Sun'aq Tribe - Staff Bios

Our tribal staff runs a 6,000-square foot office in the Sun'aq Tribal Center building in downtown Kodiak. We purchased this building with loan money and the proceeds of our gaming operations, which our tribal nonprofit corporation, the Kodiak Tribal Council, owns and operates.

Virginia Abston, Finance Director, has worked with Sun’aq Tribe since 1987 in a variety of positions. She is an Alaska Native and has lived her entire life in Kodiak. When not working for Sun’aq Tribal Council, Virginia operates her family’s fish net sites and likes to quilt and weave baskets. She is a graduate of Kodiak High School and Kodiak College.

Aksana Mather, Domestic Violence Grant Coordinator/Women's Advocate, is of Belorussian descent and has lived in Kodiak since 2002. She holds a Master's degree in Vocational Education, certified by American ECE. For five years, Aksana taught "Management of Pedagogical Communications" at the Belorussian State Pedagogical University and had enrolled in the doctoral program. Before coming to Sun'aq, Aksana was employed at the Kodiak Women's Resource and Crisis Center as Outreach Coordinator. Aksana came to Sun'aq in December 2005 and is dedicated to the prevention and elimination of domestic violence and sexual assault in our community and is aimed to empower native women for happy and healthy lives without violence.

Michelle Holmes, Receptionist, came to Sun’aq Tribe through the Job Placement & Training Program and is now a full-time and vital part of the tribal staff. Michelle is the mother of three beautiful Alutiiq dancers.

Marsha Madriaga , Alutiiq Dance Coordinator, Marsha was born and raised in Kodiak. She was a member of the dance group for three and a half years serving the last six months as the Alutiiq Dance Coordinator. In 2007 she returned home after living in Anchorage for four and a half years. She is a graduate of Kodiak High School and is currently enrolled in the Kodiak College working towards an Associate in Applied Science Nursing and an Associate of Arts which she hopes to eventually use toward a bachelor degree focused on Alaska Native History. She looks forward to the cultural learning opportunities that can be provided to the dance group and incorporated into dance practices. kodiakdancers@gci.net

Bob Polasky, Sun’aq Tribal Administrator, joined the tribe in 2003 after serving in similar positions of leadership and responsibility with Makah Tribe of Washington State; the Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians; and Sitka Tribe of Alaska. He is an experienced leader and advocate in the areas of rural subsistence rights, having testified before Congressional committees and lobbied at the United Nations in behalf of Native subsistence rights. Mr. Polasky has been recognized for his “outstanding contributions to rural Alaskans” by the Rural Alaska Community Action Program.

Stacey Simmons, Program Services Director, Stacey Simmons, Programs Manager, is originally from Old Harbor. She moved back to Kodiak in 2001 after touring for two years with the International Leadership Organization Up With People. Stacey has over six years of experience working with programs such as employment and training, welfare case management, child welfare, domestic violence and tobacco education. She loves working with the Native people of Kodiak and is committed to Sun'aq's strong view of promoting education first.

Patsy Hester, Executive Assistant,

Delores Stokes, Environmental Coordinator/Director of Natural Resources, moved to Kodiak from Sand Point, Alaska, and joined the staff to implement Sun’aq Tribe’s Enrollment Program in 2003. An Alaska Native, she has previous experience working with tribal councils and spent several years as an executive assistant for the school district central office in Sand Point. She is familiar with state-of-the-art software programs used in tribal enrollment.

Teresa Stutes, Youth Specialist, has lived in Alaska all her life. Her grandfather fished in Kodiak and in the Prince William Sound. Teresa studied at Kodiak College, where she took classes in art and business before managing her own retail store and consignment shop. Teresa worked in Kodiak High School’s counseling office as an Indian Education Aide.In the fall of 2004 she assumed responsibilities as café manager until March 2006. In April 2006 Teresa joined the Sun'aq office staff as Youth Specialist and works with youth, parents and school officials to make sure that every student has all opportunities available.

, Tribal Court Administrator, At this time, this position is unfilled. The current tribal court grant ran out and the Tribe is awaiting word on a continuation grant.

Dave Monture, Economic Development Planner, has a long career of service to Native peoples in Canada and throughout the circumpolar north, serving for many years as a policy analyst in Ottawa, Canada, an intergovernmental affairs consultant and as staff director to Indigenous Survival International, Canada. Dave also served as an economic development planner for the Council of the Haida Nation and Old Massett Village Council on Queen Charlotte Islands, both timber and fisheries based tribes. As Sun'aq's economic development planner, he will be crafting a long term economic development strategy for the Tribe, researching and recommending possible tribal enterprises. He also assists tribal members interested in starting their own businesses and others in business wishing to improve or expand

Frank Peterson Jr., Social Services Director, Frank Peterson was raised on Kodiak Island in different communities including Akhiok, Larsen Bay, Old Harbor and the City of Kodiak. Frank worked for the Kodiak Area Native Association as the Environmental Coordinator, Tribal Operations Coordinator and Village Public Safety Officer Coordinator. Frank worked for K.A.N.A. for two years before becoming a City of Kodiak Police Officer. While a Police Officer for the City of Kodiak Frank's National Guard unit was activated to serve 18 months in Baghdad, Iraq. Frank served honorably during his tour in Iraq and returned in March of 2006. In August of 2007, after 13 years of military service, Frank was honorably discharged from the Army National Guard. Frank is married to Shelly Roberts Peterson. They have 4 sons, and their names are Merrick, Tyler, Luther and Aiden. Frank's background has made him an strong asset to the Sun'aq Tribe of Kodiak's Team.