Brenda Itta
Brenda Tiggausina Itta | |
|---|---|
Haskell Indian Junior College | |
| Occupation | former State Legislator |
| Known for | First Alaska Native woman elected to the Alaska House of Representatives, Co-sponsor of the bill that created the Alaska Permanent Fund |
Brenda Tiggausina Itta (born November 13, 1943)[1] is an Iñupiaq activist and former legislator in Alaska's House of Representatives.[1][2]
Early life and education
Itta was born in
During her school-age years, she experienced first-hand the discrimination that
Career and activism
In 1966, at age 22, she moved to Washington, D.C. to work as a receptionist to Senator Ernest Gruening, where she quickly became known as "that Eskimo girl."[4] While in Washington, she served as a lobbyist for her region.[2]
In 1971, Itta returned to Alaska to do community relations work for the
From 1974 to 1976 she served as the first Alaska Native woman elected to the House of Representatives ,[6] where she served on the House Finance Committee and chaired the subcommittee on Health and Social Services.[2] She co-sponsored the bill that created the Alaska Permanent Fund, which annually provides financial dividends to residents of the state of Alaska.[7] Itta declined to run for subsequent term, "because [she] needed more inner confidence to better serve [her] people."[2]
Itta was part of a group of young Native American activists who emerged as leaders in the
Itta has held many positions throughout her career. She served as a Coordinator for the Post Secondary Education Program in the North Slope Borough School District.[1] She also served as secretary for the Alaska State Democratic Central Committee, as a member of the executive board of the Alaska Native Foundation, and as a member of the Bush Justice Monitoring Committee, as well as held membership in the Alaska Legal Services.[8][1]
Itta has continued her engagement with the Native American community, sharing her knowledge through institutions like the Eileen Panigeo MacLean House at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.[3] In October 2022, Itta was selected as one of ten women to be inducted in the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame.[7][9]
Personal life
As of 2022, Itta-Lee was married to Johnny H. Lee and had two stepchildren and three grandchildren.[9]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "Brenda Itta". The Alaska State Legislature. Archived from the original on 2017-02-11. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Brenda Itta - Excerpt from Profiles in Change". www.alaskool.org. Archived from the original on 2001-03-08. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ a b c Eileen's House Student Handbook 2015-2016. University of Alaska Fairbanks. pp. ix.
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
- ^ "Our Campaigns - AK State House 19 Race - Nov 07, 1972".
- ^ "Our Campaigns - AK State House 21 Race - Nov 02, 1976".
- ^ a b "Alaska Women's Hall of Fame selects 10 women to be virtually inducted on Oct. 18". Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman. Retrieved 2022-11-02.
- ^ https://www.alsc-law.org/
- ^ a b "Brenda Itta-Lee. Alaska Women's Hall Of Fame". www.alaskawomenshalloffame.org. Retrieved 2022-11-02.