Mrs. Young has the following preferences:

Schools: Lillian is open to making visits to all SSD schools. She has gone into the classroom of both of her children while they were in Baranof Elementary and Keet Gooshi Heen elementary school.

Days: Lillian works full-time at Shee Atika however her flex schedule will allow her to go into the classroom M-F if given prior notice (she has become very skilled in balancing deadlines, meetings, and participating in her children’s education).

Times: Lillian has no time constraints. She is able to make visits to the classroom anytime of the day so long as she gets prior approval from work.

Children: Lillian has two children in the SSD. Kyla is in 6th grade and Joshua is in 5th grade

Areas of Activity

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

Field Trip: She is willing to go on field trips to the South East Alaska Indian Cultural Center (SEAICC). Her grandfather, Charlie Joseph Sr. has a robe that is on display at the Center. 

Presentations: She is incredibly proud of her heritage. She is experienced in making presentations on different aspects of the Tlingit tradition. Some examples include: regalia, song/dance, language, history of SNEP program, and drumming.

Panel Discussions: She is interested in being part of a cultural bearers panel discussion dependent upon the topic of discussion. Being a part of SNEP helped her conquer her fear of speaking in front of large crowds. Especially when it is talking about the Tlingit culture.  

Role in the Classroom

Mentor: Lillian would be willing to mentor younger students. Identifying with her culture has helped her gain tremendous confidence; she would love to spend time with students who need a strong female presence in his or her life.

Cultural Instructor: For more information on cultural instruction please see presentations (area of activity) and culture expertise..

Prior Experience: Lillian has done many presentations with her mother, Ethel Makinen. She has a great deal of experience with KGH and BES students. Last spring she participated in the International Fair. As well as the experience she gained as a student instructor at the SNEP program. Lillian truly enjoys being around kids.

Cultural Expertise

Sitka Native Education Program (SNEP): Lillian is an original student of SNEP. She attended classes for ten years; upon graduation she transitioned into the Noow Tlein dance group.

While a part of Gajaa Heen dancers, she held a strong leadership role, whether it was President, Vice-President, or another officer position. She was also a student instructor from 8-12th grade. While working for SNEP Lillian was the 2nd typist/transcriber of the song book that is currently used by SNEP. Lillian's children are currently enrolled with SNEP so Lillian is a member of the Parent Committee.

Tlingit Dance Groups: Lillian is active in two dance groups. Lillian has been a member of Noow Tlein since it was founded in 1980 by her grandfather Charlie. She is currently the President for the Noow Tlein Dancers.  Noow Tlein is active in the community; they are often invited to perform at community events (e.g. Clan Conference, K’idein Kusti Kooteeyaa, SEARHC memorial, etc.) and hold fundraisers throughout the year. This year the group will travel over to Juneau, Alaska for Celebration  sponsored by Sealaska Heritage Institute. During the summertime she works for Sitka Tribe Enterprise as a dancer/drummer with Naa Kahidi and serves as a consultant and drummer/dancer.

Tlingit Values: Lillian has been invited to talk with the SNEP students on many occasions. She feels very comfortable putting herself in the position as a role model to younger students. More than anything, she likes to encourage them to be proud of who they are and where they come from.  She credits the program with giving her confidence to step outside her zone of comfort and take on a leadership role.

Drumming Instructor: Lillian is currently teaching drumming to students of the SNEP program. She has also coordinated practices for Noow Tlein and the Naa Kahidi Dancers.

Lillian would like to give credit to her Cultural Mentors: First and foremost her Grandfather Charlie Joseph Sr. as well as her mother Ethel Makinen. Other elders who provided her with cultural knowledge and understanding are: Mary Marx, Annie Joseph, Annie Dick, Lizzy Basko, and Pauly Poquiz.

Education and Life Experience

Education:

Lillian graduated from Sitka High School in 1984. She then attended the Alaska Business College where she received her Legal Secretary Diploma with honors in July 1985. She has taken computer courses off and on and recently started classes at UAS to possibly earn a Business Administration degree.  A part of Lillian’s job includes administering the Shee Atika scholarship program which allows other students to achieve their educational goals.

Work Experience:

Lillian started working at Sitka Community Association (now known as Sitka Tribe of Alaska) soon after returning from Alaska Business College. She initially worked in the Legal Department, then worked for BIHA before moving over to Shee Atika, Inc. She has been working at Shee Atika, Inc. since 1989. As the Shareholder Services Manager she performs a number of duties including: direct deposit, transfers of stock, shareholder ID cards, name changes, and administration of Shee Atika Benefits Trust Scholarship. 

A Brief Biography

Lillian was born and raised here in Sitka. She is Raven, Coho (L’uknaxadi) from the L’uk Hit house. Her Tlingit name is Kaax’axooskaa. She is a very active member of the Coho clan.

Lillian is the baby of her family with five older brothers. At 22 months, her father died of Cancer. Her mother essentially raised six kids on her own yet she credits the Sitka Native Education Program as playing a father role to her children. Ethel’s family also helped out tremendously. Their family greatly values family. For example, Lillian proudly helped raise two of her nephews as her own.  Not only that, Lillian is a certified foster parent and has had 5 children (ranging from 16 moths to Junior High) in her home since being certified a few years ago.