Tlingit & Haida Adds New Officers to Leadership
Two new officers are among the leadership at the Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.
Karen Taug accepted the position of Acting Chief Financial Officer. Taug will serve until the tribe can permanently fill the position. She replaces former CFO Theresa Belton, who retired in April after more than twenty years of service.
“Theresa worked tirelessly to look after the financial well-being of Tlingit & Haida,” says Tlingit & Haida President Richard Chalyee Éesh Peterson. “We cannot thank her enough and wish her well in all of her future endeavors.”
Taug is currently the president of the Deishu Tlingit & Haida Community Council and serves as a Tlingit & Haida delegate for the community of Haines, a board member for Sealaska, a board of commissioners member for Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority Board, and a member of the Alaska Native Sisterhood Camp 5.
Tlingit & Haida
Taug retired as finance controller for Bartlett Regional Hospital after more than five years of service, and prior to that she was a finance controller for SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium.
“We are grateful Karen is willing to step out of retirement and assist us while we recruit a new Chief Financial Officer,” says Peterson. “She has an impeccable record in financial leadership and, as a tribal citizen, understands the importance of finance to our daily success.”
Taug’s Tlingit name is GunnaShaa and she is Raven of the L’uknax.ádi clan (Coho) and DaGinaa Hít (The Far Out House) of Dry Bay. She is also Tsimshian and Penobscot.
Current Issue
January 2026
A tribal citizen is promoted to the position of Procurement Officer. In that role, Myrna Gardner oversees all operations of Tlingit & Haida’s procurement department and its business enterprise T&H Logistics. The activities of the department include warehouse inventory control, vendor sourcing and pricing research, and processing of incoming and outgoing mail.
“In Myrna’s previous roles within the tribe, she has proven to be a problem solver with a strong working knowledge of federal government contract management,” Peterson says.
Tlingit & Haida
Gardner is a George Washington University certified contract manager and holds an industry certification in contract management, federal level 1 from the National Contract Management Association. She brings more than twenty years of experience in business management, logistics, and operations.
Gardner is Tlingit and Haida. Her Tlingit name is Xíeishxí, and she is Yéil naax xat sitee, Duk’tool, Wéix’ naax xat sitee, Taakwaaneidi Hít (Raven/Skulpin House) from the village of Sxwaan of the Heinyaa Kwaan (Klawock) people and is Chankweidi Yadi (a child of the Haida people on her father’s side).
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We’re honored again this year to celebrate our partnership with Junior Achievement of Alaska, a nonprofit that educates local youth about enterprise, business, money, and financial literacy. In the special section, three Junior Achievement of Alaska students weigh in on their experience with the exceptional volunteers and teachers involved with the program.
And in Industry Support, we explore the range of varied services that industry in Alaska requires, from mancamps to spill response to off-grid energy solutions.
Outside the special sections, make sure to check out the 2026 Economic forecast, where Alaska leaders share their insights on what may lie ahead in the coming year. Enjoy!