Jackie Arnaciar Boyer (Cup’ig) has roots from Nunvivak Island, Mekoryuk, Alaska located in the Bering Sea. She resides in Anchorage with her yuliaq, adopted teenage daughter. Her maternal grandparents are Clarence Kolerok and Laura Shavings Kolerok. Her Cup’ig name, Arnaciar, was given to her by her grandmother, who shares the same name. Jackie has a background in public policy, having previously worked in Juneau as a legislative aide for rural and urban senators and representatives; it is there that her love and passion for public policy and the advancement of Indigenous leadership in those roles emerged. She also has a background in non-profits, having leadership in Indigenous nonprofit management and advocacy work. She received her undergraduate degree in criminal justice from the University of Alaska Anchorage and is returning to school for her graduate degree in business management. In her free time, she enjoys crafting with seal skin and quills, hunting, fishing, and teaching her yuliaq traditional ways of life.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

Time travel, you could learn so much!

What’s your favorite wild Alaskan food?

Everything that is in season