Board - Healing Native Hearts Coalition

Susie Sam Bio

SUSIE SAM lives in Galena, AK. She has 4 kids, and one granddaughter. Her and her husband are also boarding home parents to many kids and young adults over the last 20 years.

She is currently employed as the Accounts Payable for the IDEA Program at the Galena City School District. She was the Tribal Administrator for Louden Tribal Council from 2015 to 2021. Her prior employment includes Accountant at Louden Tribal Council, Administrative Clerk for the State of Alaska, Bookkeeper/shareholder records clerk for Gana-A’Yoo Limited and Administrative Assistant at Yukaana Development Corporation.

Susie graduated in 1988 from Alaska Pacific University with a Bachelor’s or Art degree in Business Administration.

Susie serves on the KIYU radio station, Healing Native Hearts Coalition, and Koyitlotsina Limited Boards.

Tami Truett Jerue

Tami Truett Jerue, citizen of the Anvik Tribe. As Executive Director of the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center (AKNWRC) Tami brought 40 years of direct services experience to this journey, beginning with the formation of AKNWRC in 2016. Tami joined a group of Alaska Native women passionate about ending interpersonal violence across Alaska, Tami and the now Board of Directors, believe interpersonal violence is a result of colonization and has no place in native culture. Ms. Jerue has testified before Congress and the United Nations bringing attention to the disproportionate rates of violence experienced by Alaska Native women and the lack of resources faced by tribes. Under Tami’s management, the AKNWRC has become a voice for Alaska Native issues, particularly affecting women, children and families, telling truths to promote understanding, building partnerships, and most importantly supporting Alaska Native tribes as they tackle the complex issues of interpersonal violence. Ms. Jerue, has a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and master’s work in Community Psychology. She worked for over 24 years for the Anvik Tribal Council in Tribal Administration, Indian Child Protection, Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault (DV/SA) and Counseling/Advocacy. She is married to Carl Jerue, Jr. of Anvik sharing 4 beautiful children and 5 grandchildren.

Rhonda Pitka

Rhonda Pitka is Chief of the village of Beaver, a single mother of a 5-year-old daughter, and a part time Rural Development student. Chief Pitka is a Koyukon Athabascan and Inupiaq resident of the village of Beaver. She sits on the Federal Subsistence Board, Yukon River Panel, and is former Chairwoman of the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments. She has worked as a transportation planner for the Beaver Village Council since 2011. Chief Pitka is a strong advocate for the protection of the traditional hunting and fishing way of life.

Nettie J. Warbelow

Nettie J. Warbelow is the Domestic Violence / Sexual Assault and ICWA Coordinator for the Village of Tetlin. She was born in Alaska and was raised in the Village of Tetlin, Alaska where she was raised traditionally, with her grandmothers teaching her the essentials of Athabascan Culture and language. Nettie is fluent in the Tetlin Athabascan dialect, and is a strong supporter and advocate of Culture preservation. Nettie has worked in the field of Social Services for Child Protection, ICWA, Advocate for DV/Sexual Assault, SART Trained, State Court Proceedings and Tribal Court for 20 years. She was involved during the passage of the ICWA law for Alaska. She also is an expert with ex parte for her clients with the Court systems. Nettie has demonstrated the capacity to carry out many tasks, including, but not limited to as Tetlin Council Liaison, Grant writer, Workshop Facilitator, Tetlin Corporation Assistant, and State Social Service Associate to Foster Care/Adoption. Nettie served on many Boards throughout her years advocating for people. Nettie also loves working with the Youth. Her passion is community healing through holistic culture and traditional teachings. Nettie has one daughter Sadie Rose, who is close to her heart.

Janelle Chapin

Janelle Chapin is originally from Kaltag and Illinois. She holds an associate’s degree in addictions counseling and bachelors in social work. Janelle has worked with both survivors and offenders of domestic violence for many years. She believes the way we change family patterns is working with the whole family and through addressing cultural and historical trauma. I believe our tribes need to be self-empowered to work with our tribal members for substance changes. Janelle is currently working at Turning Point Counseling Services as the intake and outreach coordinator.

