My parents are the late Hector and Grace (Stevens) Ewan.  My Grandparents were Estaco and Jesse Ewan.  William and Grace (Barger) Stevens and great-grandparents Joe Goodlataw and Ann Stevens.

The Ahtna people are matrilineal. When a child is born, he or she is born into their mother’s clan. My mother was of Eskimo and Athabascan descent; her mother was from the NANA region and did not have a clan in Ahtna. My father was an Udzihsu (Caribou) Clan.

Since my mother did not have a clan, I was adopted by Leona Johns into the Teltsiine Clan. Teltsiine means “they were by the water.”

I have been married to Clarence McConkey for 43 years and he is of the Naltsiine clan which means “comes from above.”

We have 6 children – Jessica Ewan, Julia McConkey, Georgiea Jackson, Clarice, Samantha, and the late Hector McConkey and 12 grandchildren – Clarence and Angel Edwin, Trey, Keshaw, Justus, Isaac McConkey, Norma Harris, Jayna, Terrel, Naomi, Adam Jackson, Ruth McConkey, and great-granddaughter Anastasia who all follow my clan, the Teltsiine.

I am an enrolled Tribal member of Kluti-Kaah and I live in Tazlina.

I have worked at Copper River Native Association as the Director of Tribal Community Service, previously served as the   The TSC Director manages the BIA programs, Indian Child Welfare Act, Child President and Kluti-Kaah Director of the CRNA Board.  I have extensive knowledge of Child Welfare Services, Title IV B, Family First Preservation, and Public Law 102-477 program which assists with overcoming barriers to work and people who are unable to work gain a permanent income, Indian General Assistance Program, Tribal Response Program, Climate Change, Agriculture, Special Projects and a Social Security Representative Payee, Elders, VPSO programs and budget, policy, board responsibilities.

I would be honored to serve as your CRNA board of directors Vice President.  Tsin’aen

CRNA Elders, Beneficiaries, Staff and Board of Directors

I would like to thank the Native Village of Tazlina for nominating me as a candidate for the election of Vice President of Copper River Native Association (CRNA) this year. I would like to express my appreciation for all CRNA Beneficiaries who have supported me as Vice President for the past four (4) years, as well as the full Board of Directors.

As a former CRNA Employee, also serving as an officer of the Board of Directors, and a Beneficiary, I can assess, evaluate, and resolve issues and concerns from three (3) perspectives when making decisions that will sustain our organization. I sympathize, understand, and value everyone receiving and providing services to our constituents.

Serving as your Vice President, I have had the privilege of working beside my fellow Board Members on various aspects of operations, finances, and flow of services. Change is not an easy transition for anyone, it interrupts one’s livelihood in daily routines of moving ahead in their personal lives. It is natural human behavior to react, and it is difficult adjust to change. I sympathize, understand, and value everyone receiving and providing services to our constituents.

As a Board, we make decision based on statistical data report that our programs provide us, financial reports, and comments from our beneficiaries utilizing services. Some decisions are hard for us to make, as a Board of Directors, we must look at the big picture to ensure we take steps to “Right Size” our organization for a more efficient CRNA.

I am asking for your support in serving you as CRNA Vice President, to work with Board of Directors to see through innovative changes currently taking place. Our result is to expedite your connection with providers through a more efficient process. Having your vote would be an honor to serve you on the CRNA Board of Directors for another term.

Tsin’aen for your time and support, wishing you a year of health and wellness.

I have graciously accepted Gulkana Village Council’s nomination for the Vice President for Copper River Native Association Board of Directors.  I have over 20 years of board governance experience in non-profit and profit organizations, as well as organizational management work experience. I have served on boards that experienced financial and organizational challenges and have worked closely with Executive Management Teams to strategically address challenges to ensure a sustainable and stable organization for its members.

I am committed to utilize and share my professional skills and qualifications for the betterment of Copper River Native Associations’ beneficiaries to increase and prioritize the continuity of quality health care and wellbeing of our Tribal members as well as advocating to retain a qualified work-force.   I am committed to seeking opportunities that allows for a more robust partnership with our compacting tribes and regional organizations to ensure our villages are economically stable by providing employment and training opportunities for our tribal members that would enhance services to our beneficiaries.