Elaine Abraham facts for kids

Elaine Elizabeth Abraham (born June 19, 1929 – died May 18, 2016) was a respected Tlingit elder and registered nurse. She made big improvements to health care in rural Alaska. Later, she worked in education. She helped create the Alaska Native Language Center. In 1976, she helped start community colleges in parts of Alaska that needed them most.

Biography

Early Life and Learning

Elaine Abraham was born in Yakutat, Alaska in 1929. Her first language was Tlingit. Her Tlingit name was Chuu Shah. Her father was a traditional leader in their village. Her mother was Susie Bremner. Elaine learned English at the village school. She also went to a boarding school called Sheldon Jackson High School/College in Sitka, Alaska.

A Helping Hand in Health Care

Elaine studied nursing at the Sage Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Arizona. She graduated at the top of her class in 1952. For two years, she worked as a nurse on Navajo lands in Arizona.

Then, she came back to Alaska. She worked in hospitals in Juneau, Sitka, and Bethel. At that time, diseases like diphtheria and tuberculosis were very common.

In 1954, she played a key role in opening the Alaska Native Health Services Hospital in Anchorage. In the early 1960s, she helped create the Southeast Health Aide Program. This program helped Alaskan Natives in faraway villages get health care. This program later became a model for the whole state.

Champion for Education

In the early 1970s, Elaine stopped nursing. She went back to college. She earned two degrees from Alaska Pacific University in Anchorage.

After that, she worked at Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka. She started as an associate dean. She then became director of special services. Finally, she became vice president for institutional development. While there, she started a program to train teachers for the Tlingit and Haida languages. She also helped write laws for bilingual education in Alaska.

In 1976, Elaine joined the University of Alaska. She became the vice president of a new department. This made her the first woman and first Native American to hold such a high position at the university. She helped start new community colleges in rural areas. This gave more people a chance to go to college.

The next year, she moved to Anchorage Community College. There, she created and grew the Native Student Services. She worked there for 17 years. She helped survey Native students to find out how to improve services for them. She also created a special role for a Native Student Coordinator. This helped Native students have a voice. Under her leadership, Native students worked together and connected more with the Native community in Anchorage.

Later, Elaine Abraham led the Board of Commissioners for the Alaska Native Science Commission. This group helps connect scientists with Alaskan Native communities.

Honors and Awards

Elaine Abraham received many awards for her important work:

• 1973: American Indian Achievement Award from the Indian Council Fire.
• 1974: Named a "Distinguished Alaskan" by the Alaska State Legislature.
• 2011: Inducted into the Alaska Women's Hall of Fame.