Michelle D. Martin
Vice President
Michelle D. Martin was elected Vice President of Tlingit & Haida’s Executive Council in September 2026 and also serves as Executive Council Secretary. She represents Tlingit & Haida on the SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) Board of Directors and the Tlingit & Haida Head Start Policy Council. She is also a Delegate to the Juneau Tlingit & Haida Community Council.
Her Tlingit name is Keiyawjeew.á. She is Tlingit and Navajo, of the Raven moiety and T’akdeintaan clan. Her father’s people are Chookaneidí, and she belongs to Yéil Kudí Hít (Raven Nest House), with ancestral ties to Glacier Bay. Her clan crest is the kittiwake, and her Navajo clan is Tabaaha (Water’s Edge People). Raised in Hoonah, she has also lived in Kake and has called Juneau home since 2001.
Vice President Martin brings a broad background in education, cultural programming, program administration, and Tribal and shareholder services. Throughout her career, she has worked to support youth, families, and communities through education, cultural learning, and community engagement. She currently teaches at Sítʼ Eetí Shaanáx – Glacier Valley Elementary School in the Juneau School District.
Her professional experience includes serving as a Teacher and Cultural Specialist with the Tlingit Culture, Language, and Literacy (TCLL) Program; Lead Teacher and Regional Facilitator for Tlingit & Haida Head Start; Education Program Manager at Sealaska Heritage Institute; Shareholder Services Program Manager and Trust Administrator at Goldbelt; and Parents as Teachers Director and Athletic Director in Hoonah. She has also served on several boards and advisory committees, including NAMI–Juneau, the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Advisory Board and Tlingit & Haida Head Start Policy Council as a parent representative, and the TCLL Parent Advisory Committee.
She has also directed and taught youth camps for Sealaska Heritage Institute, Goldbelt Heritage Foundation, and the Juneau Tlingit & Haida Community Council, creating opportunities for young people to connect with their culture, strengthen their identities, and participate in community activities.
Vice President Martin holds an associate degree in General Studies, a bachelor’s degree in Social Sciences, and a master’s degree in Teaching–Elementary Education from the University of Alaska Southeast. She also participated in the Preparing Indigenous Teachers and Administrators for Alaska Schools (PITAAS) program, where she served as a student representative on its Advisory Board.
Her dedication to community service is reflected in her continued leadership and involvement. She chairs the Juneau Tlingit & Haida Community Council’s Health Committee, serves on the Discovery Southeast Board, and served as Chair of the Education Committee during Tlingit & Haida’s 2026 Tribal Assembly.
Vice President Martin’s professional experience and community leadership reflect her commitment to education, cultural preservation, and supporting the well-being of tribal citizens and future generations.