Ella Sassuuk Tonuchuk, Leader from the Region

Shareholder Aims for MBA with Goal to Uplift Alaska Native Communities

Storyknife, March/April 2024 edition

Ella Sassuuk Tonuchuk, a Calista Shareholder with ties to Kotlik, is working on her Master of Business Administration degree from Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage. She wants to start a business that focuses on lifting up Alaska Native people and communities.

Tonuchuk grew up in Kotlik and St. Michael learning from her parents the Yup’ik way of being. She went to fish camp every summer, attended potlatches in Stebbins and St. Michael every year, and picked salmonberries near Kotlik.

“My strong cultural upbringing paved the way for success and has influenced my work.” Tonuchuk says. “I thank my parents for raising me knowing that the only way to work is to work hard.”

Tonuchuk has one more semester at APU this fall. She looks forward to establishing her own small business but is already working self-employed and managing aspects of fundraisers for organizations like the Alaska Native Heritage Center.

“I hope to support our Native ways, inspire others, be self-sufficient, and represent my people well,” Tonuchuk says.

“My goal is to serve Native peoples and communities in any given capacity.”

Coming from a small village, Tonuchuk prefers smaller scale schools. She says her tuition at APU as a private school is much higher than a public school. Tonuchuk has been able to benefit from the Calista Education and Culture, Inc. scholarship for many semesters in her college career.

“I cannot thank Calista enough. Without Calista Education’s support, I would not have the financial capacity to attend school, Tonuchuk says. “I tried UAA for a semester and could not get used to how big it was. APU works for me and it’s been my choice for higher education.”

Tonuchuk believes education is gaining knowledge that benefits others and is meant to be shared. Her message to the next generation is to ‘never forget where you come from, it will help shape who you need to be.’ Many opportunities exist, but you must not give up, she says.

“I quit college before, in my undergrad—mostly due to homesickness—but my family encouraged me to go back after a year or two,” Tonuchuk says. “Surround yourself with family and friends who encourage you to do well and pick our friends wisely.”

The mission of Calista Education & Culture, Inc. (CECI) is to celebrate and promote Yuuyaraq, the traditional/cultural way of being in the Calista Region which inspires and encourages our people to achieve their dreams through education.

The CECI scholarship program awards scholarships two times each year. The application deadline for the Fall 2024 Term scholarship is June 30, and the Spring Term scholarship application is due December 1 each year. Apply today!