Please join us in congratulating our 2026 Elders of the Year, Sally Johnson and John Garrison.

Sally Mae Johnson was born in the fall of 1944 in Nome to Mamie and Alfred Karmun of Deering, Alaska. Her wonderful family included three brothers, Gilbert, Harry, and Martin, along with two sisters, Penny and Mamie (Chuck). She grew up in Candle before moving to Deering, and attended Candle and Mt. Edgecumbe. She loved participating in basketball and track during her school years.

In 1968, she married Cecil Clifford Johnson, and together they joyfully raised three children: Clifford, Clayton, and Clinton Johnson. Cecil and Sally were fortunate to spend over four decades together before his passing in 2012. She often says her greatest achievement is raising her kids. She beams with pride when talking about her grandchildren, Ashley, Christian, Delaney, Shyloah, Karmun, Stephen, Avery, Jenelle, Quinten, Devyn, Dylan, Meagan, Kaitlyn, Monica, and Kassie.

Her first job was with Miners & Merchants Bank in Kotzebue, which later moved to Nome. Over the years, she also worked with the Alaska Court System, Wien Airlines, Bering Air, and the VFW. She has dedicated countless hours volunteering with local organizations and truly cares about giving back to her community. Her employment was always much more than that and volunteering at VFW Post 9569 during the 2000s was always appreciated and impactful. Her notorious steak and potatoes dinners and minestrone soup were staples that were always looked forward to. She continues to bake and cook for local fundraisers, organizations and shelters to this day.

One of her favorite subsistence activities is picking berries, especially blueberries for blueberry delight, and gathering greens. Her home always has Eskimo food on hand. In her free time, she enjoys cutting seal and oogruk. She loves cooking, cleaning, and baking, especially her famous white bread, which she happily shares, often saying, “I could bake every day if I could.”

Her advice for our future leaders, young Shareholders, and youth is “Don’t give up!” She shares that her journey has been inspired by survival. Her granddaughter, Delaney proudly shares, “My Gram is everything I hope to be one day! She is the ultimate example of a kind woman who cooks with her heart. If I could feed half the people she has fed, touch half the lives she has touched, or share laughs with half the people she has laughed with, I will have lived a full life. She’s my greatest friend.” 

Sally’s story is a heartfelt reminder of what truly matters in life: family, perseverance, and doing what brings you joy. Quyana for sharing your wisdom, family history, and traditional food!

John Ervin Garrison was born in Fairbanks, Alaska. His mother, Myrtle (Ivanoff) Garrison, is from Unalakleet, and his father, Harold Garrison, Sr., served in the Navy during World War II. He later joined the Air Force and while stationed in Nome, Harold met Myrtle.

John graduated from Covenant High School in Unalakleet with the class of 1971 and went on to study Business at Alaska Methodist University (AMU) from 1971 to 1974. During college, he worked for the Bureau of Land Management in Anchorage as a supply clerk, helping manage Land Status Plats and gaining early experience in land and resource work.

In 1974, John moved to Nome for a job interview with Bering Straits Native Corporation and joined the Land Department, where he worked until 1978. He took on the daily challenges of shifting land selection status and often signed village land selections himself when unreliable U.S. Postal mail and airline service threatened important deadlines. John also worked closely with the National Park Service, traveling throughout the region, interviewing elders, and helping document historical and cemetery sites, ensuring local history and stories would be preserved for future generations. During this time, the Regional Corporation addressed many issues that would shape village and regional land selections for years to come. John later worked for Sitnasuak Native Corporation in various departments, ranging from managing building construction and maintenance to operating the Corporate Land Department, overseeing Village land selections, management, and leasing over 161,000 acres.

Over the years, John has built up more than five decades of experience in building maintenance, plumbing, and heating. His work includes design, installation, reading and interpreting blueprints, and hands-on preventative maintenance of mechanical systems. He is certified by the State of Alaska as a Journeyman Plumber, is a licensed Mechanical Administrator, and holds a First Class Boiler Operator Certificate. His work in land preservation still guides us and inspires us today.

Family has always been at the center of John’s life. His first marriage was to the late Laraine (Karmun) Garrison. Married for 33 years, they raised three daughters, Marie Tozier, Nellie Scott, and Shari Murphy, and one son, Leonard Gary Garrison. After Laraine’s long and courageous battle with cancer, she passed away in 2008.

In 2024, John began a new chapter when he married his second wife, Francine (Hopson) Garrison. Together, they welcomed a new joy into their lives in April 2026, when they adopted their son, Elijah William Gary, lovingly called “Boyuk.” John gave Elijah his nuniaq name in honor of his favorite first cousin, Boyuk Ryan, carrying family tradition and love forward to the next generation.

Quyana for all of your work and dedication, John and congratulations! Your leadership continues to be an inspiration to our Corporation. We are honored to work under your legacy.