Igiugig Village Council president shares indigenous value driven energy
One of the most impactful moments of the 2026 T3 Alaska Summer Program, Energy, Cybersecurity, & Storytelling, came when students met with AlexAnna Salmon, President of the Igiugig Village Council. Her story demonstrated that successful infrastructure projects are built not only on technology and engineering, but also on the values, knowledge, and priorities of the communities they serve.
Salmon shared Igiugig’s journey toward developing a salmon-conscious hydropower solution using RivGen technology. Rather than beginning as an energy expert, she began as a community member committed to protecting the resources and traditions that sustain her people.
“When I started working on this project, I wasn’t an energy expert. I cared about the salmon and wanted to help with the sustainability of my community,” Salmon told students. This resonated with students, “I want to be like her,” said Arin Evan, a Mountain Village student.
Her experience highlighted an important lesson for the next generation of Alaska leaders: Indigenous voices and local knowledge are essential in infrastructure planning and energy development. Community members understand the cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of projects in ways that cannot always be measured through technical data alone. Their perspectives help ensure that new technologies strengthen communities while honoring traditional ways of life.
For students from rural and urban Alaska alike, the discussion reinforced that energy solutions are not one-size-fits-all. Every community has unique priorities, resources, and values that should guide decision-making. Educating and involving youth in community projects through programs like T3 Alaska, provide pathways for them to help make decisions about the future of their communities in a resilient and culturally responsive manner.
The lesson extended beyond energy. Whether building power systems, monitoring environmental factors, or prototyping ideas, T3 students see how their voice and cultural knowledge can contribute to solutions that serve their communities.