Jessica Kaagyugaq Lewis-Nicori, Empowering Our Shareholders
Storyknife, July/August 2026 edition
Jessica Kaagyugaq Lewis-Nicori, a Calista Shareholder from Chefornak, works to promote traditional knowledge as a way to build resilience. Lewis-Nicori says following the Qanruyutet (Gahn-yah-WU-det), or “the instructions” in Yugtun, are essential to living a productive life. She grew up in Chefornak and listened to her parents and grandparents to learn how to be a good person.
“My maternal grandpa lived until he was 99 and was cognizant all the way until the end,” Lewis-Nicori says. “He credits that to qanruyutet, following the rules, and to listening and following-through on what he learned, even if it’s hard.”
Although her kids grew up in Fairbanks, Lewis-Nicori says language is an important part of keeping the culture alive and living according to the instructions (qanruyutet).
“English is everywhere in the city, but I still try to speak Yugtun to my kids, so they can stay connected to the language,” Lewis-Nicori says.
Another way to live her traditional values is by taking her kids on fishing and hunting trips to learn about subsistence and our way of life, Lewis-Nicori says. In the traditional teachings, the first animal you hunt or fish is meant for the community to signify you’re a provider.
“Last year my oldest son caught salmon, and we gave that salmon to my uncle, the late Mark John,” she says. “Even though my son tried to say no, Mark insisted on giving him $20 for the fish.”
Lewis-Nicori is the Indigenous Engagement Coordinator at the Navigating the New Arctic Community Extension office at Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage. She works to bridge the gap between our traditional Yup’ik knowledge and the science of the Arctic.
Values Driven
“Much of my work is based on looking at culture and how our values drive our goals,” Lewis-Nicori says.
A large difference between how we view the world as Yup’ik people or people from the West is preceded by our values, Lewis-Nicori says. In Western culture, we are taught to be individualistic to stand out, and it sometimes sounds boastful to Yup’ik ears. In Yup’ik culture that is frowned upon and we relate to one another by talking about our family and where we were raised.
“At the [Western Alaska Interdisciplinary Science] Conference [in Bethel], I introduced myself in two ways,” she says. “First, I introduced myself in Yugtun to say my name, family and where I’m from, to give people a chance to understand my familial ties. My second introduction was Western, and naturally I spoke English. I listed my professional credentials and mentioned I have a bachelor’s and master’s degrees.”
Much of my work is based on looking at culture and how our values drive our goals.
Jessica Kaagyugaq Lewis-Nicori, Calista Shareholder from Chefornak
Lewis-Nicori has a master’s in education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and a bachelor’s in wildlife conservation from UAF. She says balancing a life between Western values and Yup’ik values lies in having a strong sense of the traditional values of family, community and dedication to others, all while continuously learning the language and how to live off subsistence.
“It’s important in the Western sense to have a degree, to prove to future employers that you can read, write and commit to something, because an undergraduate degree can be challenging. It opens more doors,” Lewis-Nicori says. “Once you have the credentials in the Western sense, you can see how different it is to our traditional way of life. As long as you stay curious, stay kind, hold your traditional values close to heart, and learn something new every day, you can be successful.”
Jessica Kaagyugaq Lewis-Nicori was not a CEC scholarship recipient but recommends degree-seeking students to pursue scholarships. Click the button to learn about CEC scholarships for Calista Shareholders and Descendants.