Carol Rose Bio

Carol Rose is an enrolled member of Oglala Lakota Nation in Pine Ridge, South Dakota. She was born and raised on the Pine Ridge Indian reservation in South Dakota and La Jolla Indian reservation in Southern California but calls Fairbanks home. Carol currently works for Tanana Chiefs Conference in Family Services as a Family Support Specialist. She is a Veteran of the United States Air Force and Air National Guard. She was a Noncommissioned Officer assigned to the Social Actions Office as a Social Actions Substance Counselor and Equal Opportunity and Treatment and Human Relations Educator. Carol retired in 2003 with 23 years of service. She is a certified Chemical Dependency Counselor, CDC II with over 30 years of experience in the field. Carol dedicates her life to empowering and helping Native people heal. She has a diverse background in counseling from her experience in working with members in the Air Force, Native communities, Indian Health, Private Sector and Corrections. Carol is a Stake Holder for the Alaska Sobriety Movement. She helped plan, develop and market the 1^st Annual San Bernardino-Riverside Indian Health Council Inc., Women’s Wellness Conference “Creating a Positive Vision” in Palm Springs, California. She served on a team on the S’kallam Indian reservation near Kingston, Washington, designing, developing and implementing the Orca Pride Intensive Outpatient program for adolescents. Carol facilitated Warrior Down Recovery support groups from 2009 to 2014. She conducted Warrior Down Recovery Coach Training and Medicine Wheel Approach to Recovery Workshops and How to Become a Hero and Save Your Own Life workshops. Carol encourages change and healing from within and acknowledges that lasting and powerful change can happen when using our Native spiritual teachings and values in recovery. Carol is also an advocate for women and has led women’s groups and talking circles for women in recovery from substance abuse, domestic violence, sexual abuse, thinking errors and significant traumatic events. She’s an advocate for our brothers and sisters who are incarcerated and striving to change and recover. She also wants to bring balance by creating healing opportunities to help family members experiencing the traumatic effects when a loved one is incarcerated. Due to Carol’s love and passion for fashion, Native Arts and Culture she helped create the Council for Creative Natives in Action (CCNA). She strives to create venues where artist can present their art, act their art, be their art. Carol’s role models in life are her late Grandmother Zona Hawk Wing-Janis, for her strength and loving ways, late Grandfather Henry Janis for his love, late Father Carl Janis for his intelligence and passion for learning, mother Karen Nelson for her strength, fearlessness and sense a humor, and late stepfather Willie Nelson for his unconditional love, humor and always being there for family.

Elizabeth Jerue Bio

Elizabeth Jerue is Deg Hit’an Athabascan, originally from the Village of Anvik, where she grew up. She now lives in Fairbanks with her 11-month-old son, Weston. Elizabeth is working towards her Bachelor’s degree in Rural Development at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She is currently the Program Coordinator for Healing Native Hearts Coalition. In her free time, Elizabeth enjoys chasing after her son, being outdoors and doing projects around her home.

Shirley Moses Bio

Shirley Moses is an Inupiaq Eskimo, born in Nome, Alaska, whose tribal affiliation is the Sitnasuak Native Corporation/Bering Straits Native Corporation. She has a Master’s in Education Administration, and approximately 20 years experience working in the Behavioral Health Field in various positions. Shirley taught Elementary Grades K-8 in Rural villages throughout Alaska, and was a Principal Teacher. In addition to her experience in the classroom, she has worked as a Coordinator for SED Youth in Residential and Community Settings. She has experience with coordinating care in the school, behavioral health and community settings for dually diagnosed youth and Adults. Shirley also worked for a statewide Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Coalition as a Program Assistant, Shelter Director, Coordinated Statewide/Regional and Village SA/DV Training and response, and is a certified SART Responder. Shirley previously served and was appointed by US Attorney General Eric Holder to sit on a 15-member National Coordination Committee to address Sexual Assault Response In Indian Country. This was a 2-year appointment during which Shirley represented Alaska Native Tribal concerns and needs pertaining to Sexual Assault Protocol. Shirley is currently the Executive Director for Healing Native Hearts Coalition.

Tami Truett Jerue

Antoinette Halvorsen

Susie Sam

Shirley Kruger

Nettie J Warbelow

Bertina Titus