I want to see the Heritage Foundation become independent financially. I can' t emphasize enough that our language needs to grow, and there is some great work being done today. Village life also yields a unique viewpoint, which Jackson feels is pretty important to reflect in the board room. Al Kookesh and Marge Young and I are village people. I hope the Sealaska board will continue to have village people on their because these things are important.
Villagers also have the strongest ties to the subsistence lifestyle.
He feels the assault on the subsistence life will continue, and he feels that Sealaska has been a strong political advocate for Native people on this important issue. There is drum beats from environmentalists, and drum beats from people who don't agree with us. Jackson is a warm gentleman with a big friendly smile. The traditional Tlingit character avoids drawing attention to oneself. He answers a question about his greatest accomplishment on the board by referring to what the board of directors and management has been able to achieve together.