2016
• Gov. Bill Sheffield – 2015
• Bill Oberly – 2015
• Bill Van Ness – 2014
• Diane Kaplan – 2013
• Barney Gottstein – 2012

To buy a ticket, table, or sponsor the Smokehouse Gala, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/2025smokehouse 

If you have any questions, please call (907) 677-1700 or email [email protected] with any questions.   

At First Alaskans Institute, we know we are responsible for carrying more than 10,000 years of ancestral knowledge into the future with rigor, humor, resilience, vigilance, and love. To learn more, please visit www.firstalaskans.org or contact us at [email protected].