Edward K. Thomas is President Emeritus of Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. His contributions to indigenous leadership are important to the culture and history of Native People in Alaska and United States. Thomas steered the development of Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes through its early years and was intimately involved in Native and indigenous political movements in Alaska and across the United States for more than 25 years.
This book by Edward K. Thomas, President Emeritus of Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, details his early life growing up in Craig, Alaska, and the influence of the Tlingit culture on his life and work. In this book he shares important lessons he learned and details the impact of the Tlingit culture on leadership, organizational development and his life's journey and stresses the importance of continuing education for those in leadership positions. This book depicts important events in Ed Thomas’ life and generously shares the lessons he learned throughout his years of service to his community, tribe and nation.
"Perhaps most significantly, he reinvigorated our traditional Tlingit culture in his hometown by commissioning the carving and raising of his clan’s Sukteeneidí pole, which was followed by a ceremony in which ancient clan names were given to scores of tribal members. He has earned his place in our history, an Aanyádi, a Noble Person indeed."
—Rosita Kaaháni Worl, Ph.D., President Sealaska Heritage Institute
—S. Mcnutt