Shania Murphy
Emerging Leader
Executive Council
Shania Murphy is the Tlingit & Haida 2026-2027 Emerging Leader. The position is part of the Executive Council and was created to enhance the leadership skills of tribal citizen youth. The position provides young adults with opportunities to acquire important knowledge about Tlingit & Haida, its processes and organizational structure, and valuable hands-on leadership experience.
Shania is Tlingit, Gaanax.ádi (Raven Mink) traditionally from Klawock, Alaska. Her Tlingit name is Seenkla.at and she was born, raised, and currently is living in Ketchikan, Alaska. She is the daughter of Elizabeth Murphy (Carle). Her maternal grandmother was Charlottle Buchanan (Gannon), and her maternal great-grandmother was Cleo Booth (Fields). Shania was also born and raised in Deaf Culture; her first language is sign language as she is a Child of Deaf Adults (CODA).
She sits on the Alaska Coalition on Housing & Homelessness Board of Directors, Ketchikan Indian Community’s Tribal Council as Youth Ambassador, and the Southeast Regional Advisory Council to the Federal Subsistence Board as Youth Leader.
Shania has worked for 4 years as a commercial fisherman in various fisheries. She enjoys learning to weave from her mentor Holly Churchill, sewing with Sea Otter, diving, welding, and cultivating native plants.