Angel will be a senior in high school this year and has been involved with See Stories programs in Angoon since her freshman year. Over that time, she’s participated in numerous classes and internships, and witnessing her growth as both a storyteller and a person has been humbling and inspiring. As a freshman, Angel was quiet and unassuming, often hiding under a hoodie and behind her hair. Today, she’s a confident, well-spoken leader at her school. We could share so much about her journey, but her accomplishments this past spring alone speak volumes.

In March, Angel received the State Runner-Up “Dreamer Award” from Spirit of Youth, recognizing teens who actively engage in their communities through the preservation of cultural practices and arts.

In April, she traveled to Hawai‘i to present her film “Healing Through Time” at the Hawai‘i International Film Festival alongside her classmate Justice. The film focuses on Angoon’s healing in response to the 1882 Angoon Bombardment and the 2024 U.S. Navy apology, earning Angel the Daniel K. Inouye Special Award for Documentary Filmmaking and a cash prize.

In May, Angel was selected as Alaska’s representative for the prestigious Al Neuharth Free Spirit Journalism Conference, which offers one rising high school senior from each state an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington D.C. to explore journalism. Reflecting on this experience, Angel shared:

“I honestly still can’t believe this happened. This was my first time traveling completely alone and my first time on the East Coast. I attended the Free Spirit Journalism Conference and was honored to represent Alaska. The support I received leading up to this trip has meant the world to me. I met so many amazing peers and made new friends who also aspire to be in journalism. I also gained knowledge from professionals in the field and toured newsrooms like the Wall Street Journal and USA Today.”

See Stories is incredibly proud of Angel’s hard work and leadership, and we can’t wait to see what she accomplishes next. In her own words, Angel reminds us why programs like See Stories matter:

“Every photo holds a moment in time. I love being able to preserve those moments and share them with others who might not have known. Gunalchéesh — thank you.”

Angel at HIFF in Honolulu accepting her “Award for Documentary Storytelling” and cash prize, alongside HIFF staff and Hawaiian actors from the new live action Lilo and Stitch film.