Alaska Native Sisterhood Elected Grand President Emeritus Millie Schoonover

Feb 9, 2023

The Alaska Native Sisterhood Executive Committee elected Millie Schoonover of Craig, Alaska as Grand President Emeritus, which is the highest elected position with the Alaska Native Sisterhood (ANS). 

Millie Schoonover is the daughter of Elwood and Helen Thomas and granddaughter of Sam and Bessie Thomas. She is of the Eagle/Wolf clan and carries three Tlingit names. 

Millie joined the ANS when she was 13 years old. She knew she wanted to make a difference in her community and the lives of her people, and by the age of 18 she was elected President of ANS Camp #19. Millie has served as President for the local camps of Craig, Seattle, Petersburg, Klawock. Her ANS Grand Camp service includes six years as ANS Grand Sergeant at Arms, two years as ANS Grand Second Vice President, two years as ANS Grand First Vice President, and two years as ANS Grand President. 

Since she first became involved with ANS, Millie’s political career snowballed. She served as the tribal president of the Craig Tribal Association for 20 years, as a council member for the City of Craig for more than 20 years, board member for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC).  For Shaan Seet, Millie has served as both President and board member. She has also served as a Craig Delegate and Executive Council Vice President for Tlingit & Haida, and served on countless committees and advisory boards. Millie’s greatest accomplishment was to be elected as the first Native woman mayor of Craig in 2009. Millie continues to work on behalf of Native people and currently serves on the council for the City of Craig, tribal council for Craig Tribal Association and Prince of Wales Community Advisory Council as chair.

Millie shared the importance of the ANS saying, “To me, ANS is integral as a way of life because I have been involved with the Alaska Native Sisterhood my whole life.” Her philosophy is tried and true, “treat everyone you meet with respect, and it will come back to you. Without respect, we are nothing.”

The ANS Grand Camp is fortunate to have Millie in this important leadership role of ANS Grand President Emeritus and congratulates her on this achievement. 

For more information:  Anne Fuller, ANS Corresponding Secretary  at anscorrespondingsecretary@gmail.com  or (907) 586 4422