Seikoonie Aak'w Kwaan (Fran Houston)

We are honored to have Fran Houston, whose Tlingit name is Seikoonie as our Matriarch and Aak'w Kwaan Tribal Spokesperson return for this years Men's Healing Gathering.

Seikoonie was appointed as a Tribal Spokesperson by her mother, Rosa Miller in 2016-17. 

She is of the Raven moiety, Tleeneidi Clan (Dog Salmon) from the Yax'te Hit (Big Dipper House).  She is the child of Chookenadi, her father’s people (Leo Houston, Sr. from Hoonah, Alaska). She is the daughter of Rosa Miller, granddaughter of Bessie Visaya, and grandchild of the Wooshkeetaan.

She was born and raised in Juneau, Alaska, a place of our ancestors, who have been here since time in immemorial. Seikoonie stated, “the Yaxt'tetaan were the first Indigenous people in the Juneau area, our first village was out at the Auke Rec area.” 

The planning committee members of this gathering suggested that we need to have our women "holding our men up" and acknowledging their efforts to become healthier for themselves, their families and communities.