Whaling captain, champion for Iñupiat people, Oliver Leavitt dies
Iñupiat leader Oliver Aveogan Leavitt died on Jan. 9 in Utqiaġvik, Alaska surrounded by family. He was 79.
A whaling captain, fierce champion for the rights of the North Slope Iñupiat, devoted public servant and avid Barrow Whalers (basketball team) fan, Leavitt was a massively influential force in the growth of the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation. He was a perpetual advocate for the rights of the people of the North Slope.
A lifelong resident of Utqiaġvik, Leavitt married Annie Hopson Leavitt and together they had three children. He grew up in camps and villages along Alaska’s Arctic coast, leaving to serve in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Leavitt’s return to the North Slope coincided with the Alaska Native land claims fight and the passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and his impact was monumental.
“Oliver’s lifetime of service to his country, his people and most importantly, his family will never be forgotten.” said Rex A. Rock Sr., Iñupiaq, ASRC president and CEO. “We are eternally grateful for his hard work and sacrifice over the last 50 years. On behalf of the North Slope Iñupiat, we thank Oliver’s loved ones for sharing him with us. His passing leaves a void in the hearts of our people and those across the state. We send our heartfelt prayers to Annie, his children and all of his loved ones.”
Others also shared kind words.
“Our friend, Oliver, had a vision for the future that will continue to inspire generations of North Slope Iñupiat,” said Crawford Patkotak, Iñupiaq, ASRC board chairman. “His mentorship to so many of our people over the decades keeps alive his commitment to the North Slope Iñupiat and is the legacy he leaves behind. We thank Oliver for his humble devotion to his people and offer our deepest sympathies and continued prayers of peace and comfort to his family.”
“He was a wonderful human being, father, grandfather, whaler who came from an era where he had to hitch up his dogs to get wood to keep his house warm. He was a leader for his region and Alaska,” said Iġġiaġruk Willie Hensley, Iñupiaq, chairman of First Alaskans Institute and longtime dear friend.
Leavitt often invited institute trustees and staff to his beloved Utqiaġvik community to celebrate, host gatherings, and experience the ways of life in the North Slope. He understood the importance of people making connections to the land and peoples, especially our younger generations. He was awarded the Howard Rock Alaska Native Leader Award at the institute’s most recent Smokehouse Gala in recognition of his quality of character and distinct caliber of leadership, including the many ways he regularly put his community and peoples before himself.
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Quyanaqpak to his family and region for sharing him with us all, said the institute. He was dedicated to his Iñupiaq culture and language, and throughout his lifetime he never swayed from practicing and sharing Alaska Native ways of life. His care, love and advocacy for his community and region will be missed as he truly was a friend and protector.
“We wrap his family and his community in a warm blanket of gratitude and love for his life and leadership,” said La quen náay Liz Medicine Crow, Haida/Lingít, president/CEO of the institute and one of the many younger people Aveogan took time to guide and advise.
Leavitt served in innumerable leadership positions on the North Slope and across Alaska, serving on ASRC’s board, including as board chairman, and in senior management positions since its inception in 1972. That same year, he was elected as the first president of the North Slope Borough Assembly — a position he held for four years, followed by an additional 20 years of service in the Assembly.
Leavitt also served on the boards of the Arctic Slope Native Association and the Alaska Federation of Natives, among many others. He was a founding trustee of the First Alaskans Institute. He served as ASRC’s vice president of Lands and vice president of Government Affairs, carrying the message of North Slope Iñupiat economic self-determination to state legislators in Juneau and policymakers in Washington.
His time in the nation’s capital led to the passage of a number of amendments to ANCSA that improved the law for future generations of Alaska Natives. He also helped enact legislation that authorized development on North Slope lands, including in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, for the long-term economic benefit of the region’s eight communities and the state of Alaska.
Leavitt is survived by his wife, Annie Hopson Leavitt, his two daughters, Mary Lou and Martina (Jamie), daughter-in-law, Doreen, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by son, William Jens Leavitt.
Information was shared from press releases by the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and First Alaskans Institute.
From press releases from the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation and First Alaskans Institute.
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