Constantine Metal Res Ltd Common CNSNF

New LCC director has Southeast roots

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By Kyle Clayton Lynn Canal Conservation has hired its first executive director. Elsa Sebastian, originally from Point Baker on Prince of Wales Island, has lived and worked in Southeast Alaska most of her life. She ran her own commercial troller for six years, worked as a deckhand in Bristol Bay and has lived in many communities in the region. “I did a few years of high school in Petersburg,” Sebastian said. “From there I went to college back in Boston. As soon as I was able, I came back to Alaska and I’ve been here since. Haines is one of the last places I haven’t lived.” Sebastian graduated from Wellesley College with a bachelor’s in environmental studies and communication. She’s worked for Trout Unlimited and in a campaign that opposed the Pebble Mine project. She also worked for the Alaska Whale Foundation and helped establish a research field station in Warm Springs Bay for the study of marine mammals. She said at 27 years old, she wanted to step into a regional leadership role.“One of the things I have been concerned about is that there aren’t enough young Southeast Alaskans stepping into leadership roles with conservation work,” Sebastian said. “I think it’s really important that local people step into those roles because we have perspective and we know what it means to live in a place like this.” Sebastian said she wants to prioritize salmon habitat, not just in Haines but across Southeast Alaska. “It’s easy to feel like conservation issues only have local impacts, but I’m pretty sure I’ve been catching Chilkat king salmon and coho salmon pretty much my entire life,” Sebastian said. “Not a lot of Southeast Alaskans realize what’s going on up here. That definitely drew me to the job and made me feel like I could do something that was connected to all of the time that I’ve put in fishing in Southeast Alaska.” Sebastian said one of her priorities will be making sure the region “knows what’s at stake with the Constantine mine project.” “I’m hoping that involves some outreach with commercial fishing groups,” Sebastian said. Sebastian said she’s aware of Haines’ reputation for divisiveness over conservation issues, and that she’s no stranger to that conflict. “Being from Prince of Wales, there are fishermen and loggers there, which has been true since white people have been in Alaska, and there’s always been conflict on that island. I grew up with that conflict. I’m pretty confident in being able to connect with and understand people regardless of their positions on issues.”