About Caleb Lumen Pungowiyi
Born in Savoonga, Alaska, Caleb Lumen Pungowiyi was a strong advocate for conservation, subsistence, and Alaska Native stewardship of resources. Caleb was imbued with the traditions of conservation by use—protecting habitats through subsistence lifeways.
Caleb served on a myriad boards and commissions, offering incomparable wisdom between traditional and modern communities.
Among his many roles, he acted as the President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council, where he negotiated full access for Arctic Indigenous People to fully participate in meetings of the Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy. He served on the Advisory Committees of the National Science Foundation, the Marine Mammal Commission, the Alaska Native Science Commission, Oceana, and as the President of Kawerak, Inc.
Caleb championed education and encouraged fellow Inuit to work cooperatively with businesses, advocacy groups, and government organizations to preserve and protect our resources. He cultivated relationships between Indigenous peoples, conservationists, modern scientists, and governing agencies at a time when such relationships had yet to exist.
