Spruce Root

12/22/2025

We have one more new team member to introduce before the end of the year! Elsa Sebastian joined the Spruce Root crew a couple of months ago as our new Communications and Special Projects Manager.

Elsa grew up in Point Baker, a fishing village on Prince of Wales Island. She attended high school in Petersburg and went on to college in Boston, where she earned a degree in Environmental Studies and Communications from Wellesley College.

A second-generation commercial fisherman, Elsa has spent more than a decade captaining and crewing boats throughout Alaska. During fishing off-seasons, she worked and volunteered with several Alaska-based nonprofits. More recently, Elsa has worked as an editor, producer, and director of documentary films, bringing a strong background in collaborative storytelling, visual communications, and project management to her role at Spruce Root. She currently lives in Haines.

Elsa loves the many small communities across Southeast Alaska that she got to know during her years as a salmon troller, and she’s excited to help connect Spruce Root’s services with villages and towns throughout the region.

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12/18/2025

We don’t want to let 2025 come to a close without introducing our new Program Manager for Small Business, Andrew Jylkka.

Andrew grew up in Connecticut, but once he started moving west, he never looked back. After graduating from Ohio State University with an undergraduate degree in Environmental Science and Ecosystem Restoration, he moved to the Pacific Northwest. In 2016, Andrew began working in Wrangell, taking youth from across the state on canoe trips in the waters around Wrangell and the Stikine River.

In 2020, he moved to Sitka to start a sourdough bakery and spent years building his business from the scratch. Andrew joined the Spruce Root team in November, and in his first couple of months on the job, he’s been enjoying supporting entrepreneurs across the region through free one-on-one coaching calls and business workshops.

Andrew has a great sense of humor and can easily relate to the challenges and opportunities of running a small business in Southeast Alaska. We’re so glad he’s part of the team!

12/13/2025

Shop Native-Owned, Shop Local! The One Sealaska Gift Guide can be found at spruceroot.org/resources/local-gift-guide

From accessories and apparel, to art, food, and more, the One Sealaska Gift Guide compiles a variety of Southeast Alaska’s small business offerings into one place, making it easy for you to keep your impact local this holiday season.

The Gift Guide is a collaboration between Sealaska, Spruce Root, and the Sealaska Heritage Institute, also known as the partnership.

12/11/2025

If a new 4-wheeler, jet boat, or freedom from a mortgage is at the top of your Christmas list, chances are you might end up a little disappointed.

But Spruce Root has a little something special for you! Our virtual New Year Financial Wellness Mini workshop is the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to align their finances with what they value most.

The truth is, most of us have to put in years of work to pay off a home, build an emergency fund, or finally afford that new outboard for the skiff. Setting a clear financial goal and creating an actionable plan can make your hard work pay off faster.

Join us on January 12th from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Zoom! More details at https://spruceroot.org/etn/new-year-financial-goals-virtual-mini-workshop/

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12/02/2025

Commercial fishermen — we see you out there. You’ve learned just about everything there is to know about hydraulics, diesel mechanics, wiring, and of course, the mysterious ways of sea creatures.

But how are your bookkeeping skills? Do you feel as confident going into tax season as you do heading into an opener? Maybe not — and we want to help with that.
Fishin’ & Finances is this Friday, and this is the last call for fishermen to register. https://spruceroot.org/etn/fishin-finances/

In this FREE financial wellness session, a CPA who specializes in commercial fishing will give a presentation and answer your questions. She’s seen it all, so no question is off the table.

Share this post with your favorite commercial fishing captain or crew member!

11/30/2025

With November being National Native American Heritage Month, have been celebrating the Indigenous voices that lead Spruce Root’s work across Southeast Alaska. 

Ha-leemee-ym Meeyaa-nm, Kayla Roberts, was raised on traditionally Coast Salish lands in Seattle and has roots in Metlakatla and Kichx̱áan, Ketchikan. She is Tsimshian, G̲anhada (Raven) clan, and her Sm’algyax name was given to her by Shu Guyna.

Kayla now lives in Juneau, and works for as the Arctic Willow Advisory Group Program (AWAG) Manager. Established in 2024, AWAG is a group of Alaska Native leaders who provide oversight on a philanthropy effort called the Sinew Fund. Within her role, Kayla focuses on cultural vitality and food sovereignty initiatives across Alaska through fund coordination and administration. 

From Kayla’s perspective, this work is exciting because of its ability to support community visions throughout the state.

“I am endlessly inspired by Indigenous people all around Alaska creating art, teaching language, and perpetuating food resiliency in their communities,” she shares. 

