User:Joe Cesare/Kay Wallis

Lead Section
Kay Wallis is an elder in the Gwichʼin tribe and served as a representative legislature from 1985-1991. Other contributions to her community include serving on the board of both the Alaska Wilderness League and Gwich’in Steering Committee.

Early Life
Wallis grew up in the Yukon region of Alaska. Her mother and father are from Old Crow, Canada, and Fort Yukon, Alaska, respectively. She received a bachelor of Science Degree from University of Alaska.

Career
Wallis, who is an elder of the Gwich’in tribal community of approximately 7,000 people who reside throughout Alaska and northern Canada, lives in Anchorage Alaska. Wallis obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Throughout her life, Wallis has pursued several political roles. Wallis served as the representative of the Alaska State House for District 24 from 1985-1991. District 24 consists of the Yukon, Tanana, Kuskokwim and Koyukuk river valleys and the village of Tyonek. Throughout her political career, Wallis has had a specific focus on environmental concerns pertaining to the Arctic and her home community, namely as an advocate for the protection of the Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. In 1990, she was endorsed for the Alaska Environmental Political Action Committee. In 1986, Wallis was involved in a scandal, having been found to have transferred funds contributed by political lobbyists. Wallis claims that most of this money was used to send mail-outs to her supporters, and on spendings related to her political campaign.

Legacy
Wallis’ notable contributions to her field include serving on the board of the Gwich’in Steering Committee. Earlier contributions to her community include serving in the Alaska legislature for six years. In 2010, she joined a delegation of indigenous people from Alaska to attend the Bolivia Climate Conference. She currently serves as a board member of the Alaska Wilderness League. Throughout her contributions, she continually values the protection of nature and wildlife in Alaska, specifically the sacred Coastal Plain of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.