Doyon Foundation is pleased to welcome Kimberly Nicholas as our Doyon Languages Online project coordinator.
“I am so excited to be working at the Foundation in the language department,” she said. “I grew up in Kaltag and was surrounded by my culture and language as a kid. I am fired up about learning more about Denaakk’e language learning and teaching. I love the idea of empowering our young language learners to take a front seat in our language revitalization efforts. I am happy I get to use my skills to help Doyon Foundation in their language revitalization work.”
Kimberly, a Doyon shareholder originally from Kaltag, currently lives in Fairbanks with her husband Eli Nicholas Sr., and their three children, Sida Bessie, Giana and Eli Jr. She is the daughter of Thelma Saunders and the late Lawrence Saunders Sr., of Kaltag and Nulato, respectively. She is the youngest of seven children; her brothers are Floyd Sr., Lawrence Jr., Kevin, Jason and Shawn Saunders, and her sister is Laura Saunders. She says she is “blessed to have many nieces and nephews to enjoy.” Kimberly’s maternal grandparents are the late Bessie Solomon of Kaltag and the late Charles “Spider” Evans of Rampart. Her paternal grandparents are the late Eugene and Irene Saunders of Kaltag/Nulato.
“My Denaakk’e name is Me’enh Nezoonh. It was given to me by my grandma Mary Rose Agnes during a Native Language gathering here in Fairbanks. It means ‘her spirit is strong and good,’” Kimberly said.
Kimberly earned an associate degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks in 2010 and is currently a senior in the Alaska Native studies program, with a minor in Alaska Native languages. She also received certificates as a Child Development Associate Credential in 2001 and was certified through the State of Alaska as a breastfeeding peer counselor. She recently completed a teacher training with the Indigenous Language Institute.
Kimberly received both competitive and basic scholarships from Doyon Foundation to help fund her college education. “I’m so thankful that this valuable resource is here for us as shareholders. With the Foundation’s support, I was able to focus on my family and my studies and stress less about funding,” she said.
Prior to joining Doyon Foundation, Kimberly was an Alaska Native education tutor with the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District, an associate teacher at Fairbanks Native Association Early Head Start, and a summer intern in Doyon, Limited’s administration department, which turned into a full-time admin receptionist position for five years. Most recently, she became a certified breastfeeding peer counselor and worked at the Resource Center for Parents and Children WIC department for two years.
In her free time, Kimberly loves to be outside with her family, going for walks. She loves to bring them to their little dribbler basketball practices and games. She also meets up with a Native singing group with her children a few times a month.