Eva Dawn Burk, Tlaa Deneldel Community Group

Eva Dawn Burk is Dena’ Athabascan and Irish from Nenana and Manley Hot Springs, along the Tanana River in Interior Alaska. She grew up commercial fishing, is a subsistence fisherwoman, and leads her community’s annual fish camp in Nenana. Eva Dawn has a background in engineering and environmental studies and is about to complete a Master of Science in Natural Resources and Environment at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, focusing largely on how to build community resilience by strengthening human and social capital through education, outreach, and engagement. She works for her tribes and communities, serving on multiple boards that create policy and regulations that affect Alaska Native subsistence rights, especially access and availability.

In partnership with Native Movement, she founded Tlaa Deneldel Community Group to build an Indigenous learning and healing center focused on land stewardship, food sovereignty, and community wellness through cultural regeneration. Eva Dawn is a mother of four and leads her family’s work of healing through food and culture, hosting traditional gatherings to strengthen community relationships, connect to place, and uplift local food systems.