Our council is comprised of seven dedicated tribal members who each donate 16 hours per month to governing Sun’aq Tribe. At Council meetings and special sessions, these individuals demonstrate that they possess the vision and commitment to guide the Tribe’s development.

Iver Malutin, Tribal Council Chair, is a life-long resident of Kodiak. He is currently employed at KANA as the Elder Public Relations Advocate. He is a member of the Alaska Commission of Aging, the Alaska Native Advisory Health Board, the Elks, and a representative for the Alaska Consumer Direct Elders Assisted Living Program. He is the KANA rep. for protection of traditional foods, lifestyle, culture and land. He strives to promote a healthy native lifestyle.

Johnny Reft, Tribal Council Vice Chair

Madelyn Brown, Tribal Council Secretary/Treasurer

Brenda Schwantes, Tribal Council Member, Brenda was raised in Kodiak until the age of 6 when her family relocated to California for a brief time. After returning to Kodiak at the age of 7, she also lived in Anchorage, Naknek, Wrangell, Ketchikan and then returned to attend her last two years of high school in Kodiak. Brenda attended Brigham Young University and graduated with a B.S. degree in Family Sciences, then obtained her teaching certificate. From 1991-1993, she attended UAA in Anchorage and obtained a Special Education teaching credential and returned to Kodiak. Brenda began a lengthy career at KANA after being hired to work as a Health Educator after the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill. After administering various BIA and EPA IGAP grant programs, she was appointed by the Secretary of the Interior to serve on the Public Advisory Group for the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council where she served approximately four years. In 2003, Brenda was hired by the State of Alaska Dept. of Labor and Workforce Development to work under the Trade Adjustment Act to specifically identify training options for dislocated fishermen or other individuals who had suffered economic shifts in the local labor market. Brenda was born to Lila Schwantes (Olsen), the daughter of Laura Olsen (Larsen), the daughter of Anton Larsen and Olga Larsen (Naumoff). Olga was the daughter of Evdokiia Nekrasoff, daughter of Tatiana Petrovna. Brenda is married to Franke Brown who has been in the Kodiak fishing industry for 20+ years. She has two children, Eric and Wesley. Brenda is currently a homemaker and a self-employeed esthetician. She is excited to be serving as a Sun’aq Tribal Council representative and working on behalf of its members.

Patricia Pruitt, Tribal Council Member

Thomas Johnson, Jr., Tribal Council Member