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Woodie Salmon

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Woodie West Salmon (born August 13, 1952) is a Gwich'in Indian who was a member of the Alaska House of Representatives, representing the 6th District from 2005 to 2011. Woodie was born in the small city of Fort Yukon, Alaska, where his career in politics began. He currently resides in the small town of Chalkyitsik, Alaska, with his wife, Katelyn Englishoe, and serves as Chief of the Chalkyitsik Village Council.[1]

Woodie Salmon
Member of the Alaska House of Representatives
from the 6th district
In office
January 10, 2005 – January 17, 2011
Preceded byCarl Morgan
Succeeded byAlan S. Dick
Personal details
Born
Woodie West Salmon

(1952-08-13) August 13, 1952 (age 72)
Fort Yukon, Alaska
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseKatelyn Englishoe
Alma materUniversity of Alaska
ProfessionPolitician, Pilot, Oil Business

Early life and education

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Woodie Salmon comes from both Native Alaskan and Canadian heritage. His ancestry is embedded north of the Arctic Circle, in the eastern portion of Alaska, as well as the Yukon province of Canada. His father, William Salmon, was a Native Canadian and member of the Gwich'in, an Athabaskan-speaking tribe that's recognized as a part of the First Nations people of Canada, and also as an Alaskan Native people. Woodie's mother, Minnie Salmon, a Gwich'in Indian, was a lifelong resident of Chalkyitsik, Alaska, where she worked as a bilingual instructor and prevention worker.[1] Woodie's grandfather, David Salmon, was a prominent Alaskan and Yukonian figure that devoted much of his life to education, and also served as a major political advocate for Native American rights and cultural preservation.[2] Despite being born in Fort Yukon, Woodie did a large portion of his schooling in the city of Fairbanks, Alaska. He attended Lathrop High School, a highly-reputable public school, to receive his high school diploma. For college, Salmon attended the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, a public land-grant research university, where he received his degree in electronics in two years.

Career

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Before beginning his career in politics, Woodie Salmon worked both the aviation and oil businesses. He was a pilot and air service operator for twenty years, and flying remains to be one of Salmon's favorite hobbies.[3]

Political career

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Early political career

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Woodie's inroads to politics began in his birthplace of Fort Yukon, where he served on the Fort Yukon City Council, and was elected to a minimum three-year term.[4] Subsequently, he was elevated to the role of mayor by his fellow council members, serving a minimum one-year term. Following his time on the Fort Yukon City Council, Salmon served as a board member for the Interior Regional Housing Authority, before running for the Alaska House of Representatives in 2004.[5]

Alaskan House of Representatives

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Woodie Salmon, a democrat from Chalkyitsik, served on the Alaska House of Representatives from 2005 to 2010. His platform prioritized educational funding, the reduction of high energy costs, and providing more jobs and increasing safety parameters set in place for rural Alaskans.[3] He served the 96 communities that encapsulated District 6, the largest house district in the United States. In the house, Salmon sat on a host of different committees, including the House Fish and Game Committee, House Transportation Committee, and the House Community and Regional Affairs Committee.

Salmon also participated in a handful of decisions while serving in the House. One of the more notable decisions Salmon voted on was Senate Bill 2001, which would've added an additional 0.011% surcharge on oil and gas purchases.[6] He voted nay on the premise that raising oil and gas prices would make energy even more unaccessible for rural Alaskans. Salmon's decisions on proposed legislation reflect his belief in maintaining abortion rights, growing the Alaskan economy, and expanding educational offerings within the state.[7]

Election results

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2004 Alaska House of Representatives Election, District 6[8]
Party Candidate Votes % of vote
Democratic Woodie W. Salmon 3048 50.38
Republican Ward H. Sattler 2980 49.26
Not Affiliated Write-In 22 0.36
2006 Alaska House of Representatives Election, District 6[9]
Party Candidate Votes % of vote
Democratic Woodie W. Salmon 2580 51.57
Republican Carl B. Morgan Jr. 2412 48.21
Not Affiliated Write-In 11 0.22
2008 Alaska House of Representatives Election, District 6[10]
Party Candidate Votes % of vote
Democratic Woodie W. Salmon 3303 53.42
Republican Ward H. Sattler 2847 46.13
Not Affiliated Write-In 22 0.36
2010 Alaska House of Representatives Election, District 6[11]
Party Candidate Votes
Democratic Woodie W. Salmon 956
Republican Alan S. Dick 1507
2012 Alaska House of Representatives Election, District 39[12]
Party Candidate Votes % of vote
Democratic Woodie W. Salmon 1304 72.2
Republican Neal W. Foster 502 27.8

Post-House political appointment

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Woodie currently serves the community for which he has lived most of his life, as the Chief of the Chalkyitsik Village Council. Chalkyitsikconsists of 110 residents, many of whom are Gwich'in, and for centuries, the area has been an important seasonal fishing spot for the tribe during the spring and summer months.[13][14] However, it wasn't until the 1930s that Chalkyitsik began its development into a year-round community, and beginning in 1941, Woodie's grandfather, David Salmon, served as Chief.[13] The Chalkyitsik Village Council is a part of the Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments, which maintains that Woodie's role as chief it to facilitate economic growth, ensure the welfare of tribal members, preserve Native land holdings, and encourage self-governance among the Gwich'in.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Minnie Salmon Obituary (1932 - 2014) - Fairbanks, AK - Daily News-Miner". Legacy.com. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  2. ^ "Chief David Salmon". Tanana Chiefs Conference. 2019-12-12. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  3. ^ a b "2008 State of Alaska Official Pamphlet" (PDF). State of Alaska. 2023-03-08.
  4. ^ "Fort Yukon Community Plan" (PDF). Tanaca Chiefs. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  5. ^ "100 Years of Alaska's Legislature". akleg.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  6. ^ "Alaska State Legislature". www.akleg.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  7. ^ "Woodie Salmon's Voting Records". Vote Smart. 2023-03-07. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  8. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". www.elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  9. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". www.elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  10. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". www.elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  11. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". www.elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  12. ^ "GEMS ELECTION RESULTS". www.elections.alaska.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  13. ^ a b "Chalkyitsik". Tanana Chiefs Conference. 2020-01-22. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  14. ^ "Census profile: Chalkyitsik, AK". Census Reporter. Retrieved 2023-03-08.
  15. ^ "Council of Athabascan Tribal Governments ITG Fact Sheet". U.S. Department of Indian Affairs. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
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