Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson is a lifelong resident of Southeast Alaska with a long history of leadership rooted in service to his community.

He has served as Tlingit & Haida President since 2014. In this role, Peterson has been a vocal advocate for Indigenous land management, traditional food sovereignty, and strengthening government-to-government relationships with federal agencies. In 2023, he signed a historic co-stewardship agreement with the U.S. Forest Service for the Mendenhall Glacier Recreation Center, advancing tribal sovereignty, shared stewardship, and Indigenous leadership in the management of ancestral lands.

Economic and tribal sovereignty have been central to Peterson’s leadership. He has promoted tribally owned enterprises and diversified revenue streams to reduce reliance on external funding and enhance the Tribe’s capacity for self-governance. Through strategic business development, government contracting, and partnerships that respect tribal authority, he has built sustainable economic capacity that directly supports services, cultural programs, and community priorities.
Peterson believes thriving tribes are essential to thriving communities, and that economic progress must advance cultural preservation, environmental stewardship, and sustainable food systems for future generations. By aligning Indigenous values with modern economic and governance strategies, he has fostered forward-looking partnerships across federal, state, tribal, and municipal governments, earning national recognition for his work.

In recognition of his leadership and service, Peterson was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree at the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ 101st commencement ceremony, where he was one of two Alaska Native leaders selected for honorary advanced degrees. The honor acknowledges his lifelong dedication to tribal sovereignty, economic self-determination, and the well-being of Alaska Native communities throughout Southeast Alaska and beyond.

Peterson has also served in numerous appointed roles representing tribal interests on Alaska Native issues, lending his expertise to federal, state, and regional advisory bodies that advance sovereignty, community well-being, and the sustainable management of lands, resources, and cultural programs.

Current Positions
• President, Tlingit & Haida (2014-present)
• Chair, Alaska Tribal Unity
• Board Member, Tlingit Haida Tribal Business Corporation
• Member, Data for Indigenous Justice Advisory
• Member, U.S. Forest Service Alaska Tribal Leadership
• Member, Tongass Advisory Committee
• Board Member, Healing Hands Foundation
• Member, UAS Juneau Campus Advisory Council
• Board Member, Southeast Conference
• Board Member, Alaska Federation of Natives
• Tribal Representative, FCC Intergovernmental Advisory Committee
• Representative, various federal, state, and tribal advisory bodies advancing Alaska Native and tribal interests

Previous Positions
• Chief Executive Officer, Prince of Wales Tribal Enterprise Consortium, LLC (POWTEC)
• Founding Member, POWTEC (one of Alaska’s first tribally owned 8(a) corporations)
• President, Organized Village of Kasaan (OVK)
• Mayor, City of Kasaan
• City Council Member, City of Kasaan
• Board Member, Southeast Island School District Board of Education

Chalyee Éesh Richard Peterson is Tlingit, Ch’áak’ (Eagle), Kaagwaantaan (Wolf) clan. He grew up in Kasaan, Alaska and is a lifelong Alaska Native resident of Southeast Alaska.