Former Independent Consulting
From 1998-2021, Alisha offered consulting services as "Nunaworks", a sole proprietorship. The business name's Alutiiq root is "land—nuna".
Alisha's Leadership Competencies:
- Organizational Management ($4M+ annual budget)
- Grant Writing & Administration ($40M+ in funded proposals)
- PR & Community Engagement
- Conflict Resolution
- ANCSA History & Context
- Government Contracting
- Economic Development: Tourism, Fisheries, Mariculture, Agriculture, Retail, Real Estate Investment, Construction & Rural Infrastructure
- Governance & Policy Development
- Program Design & Evaluation
- Strategic Planning
- Natural Resource Management & Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK)
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems & Cultual Resource Management
- Advocacy & Facilitation
- Human Resources & Shareholder Services
- Healthcare & Wellness Programs
- Higher Education & Scholarship Programs
- Professional Development & Staff Mentorship
- Curriculum Development & Instruction
Washington DC
Advocacy
Tribal and Alaska Native Corporation executives meet with U.S. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma in DC:
(left to right) Joe Mathis (NANA), Jon Panamaroff (Colville), Cynthia Berns (Old Harbor), Kay Bills (Osage), Christina Woolston (Chenega), Senator James Lankford, Alisha Drabek (Afognak), Gail Schubert (Bering Strait
Consulting Accomplishments
Graphic Design
Grant Writing & Facilitation
Curriculum Design
As a graphic designer, Alisha created PR materials, publications, murals, and logos. She used the Adobe Creative Suite software to produce her designs. Several publications, Alisha provided layout, design, and editing services are available through alutiiqmuseum.org. Samples appear on the Art page of this website.
Curriculum Design
Grant Writing & Facilitation
Curriculum Design
As an educator and Alutiiq language culture-bearer, Alisha produced numerous educational resources, and curricula to promote Alaska History, and Kodiak Alutiiq culture and language.
Much that Alisha produced or edited is available through the www.Alutiiqeducation.org and www.Alutiiqlanguage.org clearinghouses.
Grant Writing & Facilitation
Grant Writing & Facilitation
Grant Writing & Facilitation
Alisha served many Alaska Native organizations in PR, research, facilitation, and grant writing. Her funded narratives raised over $40M for her Tribal community and educational institutions. She facilitated the Kodiak Rural Forum and Koniag Roundtable, and supported strategic planning for Tribes and Native Corporations.
Education
Education
Education
ANELP (Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program) Graduate Certificate toward an MBA, APU, Dec 2017
Alutiiq Language Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC), UAA – Kodiak College, May 2015
PhD – Indigenous Studies: Education & Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), U of Alaska Fairbanks (4.0 GPA), Dec 2012
MFA – Creative Writing: Fict
ANELP (Alaska Native Executive Leadership Program) Graduate Certificate toward an MBA, APU, Dec 2017
Alutiiq Language Occupational Endorsement Certificate (OEC), UAA – Kodiak College, May 2015
PhD – Indigenous Studies: Education & Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS), U of Alaska Fairbanks (4.0 GPA), Dec 2012
MFA – Creative Writing: Fiction, Emphasis in Native Amer. Studies, U of Arizona, Tucson (3.8 GPA), May 1996
BA – English, American Literature; Minor: Creative Writing, U of Arizona, Tucson, AZ (3.5 GPA), May 1994
High School Diploma – Kodiak High School (3.5 GPA), May 1990
Alisha began service as an Alutiiq Language Apprentice in 2004 when her middle son Fayd was 3 weeks old. While the formal paid apprenticeship ended in 2006, Alisha continued to study with Alutiiq Elders and research the Alutiiq language and culture.
Photo of Alisha Drabek and April Counceller teaching Alutiiq song Ellpet Macaqa - You Are My Sunshine, courtesy Native Village of Afognak.
