Kaaxúxgu Joe Nelson

A shot of Joe Nelson against a black background, with a microphone coming near his face.

Joe Nelson grew up in Yakutat. He is a member of the Teikweidi (Brown Bear) clan and child of the Kwaashkikwaan (Humpback Salmon) clan. He has a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a master’s degree in American Indian Studies from UCLA, as well as a Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School. Joe and his wife and kids live in Juneau.

Joe is currently the Chairman of the Board for Sealaska and a former Vice Chancellor at the University of Alaska Southeast. He also serves on the Board of Trustees for Sealaska Heritage Institute and the Alaska Legal Services Board of Directors. He served for many years on his ANCSA village corporation board and a number of local non-profit boards.