Togiak, Alaska

Togiak is located 67 miles west of Dillingham at the head of Togiak Bay, and is in the Togiak National Wildlife Refuge – gateway to Walrus Island Game Sanctuary. Access to Togiak is primarily by plane. Archaeological evidence shows that the Togiak region has been continuously occupied for at least 2,000 years.

Today the population is around 771 and more than 86% Yup’ik. Its economy relies primarily on commercial salmon, herring, and herring roe-on-kelp fisheries. Forty-eight marine and terrestrial mammal species and more than 150,000 caribou from two herds inhabit the Togiak Refuge. Around 201 species of birds have been sighted in the refuge.

Team Members

  • Laresa Syverson

    Community Research Assistant

    Laresa Syverson was raised in Unalaska and the International Port of Dutch Harbor and continues to live there today. Laresa is passionate about Unangan language revitalization and is actively involved with the Tribe of St. Paul and APIA to learn as much as she can. Laresa is also passionate about gathering and expressing traditional knowledge through Art, Story-telling, and Environmental Monitoring Programs such as the Aleut International Association (AIA) data collection program. Laresa advocates that Unangan people be involved in the process of gathering environmental data and traditional knowledge because it builds professional skills and provides an innovative way to learn about the food we receive from our environment and what changes or interactions are taking place. Laresa also learns traditional medicines and chocolate confection from her Mother and is a licensed Massage Therapy Practitioner. She aims to love the work she does and inspire others to love the work they do. Laresa has her Associates degree in Fine Art from IAIA (NM) and recently completed their Museum Studies Certificate program (Fall 2018).