Career
Education
Education
Adjunct Professor of Alaska Native Studies, University of Alaska — Kodiak College, Kodiak, AK, 2023-2024
Executive Vice President, Afognak Native Corporation, Kodiak, AK, Nov 2016 – Jan 2021 &
Sr Vice President, Community & Gov’t Affairs, May 2015 – Oct 2016
Executive Director, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak, AK, August 2013 – May 2015
Alutiiq La
Adjunct Professor of Alaska Native Studies, University of Alaska — Kodiak College, Kodiak, AK, 2023-2024
Executive Vice President, Afognak Native Corporation, Kodiak, AK, Nov 2016 – Jan 2021 &
Sr Vice President, Community & Gov’t Affairs, May 2015 – Oct 2016
Executive Director, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak, AK, August 2013 – May 2015
Alutiiq Language Teacher, Kodiak High School (contractor), Jan 2011 – May 2013
Artist & Jewelry Designer, HelmArts (self-employed collaboration) June 2006 – Dec 2011
Alutiiq Language Apprentice, Alutiiq Museum, Kodiak, AK, Oct 2004 – Dec 2006
Assistant Professor, English, University of
Alaska, Kodiak College, Jan 2003 – May 2006
Tribal Administrator, Native Village of Afognak, Kodiak, AK, Aug 1999 – Aug 2002
Administrative & Research Assistant, CARE, Seattle, WA, Aug 1996 – Aug 1998
Managing Editor, Sonora Review Literary Journal, U of Arizona, Tucson, Apr 1995 – June 1996
Photo courtesy Alutiiq Museum, features Alutiiq Elder Phyllis Peterson of Kaguyak & Akhiok composing an Alutiiq song poem with Alisha
Honors
Education
Honors
Aglauti Fellowship & Residency in September
Storyknife Women Writers Residency, 2025
Alutiiq Cultural Guardian Award
Old Harbor Alutiiq Dance Festival, April 2017
AFN President's Eileen Panigeo MacLean Education Award
An AFN President's Award, October 2012
Mellon Foundation Dissertation Fellowship
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Indigenous St
Aglauti Fellowship & Residency in September
Storyknife Women Writers Residency, 2025
Alutiiq Cultural Guardian Award
Old Harbor Alutiiq Dance Festival, April 2017
AFN President's Eileen Panigeo MacLean Education Award
An AFN President's Award, October 2012
Mellon Foundation Dissertation Fellowship
University of Alaska Fairbanks, Indigenous Studies Doctoral Program, August 2011-2012
Alaska State Type-M K-12 Teaching License for Alutiiq Studies
Requested by the Kodiak Island Borough School Board, 2011-2016
Honoring Alaska's Indigenous Literature (HAIL) Award
For the Alutiiq Picture Dictionary, February 2009
American Book Award from the Before
Columbus Foundation
For the Red Cedar of Afognak: A Driftwood Journey, August 2005
Honoring Alaska's Indigenous Literature (HAIL) Award
For the Red Cedar of Afognak: A Driftwood Journey, February 2005
Photo of Alisha Drabek and her husband Helm Johnson, courtesy Lydia Olsen
Research Travel
Europe
- St. Petersburg, Russia — Russian Museum of Ethnography (RME) & the Kunstkamera Museum
- Boulogne-sur-Mer, France — Chateau Musee
- Paris, France — Louvre Museum
- London, England — British Museum
- Berlin, Germany — Museum Island
- Dresden, Germany — Zwinger & Old Masters’ Picture Gallery
- Göerlitz, Germany — Silesian
- Prague, Czechia — Nardoni & National Gallery
Asia & Oceania
- Hong Kong
- Guangzhou, China
- Sydney to Melbourne, Australia — cultural and Indigenous language immersion schools
- North & South Islands, New Zealand — cultural and Indigenous language immersion schools
Americas
- Victoria, BC, Canada — Royal BC Museum
- 30 U.S. states, including targeted study at UC Berkeley’s Bancroft Library & Stanford’s Hoover Institute
