“ I believe that the children need education, they need to get their GED if they can’t fulfill the high school [requirements], I hear so much at different meetings about Native drop out and I feel bad about it, I know our children can make it. I like to encourage [them], they’ve got the knowledge, they just have to be pushed and let them know that they are good in one type of thing, maybe a teacher, maybe a health care provider.”

Mrs. Katasse Larsen has the following preferences:

Schools: She is comfortable working with kids of all ages however she really would like to devote time to working with kids at Pacific High School. She understands they are struggling academically and would like to encourage them.

Days: Grace is willing to visit classrooms upon request so long as it fits with her work schedule.

Times: She would prefer to enter into the classroom during the lunch hour. She has a strong preference for being involved with activities centered around food preparation, therefore if she is needed during a foods class, she can also schedule that

Areas of Activity

Field Trips:  Grace is still very active in the community. She is willing to help out with class field trips.

Panel of Elders: She participated in panel discussion at the Boys & Girls club. Not only did she participate, she brought berries to snack on afterwards.

Storytelling: She is open to sharing her childhood experiences with classroom; including how/when she got her Tlingit name.

Food Demonstrations: Her specialties include fried and baked bread. She prepares a number of traditional foods but also has in the past, taught students at MEHS how to make spaghetti sauce. It just depends on what the students want to learn.

Presenter: Grace has a presentation style that is very similar to the style she used when working in retail. She has the talent to hold peoples’ attention, she does not like to be interrupted but afterwards will answer every question that the audience may have.

Role in the Classroom

Mentor: Grace spent two years working with the students in the Raven’s Way program. One of her job responsibilities included mentoring small groups of females. Her mentoring also extends to her experience as a dorm attendant at Mount Edgecumbe High School. She worked in the boys dorm and when asked which she would prefer, she said both, however the boys tend to listen more than girls.

Teaching Assistant: Grace has spent time in the classroom of Roby Littlefield. She was invited in to do a fried bread demonstration. She has also helped in the food preparation for a number of children organizations (Boys & Girls club spaghetti feed (donated fried bread), Boy’s Dormitory (200 Easter bread, friend bread, fish, rice, cinnamon rolls. Hot chocolate, etc.).

Prior Experience: Grace spent over 30 years working in the Mount Edgecumbe High School dormitory. She also spent three years working with youth in the Raven’s Way program.  

Cultural Expertise

Substance abuse issues: Grace has two years of experience working with young students dealing with addiction problems. She is willing to come into a classroom to talk about how drug and alcohol abuse has affected people throughout Alaska, regardless of ethnicity.

Artwork/Crafts: In learning to do crafts, Grace used a mirror to watch and learn from her mother-in-law, who was right handed. She beads, knits, and crochets.

Historian: She attended a boarding schools and also spent over 30 years working at MEHS. IN interviewing her, she did a comparison of what it was like then versus now. One major difference, kids today us computers whereas back in her time, they would use old paper grocery bags to write down their homework.

Subsistence: Grace eats a wide variety of subsistence foods. One way she processes salmon is with a dehydrator.  In fact, growing up Grace’s father used to say “it’s low tide tomorrow so our table is set.”

Education and Life Experience

Education:

Grace graduated from the Sitka School District in 1959. More recently, Grace completed a 6-week small business start-up class offered through Sitka Tribe of Alaska and Sitka Works. She enrolled so that she could gain the skills needed to help her son and grandson with their business; both have skills working with engines and outboards.

Work Experience:

Grace spent this past summer working for Sitka Tribal Enterprises in the gift shop. She has extensive retail experience most of which was spent working at the Log Cache store. Most of her career experience involves working with students. She spent 2 years working with the Ravens Way Treatment program and an additional 30 years working at the boys dormitory at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. She also spent time working for SEARHC hospital in the surgery ward; a joyous experience for Grace because during this time, she met her husband.

A Brief Biography

Grace was born on February 17, 1938 in Klawock, Alaska. She comes from a large family that included 15 children. Of those, 5 died at an early age. She credits her mother with working very hard to raise 10 children.

Like her mother, she raised a large family of 7 children (1 passed on)  that includes 4 sons and 2 daughters. She also has 4 grandsons and 2 granddaughters. Family is very important to Grace. She attended a six week small business class so that she could serve as a foundation to her son and grandson (i.e. Her son “shorty” and grandson Olaf will work hard while she spends the money).

In her spare time Grace enjoys being around people, cook and share her Native foods, and cater to the Elders in our community. She is a shareholder with Sealaska, Shee Atika, Inc., and Heenya Corporation. Serves as a delegate for Tlingit and Haida. She spent a number of years involved in Native politics. She states that her big issues were always “the education of our people” and “health committees”.