Photos by and

11/28/2025

Black Friday is here and where you spend your money matters. This year, we invite you to increase the impact of your holiday spending by shopping local and Native-owned businesses through the One Sealaska Gift Guide. 

From accessories and apparel to art, food and more, the Gift Guide compiles a variety of Southeast Alaska’s small business offerings into one place, making it easy for you to keep your impact local this holiday season. 

The Gift Guide is a collaboration between Sealaska, Spruce Root, and Sealaska Heritage Institute, also known as the partnership.

Find the gift guide here and start shopping! https://spruceroot.org/resources/local-gift-guide/ 

The gorgeous box in this photo is from

11/26/2025

“I think Alaska is one of the last true food cultures in America. We can’t just get whatever we want all the time. We actually have to wait for things to happen.”

Travis Kukull was a Spruce Root Path to Prosperity Finalist in 2024, and is the chef behind Deer Heart, a visionary restaurant in Haines that opened in the spring of 2025.

For those of you daydreaming of pie, head on over to the Spruce Root blog to read our interview with Chef Travis. We dig into Alaskan food culture, restaurants, unconventional Thanksgiving menus (crab cakes, anyone?), and Chef Travis shares his recipe for Secret Scalloped Potato recipe!

Read the interview https://spruceroot.org/news/savoring-the-season-qa-with-chef-travis-kukull/

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11/25/2025

With November being National Native American Heritage Month, we are celebrating the Indigenous voices that lead Spruce Root’s work across Southeast Alaska. 

S’eiltín Kaylah Duncan is Dakl’aweidí, living in the community of Áak’w Kwáan and working in Dzantikʼi Héeni, Juneau. As the Development Manager, Kaylah works to uphold the mission of the Seacoast Trust in conjunction with . 

The Seacoast Trust is a perpetual funding source for , which envisions a new economic model for Southeast Alaska, one rooted in access to capital and Indigenous values that strengthen community well-being. In her role, Kaylah fundraises for projects across the region, supporting self-determined and connected peoples committed to ensuring that each generation thrives on healthy lands and waters.

Kaylah shares that one of the most inspiring parts of her job is sharing the incredible projects emerging from this region, which she views as a part of the larger movement of Indigenous-led solutions to the climate crisis. “Around the world, people are looking to our local leaders and organizations in Southeast Alaska as examples of how the most effective climate solutions come directly from communities themselves,” she says.

From Kaylah’s perspective, her work with Spruce Root is grounded in a culture of intention and care,  “I attribute this to our team at Spruce Root — especially our women and Indigenous women — who lead with an innate kindness for the people and work they do,” she shares. “That care for all shows up in our day to day and in our programs.”

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11/22/2025

We are pleased to announce an exciting new funding opportunity for grocery stores, farmers markets, and healthy food businesses in Southeast Alaska!

Spruce Root has joined a partnership of nine organizations—including community development financial institutions (CDFIs), business assistance organizations, and place-based agencies—to enhance access to healthy food for communities in Alaska, Washington, and Oregon.

Alongside our partner , we will be providing low-interest loans, planning grants, and technical assistance to eligible food businesses and retailers that provide healthy staple and fresh foods to low-income communities.

Please register for the Alaska info session to learn more!

With funding from the Healthy Food Financing Initiative Partnership Program, Spruce Root has joined a partnership of nine organizations—including community development financial institutions (CDFIs), business assistance organizations, and place-based agencies—to enhance access to healthy food fo...

11/20/2025

With November being National Native American Heritage Month, we are celebrating the Indigenous voices that lead Spruce Root’s work across Southeast Alaska. 

Sg̱aahl Siid Xyáahl Jaad Marina Anderson works from Prince of Wales Island, on the lands where her ancestors are from and where she was raised. Her Lingít clan is Taakw.aaneidi and her adopted Haida clan is Gaw Kiiwaas. As the director of the , the crux of Marina’s work at revolves around bringing people together to share resources, ideas and provide support by creating and nurturing relationships and fostering creativity.

The Sustainable Southeast Partnership is a collective impact network uniting the diverse skills and perspectives of partner organizations and individuals to strengthen cultural, ecological, and economic prosperity across Southeast Alaska. SSP is an integral program of Spruce Root, allowing our organization to participate in deep connection and collaboration across the region.

For Marina, the diversity in sectors and partners within the SSP network drives her enjoyment of this work.
 
“Bringing everything and everyone together to work toward a better future is no different than what we have been doing for tens of thousands of years here,” Marina shares.

Photos by and