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2024-25 Angoon Youth Work at Turn Point Summary

Oct 21, 2025 | News

This summary was prepared by Seth Bader. See Stories Youth Education Programs Manager

Since the Spring of 2024, Kootznoowoo has prioritized supporting youth learning about and taking leadership in documenting and sharing about the Thayer Creek Hydroelectric Project. Kootznoowoo has been collaborating with See Stories, a nonprofit organization in Alaska, with the mission of building inclusive communities through film and story. For the past two years, See Stories has led classes in collaboration with Chatham School District and the University of Alaska Southeast. 

Angoon’s youth have had the opportunity to gain college credit by travelling to Turn Point, where a landing site and road construction leading to Thayer Creek have begun, and documenting the area. In the Spring of 2024, the project focused on students’ documenting the memory of the area around Turn Point. Through photography and documentary film, students helped Tlingit filmmaker Connor Meyer tell the story of the Turn Point area. A short (~20 minute) student-assisted documentary will soon be completed documenting this history.

In the spring of 2025, Angoon youth focused on a project to document Culturally Modified Trees identified by USFS archaeologists, in the planned path of the landing site and road construction. Angoon High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) class collaborated with See Stories and UAS to document the Turn Point area, focusing on the CMTs, using remote sensing, LiDAR, and 3D photogrammetry. A unique aspect of this course included several Angoon students getting the opportunity to travel to Hawaii to attend the Kolea Institute, an earth-science focused collaborative engaging University and High Schools students in learning geocultural mapping skills. As a result of the entire program, Angoon youth created an interactive storymap of Turn Point and ~20 3D models of the CMTs. As students reflected through this work:

“Angoon currently relies strictly on diesel for power. It has been a dream for our community to have access to power that is less expensive and environmentally friendly. Finally, after years of planning, construction of the service roads leading to the hydro project will begin but the construction will threaten or destroy culturally modified trees (CMTs) at Turn point. CMTs are important because they were here during our ancestor’s time. They are a living connection to our ancestors.”

 

Students are taking pride in their work, and are finding confidence in sharing the story about the Thayer Creek Hydro project, and documenting CMTs to a wider audience. This Spring, four Angoon student representatives presented a poster about this work at the Regional AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) fair, hosted by SHI. Their presentation was selected by a panel of judges to be showcased at the AISES National Conference in Minneapolis. 

During the first week of October, See Stories staff traveled with students from Angoon to Minneapolis to present this work at the National AISES Conference. On Thursday and Friday- it was sweaty palms and shaky voices, as students bravely gave a talk to a group of ~100 before presenting a research poster. Three Angoon students- Cody Pitka, Angel Jack, and Collins Mendenhall were awarded for their hard work- and took home a “Top High School Presentation” Award, selected amongst ~50 other presentations; a huge achievement and honor!!! Please join us in congratulating them! 

As the Thayer Creek Hydro project continues, Kootznoowoo looks forward to supporting youth in their ongoing efforts to document and share about this historic project. 

Gunalchéesh to See Stories, Chatham School District, Kootznoowoo Inc., Angoon Community Association, University of Alaska Southeast, and Sealaska Heritage Institute for helping to support these efforts. 

Additional Resources

 

Joy Demmert

Director of Finance

Joy K’áad Jáad Demmert joined Kootznoowoo in December 2025 as Director of Finance. Joy grew up in Ketchikan and currently resides in Juneau. She is of Haida and Tlingit descent and belongs to the Káat nay-st/Yahkw Jáanaas (Shark House/Middle Town People) Clan.

Joy brings more than 17 years of accounting experience to her role. Most recently, she worked at Sealaska Corporation and previously spent six years at REACH, Inc. in Juneau, where she served as Controller and Chief Financial Officer. Joy holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of Alaska Southeast.

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Bernadette Montez

Bernadette Montez

Business Development Partner

Bernadette joined Kootznoowoo in 2025 to oversee business development. In this role, she focuses
on developing strategic partnerships and pursuing government contracting opportunities. Bernadette
works primarily out of the Kootznoowoo offices on the Kootz Defense Campus in Albuquerque,
New Mexico.

