Former Wrangellite honored by ANS

The Alaska Native Sisterhood recently honored one of their members, according to a press release from Anne Fuller, ANS Camp 70 secretary. Ethel Lund was recently elected to Grand President Emeritus. Her Tlingit name, according to the press release, is Aanwoogeex', meaning "The Raven as he walked about when creating the earth."

Grand President Emeritus is an advisory role, Fuller explained to the Sentinel, and there is only one Grand President Emeritus at a time. These people have years of experience to pull from, she said, so their advice is highly regarded.

"I just think that this is a wonderful example of being respectful of our elders," Fuller said.

Lund was born to Carl Lund of Sweden and Martha Ukas of Wrangell, according to the press release. Sandy Churchill, Wrangellite and ANS Grand First Vice President, said that she grew up in Wrangell. She also added that she is a granddaughter of Josephine Ukas, Wrangell resident and one of the founders of the Alaska Native Sisterhood.

"What an honor," Churchill said. "Ethel has done so much for us."

According to the press release, Lund is an ANS life member of Camp 70 in Juneau where she served as president in the 1960s. She has also served as ANS Grand Secretary and ANS Grand President. According to the press release, she helped found the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium, and was a leader in that organization from 1977 to 2000. She was also a founder and board member of the regional Sealaska Corporation.

The Wrangell Sentinel reached out to Lund at the Sitka Pioneer Home where she is a resident, but she declined to comment for the paper.