Best known as a former member of the Sealaska Board of Directors, Ethel was one of the original founders of this Native Corporation that is “committed to the advocacy.” She also had the stick-to-itiveness to help found the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) and is actively involved as SEARHC president emeritus. She led a Native Health organization for a quarter of a century. Recognizing Ethel’s significant years of dedicated work in the area of health, she was appointed by President Carter to represent Alaska Natives on the President’s Commission on Mental Health where she spoke on “Alaska Health Needs” for the World Health Organization, International Symposium on Circumpolar Health in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Those who know her say not to let Ethel’s quiet demeanor fool you: she is very capable of asking the tough questions. It is this quiet power and her numerous achievements that lead other Alaska Native women to hold her in high esteem, as evidenced by the positions she has held with the Alaska Native Sisterhood.