Edenshaw Arrives as Ketchikan Indian Community Tribal Administrator/CEO
Photo Credit: Ketchikan Indian Community
Having completed her tenure as president and CEO of the Alaska Native Heritage Center, Emily Edenshaw is taking a leadership position at the state’s second largest federally recognized tribe. Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) named Edenshaw its new CEO and Tribal Administrator.
In her new position, Edenshaw guides KIC’s strategic priorities. These include expanding access to housing for more than 6,500 tribal citizens through construction of the Permanent Supportive Housing building and water infrastructure at the Shaa Tlein development; revitalizing Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian traditions through the Naha Cultural Heritage Camp and X’oots Kyue’ik Canoe Program; honoring tribal Elders and ensuring a culturally enriched education for youth; and providing high-quality assistance in behavioral health and substance abuse disorders.
Current Issue
January 2026
Edenhaw is Yup’ik and Iñupiaq, a tribal citizen of the Native Village of Emmonak and a shareholder of Doyon, Limited and Calista Corporation. Her husband is from Hydaburg, and Edenshaw was adopted into the Raven Thunderbird Clan in Old Massett, a reserve in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia.
Edenshaw holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and strategic communications and an Executive MBA degree. She is also a PhD candidate at UAF, researching healing from intergenerational trauma. Her career has spanned the Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, First Alaskans Institute, and Southcentral Foundation. Her leadership at Alaska Native Heritage Center is credited with elevating Indigenous voices and preserving traditions.
Edenshaw embodies cultural pride, reflected in her names: Keneggnarkayaaggaq (Yup’ik, “a person with a beautiful persona, spirit, aura, and friend”); Tl’áa Kihl X̱ánj (Haida, “The People’s Echo”); and Tiipak (Inupiaq, “Fancy”).
Tribal President Ilsxilee Stáng (Gloria Burns) says, “We are excited to welcome Emily to the team as the CEO and Tribal Administrator and look forward to our shared future. She has a love for Elders and education as well as a passion for economic sovereignty that is apparent as soon as she shares her spirit. For those reasons among many others, we can’t wait to have Tl’áa Kihl X̱ánj take on the crucial role of leading the KIC team.”
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