LaVerne Demientieff is the daughter of the late Rudy and Alice (Frank) Demientieff
of Holy Cross and Anvik, Alaska, and the granddaughter of Stanley Demientieff and
Edith Bifelt and Joe Frank and Marcia Reed. LaVerne is Deg Xit’an, Athabascan on her
mother’s side and Koyukon Athabascan, Yupik and Russian on her father’s side. Born
in Fairbanks, Alaska, she was raised in the small roadside town of Nenana and in big
city of Anchorage, as well as at her family's fishcamp along the Yukon River. LaVerne
is grateful to have the magical memories of fishcamp as part of her childhood where
she observed the hard work her parents put in on a daily basis to provide for their
family of ten children and teach their children the importance of relationship to
the people, as well as to the land and animals.
LaVerne currently resides in Fairbanks, Alaska, and has one son, aged 23. She describes
herself as being on both an individual and collective wellness journey, and works
daily toward creating healing and wellness in her life through exercise, healthy eating,
practicing mindfulness, and nurturing relationship and connection with others. She
believes that because we are all interconnected in the world that the energy of healing
and wellness in her life ripples out and positively impacts her family, community,
ancestors and future generations.
Since high school LaVerne has wanted to be a helper. She started off as a Natural
Helper at West Anchorage High School where she graduated. She was inspired to pursue
social work following in the steps of her later sister Darlene, who died from cancer
at the age of thirty-eight right after graduating with her Bachelors in Social Work
(BSW). LaVerne graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks with her BSW and
went on to receive her Masters in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis,
George Warren Brown School of Social Work, with a concentration in social and economic
development and with an emphasis in management. She graduated with her PhD in Social
Work from the University of Utah, College of Social Work. The title of her dissertation
was Deg Xit’an Athabascan Conversations on Wellness: A Qualitative Study Exploring
the Radical Possibilities of Relationships. LaVerne is currently working as a Clinical
Associate Professor for the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Bachelor of Social Work
program; she is also a licensed master social worker through the State of Alaska.
She has found an increasing passion and interest in health and wellness research
and practice and enjoys teaching students and sharing her love of learning and people.
She believes these areas of interest will allow her to work on behalf of the people
and communities in Alaska; as well as work towards awareness and understanding of
diversity, wellness and social justice.
