Cecilia Tavoliero

Cecilia is the President of the Southeast Alaska Landless Corporation (SALC) and an original shareholder of Petersburg. She is Tlingit of the Raven moiety and belongs to the T’akdeintaan (Sea Pigeon Clan).

Cecilia was born in Kake and raised in Petersburg, where she learned the importance of family, community, and our Alaska Native heritage.

When the Alaska Native Claims Settlement act passed in 1971, our community did not realize we were being left out. Like many others, our elders believed they would be included and treated fairly. It was only later that they learned their community had been excluded. The disappointment was profound, and many of these elders passed without seeing this injustice corrected.

Cecilia's late brother, Mike Lopez of Petersburg, made it his life's work to see that Petersburg was included. He encouraged her to get involved in 2007. She accepted that responsibility and since then has remained committed to carrying this work forward in his memory and in honor of the elders who never gave up hope.

Serving as President of the Southeast Alaska Landless Corporation has given her the privilege of working with dedicated individuals who have spent years educating lawmakers, building relationships, and advocating for a fair and lasting solution.

Her greatest wish is that Congress will correct this historic omission, so our communities can receive the recognition and opportunities we've sought for more than 50 years.

"Seeing this become reality would honor my brother, honor the elders who came before us, and leave a legacy of dignity and opportunity for future generations like all of the other communities." — Cecilia Tavoliero