President Johnsen donates bonus to Troth Yeddha' Legacy Initiative
October 20, 2016
University of Alaska President Jim Johnsen will give $16,300 to support the Troth
Yeddha’ Legacy Initiative at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The initiative seeks
to develop Troth Yeddha’ Park and an indigenous studies center at the site.
The gift, in the name of Jim and Mary Johnsen, was announced Tuesday evening prior
to the annual Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in Fairbanks. It fulfills Johnsen’s
pledge to donate his performance bonus to a university project or program.
“One of my highest priorities as president of the university is to create critical
space for the cultural and scholarly needs of our indigenous cultures,” Johnsen said
in announcing his gift, “and the Troth Yeddha’ Legacy provides for those needs. I
am particularly honored to be a part of this undertaking because it will create a
center singularly focused on Alaska’s first peoples and a physical sense of belonging
for Alaska Native students. I believe Troth Yeddha' will establish a new level of
excellence and academic focus on Alaska Native cultures and indigenous studies at
UAF.”
Troth Yeddha’ comes from two Lower Tanana Athabascan words. “Troth” refers to the
plant known in English as “wild potato,” and “Yeddha’,” which means “its ridge.”
The initiative's goal is to raise $25 million in two phases: $5 million in phase one
to develop the existing Troth Yeddha’ Park adjacent to the UA Museum of the North, and $20 million in phase two to design the
indigenous studies center. To date, 58 donors have given nearly $700,000 to the effort.