Clarence Alexander
Encyclopedia
Clarence Lee Alexander (March 12, 1939- ) is a former Grand Chief of the Gwich'in of Alaska. He was 1st Chief of Fort Yukon from 1980-1994. He was raised at "Shoo Taii," the "Happy Hill," which is also known by the name "Alexander Village". Alexander Village is approximately 20 miles north of Fort Yukon. He co-authored the "Gwich'in Dictionary" with his wife, Virginia E. Alexander.
He co-founded the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments with Paul Williams Sr., the former Chief of the village of Beaver Alaska http://www.catg.org/ourstory.html. He is one of four co-founders of, and Chairman of, the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
, a group of 70 First Nations and Tribal Governments spanning the Yukon River Watershed dedicated to "to the protection and preservation of the Yukon River Watershed" http://www.yritwc.org/About_Us/About_Us.aspx. He is the former Chairman of the Gwichyaa Zhee Corporation, the local ANCSA village corporation. He founded Gwandak radio, KZPA 900 am, which broadcasts from Fort Yukon throughout the area known as the Yukon Flats
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October 20th, 2011, Clarence Alexander was awarded the 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal by President Barack Obama.
He co-founded the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments with Paul Williams Sr., the former Chief of the village of Beaver Alaska http://www.catg.org/ourstory.html. He is one of four co-founders of, and Chairman of, the Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council
The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed Council is made up of 66 First Nations and tribes in Alaska and Canada, living along the Yukon River. The council serves as a lobby group for protecting and cleaning up the Yukon....
, a group of 70 First Nations and Tribal Governments spanning the Yukon River Watershed dedicated to "to the protection and preservation of the Yukon River Watershed" http://www.yritwc.org/About_Us/About_Us.aspx. He is the former Chairman of the Gwichyaa Zhee Corporation, the local ANCSA village corporation. He founded Gwandak radio, KZPA 900 am, which broadcasts from Fort Yukon throughout the area known as the Yukon Flats
Yukon Flats
The Yukon Flats are a vast area of wetlands, forest, bog, and low-lying ground centered on the confluence of the Yukon River, Porcupine River, and Chandalar River in the central portion of the U.S. state of Alaska. The Yukon Flats are bordered in the north by the Brooks Range, in the south by the...
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Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments
He is credited, with Paul Williams Sr. of Beaver, of founding the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments, also known locally as "CATG".Awards
November 30th, 2004, Clarence Alexander was the recipient of the 2004 Ecotrust Indigenous Leadership Award for his many years of work advocating for environmental justice, tribal rights and protection of the Yukon River Watershed.October 20th, 2011, Clarence Alexander was awarded the 2011 Presidential Citizens Medal by President Barack Obama.