Val Massie

Community Planner

Valerie “Val” Massie is adopted Sik’nax.ádi and serves as the Spruce Root Community Planner from her home in Ḵaachx̱ana.áakʼw / Wrangell near the Shtax’héen River. She’s lived on the Emerald Edge her whole life, growing up in Western Washington, studying psychology at the University of Alaska Anchorage, and eventually finding her way to Southeast to work with Alaskan youth in what used to be the Crossings program. Through social services and working with Tribal environmental professionals, Val earned a deeper understanding of the intricacies and necessity for trauma-informed care, systems change and an equitable transition away from an extractive economy. As Community Planner, Val supports strategic planning, facilitation and regional projects like the Tongass National Forest Plan Revision and Scenarios work.

Favorite thing about Southeast Alaska: When you’re going to meet friends for a bonfire at night but can’t see their faces yet, just an orange glow and the sound of them laughing.