Project Award 2025

Shala Kerrigan, a Koyukon-Athabaskan writer and artist, plans to write a book about reconnecting with Elders in her community. She will glean source information from historical documents and oral stories, travel to her aunt’s home village, and document places where the plants used for medicine and food are grown. In this book, Kerrigan will include language, recipes, techniques, and a roadmap for other urban Indigenous people to help them reconnect to their heritage.

When asked what she would like the public to know, Kerrigan responded, “I believe that connection and community is essential and necessary for our own well-being, and that fostering that also creates healthy communities. Strong communities are more resilient communities.”

Read Shala Kerrigan’s writing samples: “Grandma Eliza” and “How my Family Tells Stories”

Shala Kerrigan can be seen picking salmon berries in the summer.