Our Team
Dolly Wiles, Tribal Administrator
Hello! I began working part time at QNT in 2018 as the financial manager and I quickly fell in love with the people and the tribe. Not many months later I came fully out of retirement and took the job of Tribal Administrator.
I have a long family history in Seward. My grandmother was born in Seward on October 18, 1921 and was named Dorothy Alaska Shell (earning that name having been born on Alaska Day). She along with another local started a restaurant here. My grandfather was a prominent gold miner on the Kenai Peninsula, particularly Hope, Alaska. If you drive to Hope you will see a sign as you turn off of the highway with a story board telling about his mother, my great grandmother, and her history. She was also a well known in that area.
Once I decided working at QNT was my calling, I have not stopped to take a breath. I fell in love with the people, and want to make a difference and enhance our quality of life for local Seward tribal members. I love bringing people together, cooking home-made meals, gardening, and hope to get to know each and every one of you as time goes on.
Jami Fenn, Finance Manger
Working at QNT is a wonderful new experience for me! I moved to Seward in 2020 Utah, born and raised in The Colorado Rockies I moved to Alaska in December 2019 ultimately finding my way to Seward and I have been with QNT since July 2021. I am a mother to 2 teenage girls. When I am not working at QNT you can find me volunteering, hiking, fishing, hunting or mushing. I have 13 huskies which runs my life if I am not running them haha. Exploring all that Alaska has to offer you will find me in the wilderness searching for a body of water to fish, I absolutely love to fishing. Fishing is life!!! My favorite part about hunting would have to be skinning!!! I love to skin me some animals!!! If you are ever in need you are more than welcome to call me and I will do anything in my power to help!
Anastasia Thiele-Scheele, Receptionist
I was born in Anchorage, raised in Seward. I’m blessed to be mother of 5 beautiful children! I love dancing, singing, being goofy with my kids, connecting with those around me and appreciating nature.
Every day I work towards being the best version of myself, for myself and my community. I have been at QNT for a short time, but feel at home already, it is a privilege to be able to work with so many wonderful people!
Gertrude (Trudy) Valenza, Tribal Clerk
My name is Trudy Valenza, I have lived in Seward for approximately 25 years. I am married to my Husband, Philip. Together we have 7 children and16 grandchildren.
I love foraging for food starting in the springtime with greens, petals (for jelly making) and following rest of the season with fish, berries such as salmon berries, blueberries, mossberries, low and high bush cranberries and rosehips.I have several hobbies such as acrylic painting (a very new hobby and am loving it, thanks to QNT's art class), knitting, crocheting, beading, skin sewing. I also love to process my own foods such as canning vegetables, potatoes, beans, meats, fish, meals in a jar and such. Of course I am a safe canner using only the National Canning guidelines and Healthy Canning recipes.I also love to camp in the summer and fall season.
Krisnan Weston, Program Manager
Camai! (hello!) My name is Krisnan "Kris" Weston. My native given names are Qinuran in Cugtun and Angilan in Yugtun. I was born in Anchorage, raised on Nunivak Island and in Seward, AK. I enjoy competing and coaching the Native Youth Olympics and doing photography of all sorts. Once I heard that Qutekcak had a NYO team I instantly joined and I fell in love with the environment of the games.
I enjoy gathering greens such as sourdock, cloudberries, tundra greens and providing what I can for my family. I am not exactly fluent in Cup'ig and Yup'ik, but I am able to understand when spoken to, read, write and pronounce what I can. I have volunteered my time with QNT and now I'm excited to continue working with the team as their Program Manager!
Melody Wallace - President
Haley Hatch - Vice President
Ariadne Schablein - Secretary/Treasurer
Danielle Deer- Member
Charlie Jackson- Member
Arne Hatch - Former Council Member, Advisor
Our Council
Arne, Melody, John & Michael Willis (Federal Recognition Lawyer) with the "If Lady Justice Were Native" print that they presented to Bryan Newland (Assistant Secretary of Native Affairs) at the NCAI convention! Awesome picture and great job representing our tribe!!