At the time of her sabbatical, Lenora Nugange Hootch had served as executive director of the Emmonak-based Yup’ik Women’s Coalition for 14 years. Before that she was a founder and long-time executive director of the Emmonak Women’s Shelter, the only village-based domestic violence shelter in Alaska.

She said she’s traveled for work, for medical issues and to fish camp but before this opportunity, she hadn’t been on a typical vacation. She planned to travel with her husband and some of their grandchildren and also do parka sewing.