Job Summary
The Indigenous Food Sovereignty Advocate advances KIC’s priorities by ensuring Tribal voices and sovereignty are exercised in all policy, regulatory, and management decisions affecting access to traditional foods. This role is dedicated to advocacy, food governance, research, and systems change to protect and strengthen KIC’s food sovereignty. The Advocate monitors and analyzes laws, regulations, and policies impacting hunting, fishing, gathering, and trapping rights; conducts and presents research; and drafts comment letters, resolutions, and testimony. The position represents KIC’s sovereign interests in food policy while collaborating with Tribes, First Nations, and coalitions to build unified strategies for long-term food security. By combining sovereignty, research, and advocacy, the Advocate plays a central role in safeguarding access to traditional foods, strengthening KIC’s leadership in food policy, and advancing food sovereignty for future generations. Importantly, this role moves KIC beyond reacting to state and federal regulations, positioning the Tribe as a proactive leader in food sovereignty advocacy and research.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
- Collaborate with the Department Director and Tribal leadership to recommend policy, regulatory, and law changes to decision-making bodies such as the Alaska Board of Fish, Federal Subsistence Board, North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, and International Halibut Commission.
- Work with the Department Director and KIC’s Tribal Council to ensure KIC and the Tribe’s sovereign interests are represented and protected and in food policy before state, federal, and international agencies by drafting testimony, submitting formal comments, and advocating for Tribal priorities.
- Develop a partnership advocacy plan focused on working with entities including the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Alaska Department of Fish & Game to influence and co-manage resource decisions.
- Assess and communicate the impacts of industry, tourism, climate change, and development on food sovereignty, habitat health, and subsistence access.
- Track and analyze proposed legislation, regulatory changes, and court cases that may affect Tribal hunting, fishing, gathering, and trapping rights.
- Conduct applied research on food security trends, population dynamics, and environmental shifts; prepare policy briefs, fact sheets, and reports to support Council decisions and community awareness.
- Collaborate with Alaskan Tribes, First Nations, and Indigenous coalitions to strengthen collective food sovereignty strategies and advance systemic change.
- Work with Department Director and other KIC staff to facilitate Tribal Member listening sessions, Elders’ councils, and youth engagement opportunities to ensure advocacy reflects lived experiences and community priorities.
- Integrate Traditional Knowledge into research, advocacy, and policy recommendations in alignment with KIC’s Guiding Principles.
- Support the Cultural Resources Director in coordinating Stewardship Crew activities such as stream and trail restoration and fish/wildlife monitoring when tied to policy advocacy.
- Assist in creating and expanding MOUs/MOAs with partner agencies and organizations for data and resource sharing.
- Collaborate with the Our Way of Life Committee to draft resolutions, comment letters, and policy statements for Council consideration.
- Work with KIC Communications to promote awareness of traditional food benefits and highlight KIC’s advocacy efforts through newsletters, social media, and public events.
- Prepare end-of-season harvest reports, Tribal Council updates, and compliance documents for funding and policy review.
- Identify and pursue funding opportunities, supporting grant writing and program management tied to food sovereignty advocacy.
- Mentor youth and emerging leaders in policy advocacy, sovereignty, and intergovernmental engagement to ensure intergenerational continuity of KIC’s food sovereignty work.
- Advise on ways to integrate food sovereignty into other KIC programs, such as Health, Education, Elders, and Economic Development.
- Engage with volunteers and partners assisting with advocacy-related projects and programs.
- Perform other related duties as assigned.
Necessary Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Deep understanding of food’s role in Southeast Alaskan Indigenous culture and social bonds.
- Knowledge of sustainable food practices, environmental impacts, and resource challenges.
- Familiarity with food safety regulations (local, state, federal).
- Expertise in traditional food systems, harvesting, preparation, and preservation (e.g., curing, drying, smoking).
- Strong grasp of traditional/indigenous food security and sovereignty principles.
- Strong understanding and sensitivity to American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal culture and lifestyle, working effectively with AI/AN populations.
- Effective oral and written communication skills with sensitivity to the lifestyles of targeted participants.
- Skills in operating personal computers using a variety of computer software.
- Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with management, coworkers, and outside contacts.
- Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and comply with all applicable federal and tribal privacy laws and KIC policy (HIPAA, HITECH, etc.).
- Ability to learn and apply program/agency operating policies and procedures.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and tasks concurrently and meet deadlines.
- Ability to work independently as well as with teams.
KIC Competencies
Cultural Competency: To be respectful and responsive to the health beliefs, practices, and cultural and linguistic needs of KIC Tribal Members. Developing cultural competence is an evolving, dynamic process that takes time and occurs along a continuum.
Commitment: To serve Tribal Members and set a high standard for yourself in your performance; strive for results and success; convey a sense of urgency and bring issues to closure; and stay persistent despite obstacles and opposition.
Customer Service: Meet/exceed the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; identify, understand, and monitor the needs of both internal and external customers; always talk and act with customers in mind; and recognize working colleagues as customers.
Effective Communication: Ensure important information is passed to those who need to know; convey necessary information with respect, clearly and effectively orally or in writing
Responsiveness and Accountability: Demonstrate a high level of conscientiousness; hold oneself personally responsible for one's own work; and do the required fair share of work.
Working Conditions
The physical demands described here are representative of those that an employee must meet to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand and/or sit. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, climb, or balance. The work requires regular and recurring physical exertion related to rough terrain, carrying equipment, climbing steep banks, wading in shifting lake/stream beds, and gathering vegetation for sampling, which includes repetitive upper body motions, bending and twisting to inspect boats and trailers. The employee is occasionally required to walk, sit, climb, or balance. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 25 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. The noise level in the work environment is usually average.
Conditions of Hire
- May be required to possess and maintain a valid driver's license or capable of obtaining one, as well as be insurable by KIC’s company insurance.
- KIC is a Drug-Free Workplace. All employees must adhere to KIC drug and alcohol policies and procedures to ensure a safe workplace. Employees must pass a pre-employment and subsequent random and/or for-cause drug and alcohol screening to be eligible for and maintain employment.
- KIC has several positions that must comply with the P.L. 101-630 Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Protection Act (ICPA); all employment offers in the "covered" classification are conditional until KIC has received a Federal criminal background check verifying eligibility to work in these programs.
