About Us

Data for Indigenous Justice (DIJ) is an Alaska Native-led non-profit which homes a database for missing and murdered Indigenous womxn, girls and relatives data. This organization is led by Alaska Native womxn with great intention, care and love for our community.

We feel the grief from our loved ones who have gone missing and murdered. We know that MMIWG2S have also been missing in data. According to the Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI), within the United States, Alaska ranks 4th with the highest cases, the city of Anchorage has the 3rd highest cases of all cities in the nation (Luccessi & Echo-Hawk, 2018). The data comes from one of the only reports to have compiled data specifically for MMIWG. The UIHI report demonstrates the data gaps and lack of records at multiple levels. These numbers are only what is known so far. These numbers are absolutely unacceptable and are problematic.

Together this team co-founded Data for Indigenous Justice to bring an end to the gaps in data and to do this heart work in a good way.

Charlene Aqpik Apok

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Charlene is currently the Director of Gender Justice and Healing at Native Movement, an Indigenous-led non-profit in Alaska. Charlene has served in many spaces as an advocate for Indigenous Womxn, Indigenous Sovereignty, climate justice, and Indigenous rights to health and wellbeing. Charlene is a lifelong learner in both her cultural traditions and decolonizing academia. She is a mother to Evan Lukluan. She earned her B.A. in American Ethnic Studies with a minor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, an M.A. in Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development, and a PhD from the Indigenous Studies program at UAF. Charlene gratefully resides in Anchorage on the territories of the Dena'ina peoples. Here she has taught the Iñupiaq language and is part of Kingikmiut dance group with her son son. 

Maka Monture paki

COMMUNICATIONS - Łingit, Filipina, and Kanien'kehá:ka

Maka/Keixé Yaxtí is an Indigenous artist, poet, and traditional performer from Yakutat, Alaska. Tlingit (Łingit), Filipina, and Canadian Kanien'kehá:ka, she is of the Raven moiety, Copper River Clan, and House of the Owl. Her Tlingit name is Keixé Yaxtí meaning “Morning Star.” Her partner is of the Tuwharetoa Iwi from Aotearoa. She learned from her late grandparents, Elaine Chewshaa Abraham, and George Wooshjix̱oo Éesh Ramos, and has a Bachelor of Science in Indigenous Studies and a Masters of Public Health. Maka is the designer of Moonture, a design brand that seeks to create at the intersection of cultural intention and coherent emotion.

Sabrina Dunphrey

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Sabrina is Dena'ina and Inupiaq. Her Dena’ina family comes from Tyonek and her Inupiaq family comes from Utqiagvik. She lives in Palmer on Dena’ina land with her partner, Quinn, her son, Cameron and her twin daughters, Harper and Madelyn. She has 2 dogs, 4 cats and a leopard gecko. She is currently working on her Bachelors in Natural Science with a minor in Alaska Native Studies. Before joining Data for Indigenous Justice, she worked in the veterinary field for over 10 years. Sabrina has been working for several years to reconnect with her Dena'ina language and culture, and is working to teach her children Dena'ina as well. 

Tatiana Ticknor

COORDINATOR - Dena'ina, Deg Hit'an, and Lingit

“Tatiana is Dena'ina, Deg Hit'an, and Lingit. Her family comes from the communities of Telida, Nondalton, and Sitka and is very passionate about her culture and family. She takes care of her youngest sibling and son and teaches them our ways of life through stories and subsistence living. Ticknor is also learning the Dena'ina language along side her Cheda (grandma) and kids. Alongside her partner Andrew (Yup'ik) she helps him manage and run the Lower Yukon Drummers and Dancers, a youth-led yuraq group for youth and local community members in the Anchorage area. She is also a student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks working on her Applied Business degree. 

Staff

Antonia Commack

FELLOW - Inupiaq

Antonia Unaqsiq Commack is Inupiaq from the Native Village of Shungnak. She currently lives in Wasilla with her 3-year-old son, Eddie. Antonia went to school for medical assisting and is returning to school this year to finish her bachelors degree. Her passion for MMIP advocacy came after she lost two of her best friends to domestic violence. She has since advocated on behalf of many families across the state where she has made lifelong relationships with others experiencing the same loss. She is very excited for this opportunity to work with the Data for Indigenous Justice where she can continue to learn from others about this very important cause.  

Mars Sadidax̂ Kashevarof

SUMMER FELLOW - Unangax̂ and White

Mars Sadidax̂ Kashevarof asax̂takuq. Unangax̂ ama Amilaayax̂ akuq. Peoria, Potawatomi, ama Kickapoom tanangin ilagaan angix̂tamakuq. Dena’inam tanangin kugan anĝaĝizaq. Alaxsxam Universitiigan Aankuriicham ilan ting achixaqax̂ akuq.  Taliĝisnikax̂ akuq. Tanam Anĝii as taliĝikuq. Masuqagix̂ akuq. Anam sxaa Wisconsin tanaa angix̂takus. Amilaayax̂ akus. Adam sxaa Unangam Tanangin angix̂takus. Tanax̂-Amix̂ ilagaan angix̂tamakus. Unangax̂ akus.
 

Mars Sadidax̂ Kashevarof is Unangax̂ and White. He grew up on the lands of the Peoria, Potawatomi, and Kickapoo Peoples (Wisconsin). They now live on Dena’ina lands. His mom’s side of the family is white and is from Wisconsin. Their father’s side of the family is Unangax̂, from Tanax̂-Amix̂ [St. George and St. Paul communities] on Unangam Tanangin, named by Russian colonialism as the Pribilof Islands on the Aleutian Chain. Mars attends the University of Alaska Anchorage as a Social Work student going into their senior year interested in the field of social work research. In his spare time, Mars enjoys beading, wood carving, reading, dancing, and any and all forms of art they can get their hands on. 

Board

  • Abigail Echo-Hawk (Athabascan, Pawnee)

    Treasurer & Co-Founder

    Abigail is the Director of Urban Indian Health Institute and Chief Research Officer, Seattle Indian Health Board. She is a graduate of the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies and minor in Human Rights, and a Master of Arts in Policy Studies. Her greatest accomplishment is her place within her extended family. She is a wife, a mother, an auntie, a daughter, granddaughter, friend and community member. 

  • Dr. Jessica Black (Gwich’in)

    Board Member

    Black, originally from Fort Yukon and Nenana, is the daughter of Marlene Black and Bill Black. She holds a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, a master’s degree in social work from Washington University in St. Louis, and a doctorate in social work from Washington University in St. Louis. Jessica is an assistant professor in the Department of Alaska Native Studies and Rural Development and Tribal Management at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her areas of interests include working with tribes around hunting and fishing rights, increased educational outcomes for Alaska Native students, and the well-being of Alaska Native people. Term: 2019-2022 FNA Board Committees: Finance, Head Start Policy Council Rep., TCC Health Board and Behavioral Health Committee. Photo by JR Ancheta.

  • Dr. Malia Villegas (Alutiiq)

    Secretary & Co-Founder

    Dr. Malia Villegas currently serves as the Vice President of Community Investments at Afognak Native Corporation. She earned her undergraduate degree from Stanford University and a graduate degree from Harvard University. Previously she served as the Director of the Policy Research Center at the National Congress of American Indians. Malia and her family reside in Washington state.