Board and Staff

APICDA & AJV Board Members

APICDA & AJV boards are primarily comprised of local Fishermen’s Association members; one representative per community in addition to a fishing industry,  financial industry and legal community representative.

Hugh Pelkey – Akutan

Hugh Pelkey approaches life with unwavering enthusiasm and is a traditional hunter-gatherer,
an Indigenous rights activist, and an accomplished Unangan artisan craftsman, specializing in men’s weapons and tools. He has wholeheartedly dedicated himself to his art to support his culture and pass the knowledge on to the next generation, as his mentors, William “Bill” Tcheripanoff, Andrew Gronholdt, and Emil Berikoff, Sr., did for him. His visors, spears, and other crafts are highly sought after by art buyers around the world and command high prices. In part, this is because of Hugh’s devotion to traditional methods and styles. From books, he learned where to find ochre, which he makes into water-based paints with hues ranging from yellow to dark maroon. Hugh also uses local obsidian, from a cliff that is renowned throughout the Aleutian Islands for the quality of its stone, and local chert, a softer, slate-like material that can be carved and then hardened in a fire.

In addition to Hugh’s devotion to Unangan art, he is deeply engaged in community life. Hugh is the President of Akutan’s Fishermen’s Association (AFA) and serves as AFA’s APICDA board representative, furthermore, he serves on the Akutan Village Corporation board and is the Community Liaison for the Board of Fish, the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council, and the International Pacific Halibut Commission.

In his youth, Hugh was a crabber and a longshoreman, in addition to operating a commercial diving business for decades. Today, Hugh owns and operates a commercial fishing business and works as a pilot boat operator in his home community of Akutan.

Nikki Hoblet – False Pass

Nikki Hoblet, a lifelong resident of False Pass, comes from a family that relies on commercial fishing. Nikki serves as the False Pass Fishermen’s Association’s representative on the APICDA board, in addition to many other commitments, most notably serving as the Mayor. Mayor Hoblet has dual roles with the City of False Pass, she is the chief executive and the administrator, responsible for all city projects, departments, and grants.

Nikki is used to meeting challenges and leading a life filled with activity. This busy mother of five served as the community health aide for 18 years, following in her Grandmother Anna Hoblet’s footsteps, the first health aide in False Pass. Nikki has also served her community by participating on the Aleutians East Borough School Board, False Pass Tribal Council, lsanotski Corporation Board, and the Aleutians East Borough Assembly.

Angela Johnson – Nelson Lagoon

Angela Johnson of Nelson Lagoon brings a wealth of experience to the APICDA board in addition to a deep commitment to her community, the environment, and the fishing industry.

Angela’s journey in the fishing industry began as a little girl on the family’s boat and progressed to receiving her father’s fishing permit in 2017. She captain’s her own boat now, continuing the legacy of her father, the late Ray Johnson, who was a commercial fisherman.

In addition to her role with APICDA, Angela serves on the Aleut Marine Mammal Commission and as the Tribal President of the Nelson Lagoon Tribal Council. Her career with the Tribe began in 2013, when she was an IGAP (EPA’s Indian Environmental General Assistance Program) intern. 

Tanya Lestenkof – Nikolski

Tanya Lestenkof has lived up and down the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Chain, from Sand Point to Nikolski, for most of her life. She graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2001 with BA’s in both English and History. She is currently taking courses part-time to pursue a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, with an emphasis on accounting.

Tanya returned home to Nikolski in June of 2002, became Tribal Administrator for the Native Village of Nikolski in May of 2003, and has spent close to eighteen years in that position. She has served on various boards, including three terms with Aleutian Housing Authority. She has worked with several entities, such as APIA, AHA, and APICDA, to pursue funding for beneficial projects within Nikolski.

When Tanya’s not trapped in front of a computer for work, she spends a lot of her time with her husband, children, and dogs doing various subsistence hunting and fishing activities, enjoying the outdoors, and reading.

Mark Merculief – St. George
Mark Merculief is the Mayor of St. George, an active member of the St. George Fishermen’s Association, an Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA) board member, and a lifelong resident of St. George. He started commercial fishing on his father’s boat at the age of 13.

Nicolai Tutiakoff – Unalaska

Nick Tutiakoff traveled extensively throughout the state when he was a student athlete with the Unalaska Raiders. Nick took to heart the traditional lessons sports teach youth in terms of teamwork, dedication, working hard, and sportsmanship. He serves on the APICDA board, is active with the Unalaska Native Fishermen’s Association (UNFA), is a Qawalangin Tribal Council Member, coaches local sports, operates his Fish on Charters business, and works for the Unalaska Public Works Department maintaining the city’s streets.

Nick’s role with APICDA has provided another opportunity to serve his community and region. Nick strongly believes that his generation needs to follow in their elders’ footsteps and embrace leadership roles and service.