Biography

Cathy Tagnak Noland is a writer, playwright and advocate for the narrative sovereignty of Indigenous people. She was born in Anchorage, AK and is Iñupiaq, French, German and English. Cathy holds a BA from The Evergreen State College in Native American Studies; a BFA with honors from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Creative Writing; and an MFA from The University of British Columbia in Creative Writing and Theatre, where she was an Aboriginal Graduate Fellow. In addition to writing, Cathy has worked extensively in Native education and language efforts as a grassroots organizer, film and television producer, a non-profit director, and coordinator of Iñupiaq education in Alaska’s northernmost school district. In her work, Cathy seeks to build relationships and movements grounded in the values, collaboration and decolonization of Alaska Native people. As Aywaa Storyhouse Project Manager, Cathy brings a rich background in aligning art, entertainment and academic institutions with Alaska Native values to the Alaska Venture Fund team.