Rising Leader: Emily Brockman
This is Part 1 of a 7 part series, introducing each of the 2022 Summit Scholarship Recipients. In this series we will share with you a bit about the background and stories of each of our Summit Scholarship recipients, in the same chronological order as the scholarship trips that they are embarking on.
Meet Emily, an impressive young woman from Alaska. Emily’s relationship with the outdoors is unique: not many of us grow up with grizzly bear and wild salmon as part of our day-to-day reality. We are excited to welcome her as the recipient of the 2022 Rising Leader Paria Scholarship, which was made possible by a generous anonymous donor. At the time of writing, Emily is about to travel to Kanab, Utah to join AWExpeditions for a week long all-women’s Paria Canyon Backpack.
In 3-4 sentences, tell us who you are.
My name is Emily Marveluviiluq Brockman (she/hers). I am Yup'ik from the Southwestern region in Alaska, and currently work and live in Anchorage on Dena'ina Land. I am the Program Manager on the Youth Team at the Alaska Humanities Forum, a non-profit that focuses on storytelling, community building, and cross-cultural understanding. I enjoy caffeinating, Costco trips, aggressive games of Scrabble, and moving my body!
Which Summit Scholarship did you receive?
The Rising Leader Paria Summit Scholarship.
What did you do right after finding out that you received the scholarship?
I was helping my partner run a powerlifting out of town. I got the notification while he was announcing awards and told him as soon as he was finished. It was like I had won the whole meet! We went and celebrated with burgers and beers.
What excites you most about that particular Summit Scholarship?
What excites me most is I've never been to this part of the country! Utah and the Paria Canyon in particular have such rich beauty that is starkly contrasted to the Alaskan landscape. Trekking a sun drenched trail with other awesome women will be a balm to my soul after a cold, dark winter.
What do you think is going to be the most challenging aspect of your Summit Scholarship adventure?
I think it's hard to trust in my ability, my body, and to feel like I deserve to take up space. I've run half marathons and grew up trail running, camping and hiking in Alaska, but still struggle with feeling confident outdoors unless I'm alone.
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“Indigenous to the South Western region of Alaska in Bristol Bay, my earliest memories of endurance stem from the hours my family spent subsistence berry picking across vast tundra, splitting and processing hundreds of wild salmon, and gathering local flora. Because my hometown was a community of less than two thousand people and existed outside of the road system (the only access was through air or sea), "backcountry" and "home" feel synonymous. I grew up with the mindset that whether it's running into a grizzly bear, navigating a twist in the weather, or responding to a physical injury, anything can happen. Whether it's stepping into your backyard or venturing further outdoors, you have to plan accordingly and respect your environment.
Due to economic barriers to entry, one of the underlying tensions between communities in Alaska is that outdoor recreation is reserved for transplants and tourists. While subsistence practices are sacred and appreciated among Indigenous populations, it is hard work that is often borne from economic necessity. Simply enjoying the vast beauty of this state is reserved for those who can afford it. As a youth and now as an adult, my personal experience has proved this to be true. As an Indigenous Educator in the non-profit world, I want to use the technical and soft skills gained from this experience with the hope to replicate it for Alaskan Native youth in outdoor experiential programs. In addition, I believe being able to experience this opportunity beside other women who have similarities and differences in perspectives would allow to me begin to dismantle the ever present feelings of imposter syndrome when engaging in outdoor activities and expand my skill and outdoor leadership beyond the confines of my current heart and home.”
What’s the best spot for us to keep up with your adventures?
Instagram! I stepped back from social media when the Pandemic started, but update Instagram the most. You can find me at @e.a.brockman.