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Sandra Lujan

Office Manager

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Moe Bundrage

Staff Accountant

Moe joined Kootznoowoo in 2024 as the corporation’s Staff Accountant based at the Kootz Defense Campus in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  To this position he brings with him over eight years of expertise in accounting.  Moe is a graduate of the University of New Mexico, where he earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting. At Kootznoowoo, Moe supports federal back-office operations and grants administration. Outside of work, Moe is passionate about basketball, coaching middle and high school boys in Albuquerque. He cherishes family time with his elementary-aged daughter and enjoys fostering strong community ties through sports and education.

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Jon Wunrow

Executive Director of Tourism & Natural Resources/Thayer Project Manager

In March 2023, Jon began serving in his current position at Kootznoowoo. In this role, he is working on projects that focus on the protection and stewardship of Mitchell Bay and Cube Cove, the Thayer Creek Hydro Project, the Artist’s Workshop, and expanding Pack Creek Tours and cultural tourism opportunities in Angoon.

Susettna King

Shareholder Administrator

Susettna has served in a variety of roles with the corporation including previously as Office Manager and on the Board of Directors. In 2022, Susettna returned to Kootznoowoo as the Shareholder Administrator where she is responsible for managing the accounts payable and receivables.

Edwell John, Jr.

Business Analyst

Edwell joined the corporation after serving on the Board. In this role, Edwell works closely with the Executive Team on business initiatives. He is responsible for analyzing business metrics, developing improvement plans, and looking at the risks, finances, and profitability of business opportunities.

Martha Henniger

Shareholder Relations Manager

Martha has served Kootznoowoo in a variety of positions throughout the years. In 2023, she came out of retirement to work for the corporation. In her current role, she is responsible for managing all shareholder records, assisting shareholders with their questions and requests, and providing project support as needed.

Keith serves as the Chief Executive Officer, having been appointed to the permanent role in August 2025 after serving as Interim CEO since August 2024. With a career spanning public service, non-profit leadership, and financial management, Keith brings a well-rounded and mission-driven approach to organizational leadership.

Keith holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Montreat College, along with two master’s degrees—one in Business Administration and one in Accountancy. Rounding out this academic journey, Keith also earned a doctorate in Counseling, reflecting a unique blend of financial acumen and a deep commitment to understanding and serving people.

Keith began his career with Kootznoowoo as Controller in November 2023, bringing with him an extensive background as a top financial officer within both city government and non-profit organizations. This diverse experience across public and mission-driven sectors equipped Keith with a comprehensive understanding of fiscal responsibility, organizational strategy, and community impact, laying the foundation for his subsequent leadership roles within the organization.

Under Keith’s leadership, Kootznoowoo successfully achieved 8(a) certification, opening new avenues for growth and opportunity. Keith has since been instrumental in pursuing strategic acquisitions and expanding the organization’s presence in government contracting, positioning Kootznoowoo for long-term, sustainable growth.

Reflective of his professional standing and commitment to community engagement, Keith has served on numerous local and state boards throughout his career. These board appointments underscore his trusted leadership abilities, strategic insight, and dedication to advancing the organizations and communities he serves.

Born overseas, Keith spent 20 years living in Alaska, including a decade based in Juneau. This experience living and working in remote, close-knit communities has shaped Keith’s leadership philosophy, emphasizing resilience, resourcefulness, and genuine connection with the people and communities served.

Keith has been married for over 25 years and is the proud parent of two children. Outside of professional responsibilities, Keith enjoys staying active on the golf course and pursuing a lifelong passion for music.

Keith’s unique combination of financial expertise, counseling insight, board leadership, and firsthand experience in both government and non-profit sectors positions him as a thoughtful, capable, and people-centered leader.

Rocky Estrada

Angoon Maintenance

Rocky has been a longtime employee of Kootznoowoo, providing maintenance support at the corporation’s Angoon facility. Recently, Rocky and his Angoon-based crew also completed the ANB Hall/Teen Center and Artist’s Workshop renovations.

Rebecca DeJean

Office & Human Resources Administrator

Rebecca joined Kootznoowoo in 2023 after relocating to Juneau from the Lower 48. In addition to overseeing the corporate office’s administrative operation’s needs, she also manages Kootznoowoo’s human resource functions.

Ralph “Chico” Bierely

K-Plaza Maintenance Manager

Chico serves as a jack-of-all-trades for the corporation. His main responsibility is overseeing the maintenance and upkeep of the K-Plaza building. However, he provides additional support when needed on a variety of projects. He is based in Juneau.