10/12/2026
A message from Michael:
On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, I’ve been thinking about what it means to carry our connections forward and what a gift it is to see the next generation begin to step into their own roles.
This photo is of my son, Max, and me traveling to our annual Tribal Council meeting held in Bethel. But the special part of this trip is that Max wasn’t there because I brought him along.
He brought me.
Max was working for the Tribe and had the opportunity to make a presentation at the meeting. As his mama, getting to sit in the room and watch him contribute was one of those moments that stays with you.
He is still in high school and still figuring out where his path will take him, but he is already learning something I believe deeply: that being part of a community means showing up, listening, contributing, and understanding that each of us has something to offer.
So much of what I have learned throughout my life has come from Alaska Native leaders, Elders, family members, colleagues, and community members who made room for me, shared their knowledge, and showed me what service and leadership can look like.
On this trip, I got to watch Max begin to find his own place in that circle.
That idea is also at the heart of SALT. As a Native-owned and women-owned Alaska company, our mission is to create environments for generations to thrive. To me, that means more than planning for the future. It means creating space for young people to participate now, to learn, contribute, ask questions, build relationships, and discover the gifts they will carry forward.
I don’t know where Max’s path will lead, and that part belongs to him. But I’m incredibly grateful he already understands that his voice, his work, and his connection to community matter.
Today, I’m thinking about all the people who made room for my generation and the responsibility and privilege we have to make room for the generations coming behind us.
Happy Indigenous Peoples’ Day.
