Meet Jerica:

Jerica Niayuq Leavitt is Iñupiaq from Utqiaġvik where she was raised her whole life. She holds a master’s degree in Rural Development and bachelor’s degree in Alaska Native Studies with an emphasis in Alaska Native Languages from the University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF). Niayuq works as the Assistant Professor of Iñupiaq Studies at Iḷisaġvik College. Through her work and personal life, her passion is to teach, learn, and share the Iñupiaq language, culture, and traditions with her children and everyone around her. She enjoys picking edible and medicinal tundra plants, hand and machine sewing traditional clothing, Arctic photography, hunting, camping, and being on the land.