Edward Saggan Itta (July 5, 1945 – November 6, 2016) was an American Iñupiat politician, activist and whaling captain. Itta served as the Mayor of North Slope Borough, Alaska, the northernmost borough in the United States, for two consecutive terms from 2005 until 2011.[3]
Edward Saggan Itta was born in Utqiagvik (formerly named Barrow) in July 1945 to Noah and Mollie Itta.[3] He grew up in a family living a traditional subsistence life of fishing and hunting for seals, walrus and whales, at camps on the tundra and sea ice.
He attended Mount Edgecumbe High School a boarding school in faraway Sitka and after graduating in 1964 trained as an electronics technician at a Cleveland school and in the U.S. Navy.[3]
In the 1980s, he was director of the North Slope Borough, Alaska's Public Works department, spearheading modernization of North Slope villages water and sewer services and other amenities.[3]
From 2005 until 2011 he was Mayor of North Slope Borough, for two consecutive terms. In November 2008, he was re-elected to a second term with more than 53% of the vote.[4] He crossed political lines to meet with all sides, but took on organizations he saw as overly supportive of industry like the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation.[3]
On November 27, 2012, President Barack Obama appointed Itta to the seven-member United States Arctic Research Commission, a federal agency which functions as the government's Arctic policy and research commission.[1][5] He served on the Commission until the expiration of his term on July 29, 2015.[5]
Itta served as the President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Alaska, President of the Barrow Whaling Captains Association, vice chairman of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission, and a representative for Alaska on the Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee.[3]
Personal life and deathEdit
He was married to Elsie Hopson Itta, with whom he had two children. He died after battling cancer.[3] As of 2023 he is survived by his older sister Brenda Itta (born November 13, 1943), an Iñupiaq activist and former legislator in the Alaska House of Representatives
ReferencesEdit
^ abWoodham, Scott (2012-11-27). "Edward Itta chosen for US Arctic Research Commission". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
^DeMarban, Alex (2011-11-15). "Charlotte Brower sworn in as North Slope mayor despite election challenge". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
^ abcdefghDeMarban, Alex (2016-11-06). "Edward Itta dies: Inupiaq whaling captain and former North Slope mayor". Alaska Dispatch News. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
^White, Rindi (2011-11-15). "Alaska votes: Offshore drilling opponent wins in North Slope". McClatchy DC. Retrieved 2016-12-03.
edward, itta, edward, saggan, itta, july, 1945, november, 2016, american, iñupiat, politician, activist, whaling, captain, itta, served, mayor, north, slope, borough, alaska, northernmost, borough, united, states, consecutive, terms, from, 2005, until, 2011, m. Edward Saggan Itta July 5 1945 November 6 2016 was an American Inupiat politician activist and whaling captain Itta served as the Mayor of North Slope Borough Alaska the northernmost borough in the United States for two consecutive terms from 2005 until 2011 3 Edward IttaMember of the United States Arctic Research CommissionIn office 2012 July 29 2015Preceded byHelvi Sandvik 1 Mayor of North Slope Borough AlaskaIn office 2005 November 15 2011 2 Preceded byGeorge Ahmaogak Sr Succeeded byCharlotte BrowerPersonal detailsBornEdward Saggan Itta 1945 07 05 July 5 1945Utqiagvik AlaskaDiedNovember 6 2016 2016 11 06 aged 71 Utqiagvik AlaskaSpouseElsie Hopson IttaRelativesBrenda Itta sister ResidenceUtqiagvik Alaska Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Career 3 Personal life and death 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and education EditEdward Saggan Itta was born in Utqiagvik formerly named Barrow in July 1945 to Noah and Mollie Itta 3 He grew up in a family living a traditional subsistence life of fishing and hunting for seals walrus and whales at camps on the tundra and sea ice He attended Mount Edgecumbe High School a boarding school in faraway Sitka and after graduating in 1964 trained as an electronics technician at a Cleveland school and in the U S Navy 3 Career EditItta s first job was in Prudhoe Bay as an oil field roustabout 3 In the 1980s he was director of the North Slope Borough Alaska s Public Works department spearheading modernization of North Slope villages water and sewer services and other amenities 3 From 2005 until 2011 he was Mayor of North Slope Borough for two consecutive terms In November 2008 he was re elected to a second term with more than 53 of the vote 4 He crossed political lines to meet with all sides but took on organizations he saw as overly supportive of industry like the Arctic Slope Regional Corporation 3 On November 27 2012 President Barack Obama appointed Itta to the seven member United States Arctic Research Commission a federal agency which functions as the government s Arctic policy and research commission 1 5 He served on the Commission until the expiration of his term on July 29 2015 5 Itta served as the President of the Inuit Circumpolar Council of Alaska President of the Barrow Whaling Captains Association vice chairman of the Alaska Eskimo Whaling Commission and a representative for Alaska on the Outer Continental Shelf Policy Committee 3 Personal life and death EditHe was married to Elsie Hopson Itta with whom he had two children He died after battling cancer 3 As of 2023 he is survived by his older sister Brenda Itta born November 13 1943 an Inupiaq activist and former legislator in the Alaska House of RepresentativesReferences Edit a b Woodham Scott 2012 11 27 Edward Itta chosen for US Arctic Research Commission Alaska Dispatch News Retrieved 2016 12 03 DeMarban Alex 2011 11 15 Charlotte Brower sworn in as North Slope mayor despite election challenge Alaska Dispatch News Retrieved 2016 12 03 a b c d e f g h DeMarban Alex 2016 11 06 Edward Itta dies Inupiaq whaling captain and former North Slope mayor Alaska Dispatch News Retrieved 2016 12 03 White Rindi 2011 11 15 Alaska votes Offshore drilling opponent wins in North Slope McClatchy DC Retrieved 2016 12 03 a b Hon Edward Saggan Itta US Arctic Research Commission United States Arctic Research Commission Retrieved 2016 12 03 External links Edit nbsp Media related to Edward Itta at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edward Itta amp oldid 1138350684, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
