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Margaret Roberts awarded Hanna Paul Solomon “Woman of Courage” Award
Carl Marr named AFN Citizen of Year
Jim Dillard received Denali Award
Three Kodiak area residents were recognized for their service to Native people by the Alaska Federation of Natives at last week’s AFN Convention in Anchorage.
The three are Margaret Roberts. Carl Marrs, and Jim Dillard.
Roberts received the Hanna Paul Solomon “Woman of Courage” Award for her lifetime commitment to heritage preservation. She is a founder of the Kodiak Alutiiq Dancers and was a member of the culture committee that first envisioned the Alutiiq Museum, according to a press release by the museum.
Carl Marrs, the chief executive officer of the Old Harbor Native Corporation, was named AFN Citizen of the Year. The award recognized Marrs’ successful efforts to change federal tax law in ways that allow Native Corporations to better serve their shareholders with dividends and services.
He was also applauded for his work mentoring non-profit leaders.
The award is Marrs’ second AFN Citizen of the Year award. He also received the prestigious award in 2001.
And finally, artist and carver Jim Dillard received the Denali Award, which recognizes non-Natives for their service to the Alaska Native Community.
Dillard is a retired teacher who taught cultural arts in Port Lions and Kodiak. He was one of the first classroom teachers to connect students with Alutiiq heritage, according to the museum press release, and his efforts helped to revitalize Alutiiq carving traditions.
