It is with great sadness that the Alaska Native Women’ s Resource Center says goodbye to our sister, friend, fiercest advocate for women and children, and Chair of our Board of Directors Shirley Moses. We lost Shirley yesterday to her battle with cancer. Through all of her treatments, Shirley never stopped caring and helping anyone who came to her for help. We will miss all that she brought to our movement to end violence against Indigenous women.
Shirley was an Inupiaq Eskimo, born in Nome, Alaska and raised in the interior village of Tanana, Alaska with her siblings. She spent 30 years working in the Behavioral Health Field and taught Grades K‑8 in villages throughout Alaska. She worked with Youth in Residential and Community Settings. She also ran a shelter for Native women called Our Grandmother’s House in Fairbanks. She was appointed by US Attorney General Eric Holder to a National Coordination Committee to address Sexual Assault Response in Indian Country representing Alaska Native Tribal concerns and needs. She helped found the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center. Shirley was a strong voice advocating for victim’s rights across the state of Alaska and nationally. She was the Director of Healing Native Hearts Coalition, a Tribal DV/SA Tribal Coalition. She raised her five children with her husband Bergman and her home was a safe home where she always welcomed many of her children’s friends. Shirley is survived by her husband, five children and five grandchildren. She was loved by many and is survived by her many family members and those that she brought close and she considered family.
Shirley will be greatly missed by all whose lives she touched.