Photo credit: Emily Mesner.
Agatha Napoleon - 2026 Volunteer of the Year
Each year, AWA honors a volunteer in remembrance of Lisa Ferguson, who died of Hodgkin's disease when she was 18 years old. Lisa's legacy lives on through her family's support of wildlife conservation and the volunteers who make this work possible.
Agatha (Yup’ik name Nauliar) serves as the Native Village of Paimiut Traditional Council’s Climate and Environmental Coordinator and as Vice President of the Traditional Council. She lives in Hooper Bay, and her lifeway is that of a subsistence lifestyle, gathering a variety of local wild vegetables and berries, and fishing for salmon and other fish. She also practices most of the simple but significant traditional spiritual practices that were taught and instilled in her since she became aware of her being.
Ag has been instrumental in our climate adaptation work in Hooper Bay, and this award comes from a culmination of work over many years, from going above and beyond helping with the Yup’ik climate dictionary and bird surveys, to being an essential bridge between AWA and Hooper Bay. Agatha is incredibly generous and thoughtful, while also being a force in advocacy and conservation.
“I love being outdoors and I enjoy walking! Depending on the season, I jig (manaq) for the Saffron Cod (Iqalluaq), the Flounder (Naternaq), Smelts (Quyuuq) and on occasion the Pike fish (Cukvak). I pick the variety of berries, look for the wild greens, and gather goose, duck, and shorebird eggs during the spring season. Being outdoors, I do as often as I can. I enjoy skin sewing–it's quiet.” Agatha Napolean
