10/16/2025
Congratulations to Ambassador Charlee Korthuis for being named the youth keynote at Elders and Youth Conference! She spoke about her growing up in Alaska and her experience taking advantage of all the opportunities she has been given. Charlee shared her connection to her family, community, and the Elders that came before her and the knowledgeholders that shaped her identity.
During her speech she shared:
"[Traditional Chief Edward Adams] believed deeply in the future of our people, and in our ability as youth to carry that forward. From him, I learned what perseverance and fortitude looks like: to walk with humility, to listen carefully, and to honor those who have come before us. Elders often tell stories with lessons, and sometimes we don’t understand the meaning right away, but we know we must sit down, listen, and remember."
Charlee went directly from Elders and Youth Conference to join us in Reykjavik, Iceland for the Arctic Circle Assembly where she will continue to share about her community, experiences, and participate in Arctic dialogue. Thank you Charlee for being willing to share your knowledge with others!
