“Whereas, Harriet names the Mt Edgecumbe High School as her greatest success...and whereas in Harriet’s words ‘I’m not retiring from politics...just retiring to spend more time running around, drinking coffee and having lunch at the Senior Center’...Now, Therefore, I, Mark Begich, Mayor of Anchorage, Alaska, do hereby proclaim Saturday, April 16, 2005 ‘Harriet Beleal Day’”

Mrs. Beleal has the following preferences:

Schools: Harriet’s number one preference is Baranof Elementary school, due to walking distance. Next in proximity to her house is Pacific High and then Blatchley or Keet Gooshi Heen. She is open to working with all age groups, however she would prefer younger students.

Days: She cannot go into the classroom on Mondays or Fridays. She would like to make weekly trips into the classroom.

Times: She is open to anytime throughout the school day.

Great grandchildren: She currently has two great grandchildren in the Sitka School District: They are: Kalahi Moreno—9th grade and Kylie Moreno—2nd grade.

Areas of Activity

Harriet  prefers to enter into classrooms to help out in the following areas:

Fieldtrips: Harriet loves to take fieldtrips.  She is still very involved with children, last summer she helped out with ANSWER camp so moving around is not something she struggles with. 

Presentations: Harriet could enter into the classroom to present on a variety of topics. Some topics include: lobbying for subsistence, Japanese concentration camps, dangers of alcohol, motivational lectures, etc.

Teaching Assistant: Harriet is ready and willing to help assist a teacher in the classroom. That includes academic tasks.

Role in the Classroom

Teacher Assistant: Harriet would like to assist the teacher in a variety of ways. She has vast experience working on projects with students. In Wrangell, she was interviewed by students for a biography. She also served as a cultural historian in the Anchorage school district.

Cultural Instructor:  Harriet was born and raised in Wrangell. She spent  many summers in Klawock; the Tlingit culture is something she knows a great deal about. She is also half Japanese. Like many, she is a lifelong learner. Currently she is pursuing her Bachelor’s degree through UAA—distance and is making a dance robe. 

Prior Experience:  Harriet has a great  deal of experience working as a social worker. As far as experience in the classroom, Harriet has worked at many summer camps as a cultural instructor. She also served as a science fair judge;  and helped out an elementary school in planning for their cultural week.

Cultural Expertise

Dancer: Harriet is currently working on her Native regalia. She is midway through a Native dance robe. In the summers, she has worked through Sitka Tribal Enterprise as a dancer.

Historian: Harriet is an expert on the Japanese Internment during WWII. Her father was sent to an internment camp during the war. She can still remember at the age of 11 when he returned home. She grew up in the village of Wrangell and spent her summers fishing in Klawock; attended MEHS boarding school.

Harriet is active in civil rights through Alaska Native Sisterhood (Anchorage) and serves on Alaska Native Brotherhood (Sitka) where she has earned outstanding leadership awards.

Education and Life Experience

Education:
Harriet grew up in Wrangell where she attended elementary school. She then moved to Sitka to attend Mt Edgecumbe High School where she graduated as the class of 1953. Following that, Harriet attended a vocational training school where she gained skills as a travel agent. Currently she is pursuing her Associates of Arts degree in social work ideally working towards her Bachelor’s degree. Harriet is a strong student; she even made the Chancellor’s list while attending University of Alaska Anchorage.

Work Experience:
Harriet has spent many years working in the tourism industry by performing for tourist as a Native dancer as well as selling souvenirs to the tourists. She spent a great deal of her career working in the social services field as an advocate for children. She was worked as an Indian Child Welfare Social Worker and also as a Program Coordinator at the Eklutna Child Advocacy Center. Currently she works intermittently at the Sitka Tribe of Alaska and she still continues to volunteer at other clubs and organizations.

A Brief Biography

Harriet is half Tlingit and half Japanese. She is Raven-Dog Salmon originating from Wrangell. She was born February 8, 1934 to George and Mary Miyasato. She is from a large family that includes 6 brothers and sisters. She also has a large family. She has 7 children; 15 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; and 12 great-great grandchildren! She lives a drug free lifestyle, as do all her children.

Most of her adult life she has been active in volunteer work for Tlingit and Haida Central Council. She was a delegate for the Alaska Native Sisterhood, serving as President in 1987. She was married to Edward Beleal for 33 years; in that time they were very active in the Anchorage area. As a result, the mayor of Anchorage declared April 16, 2005 Harriet Beleal Day.