Cris Morrison - Council President
Cris Morrison joined the Petersburg Indian Association Tribal Council in September 2017. She has served as Tribal Council President since May 2019. Cris is a lifelong Petersburg resident, spending only two years living off-island while attending college in the state of Washington. She and her husband have raised three sons, all of whom still reside in Petersburg. Cris's first job was at her family's grocery store when she was 14 years old. Her employment history also includes the Petersburg Police Department, Whitney-Fidalgo Seafoods, Petersburg Fisheries Inc, Harvest Moon restaurant, the Legislative Information Office, and the Alaska Court System. Currently, Cris is self-employed; she and her husband have been operating three family businesses in Petersburg for more than 25 years.
Contact: president@piatribal.org
Jeanette Ness
Jeanette Ness is a Raven, member of the clan Taakdeintan, or Sockeye House. Her Tlingit name is Kaash Kaanei.
She has three grandsons, Jonathan, Elliott and Kolson and three granddaughters, Charlee, Astrid and Laylani. They are the joys of her life! She was happily married to Jon Ness for 35 years before his passing in 2012.
She retired in 2013 after working 30 years with Public Health. She worked for almost six years as the ICWA Caseworker for PIA. Although it was a difficult position, she enjoyed the families she worked with. She misses them and wants only the best for their futures.
On a sunny day there is no place better to live than in Petersburg! She loves the community spirit and how we pull together in times of need.
She would like to develop economic services so PIA can be self sustainable and not rely solely on grants. "PIA has proven its viability within the community. We need to focus on addressing the needs of our tribal members with education, housing and improving the lives of our tribe."
Kayla Perry
Kayla Perry has been on the Council for several years. Her great-grandmother is Marie Tagaban Reyes James, and her mother is Mary Reyes or “big grandma”. She is Wooshkeetaan Clan, Eagle Moiety Xeitl Hit (Thunder/Thunderbird House). They are descendants of the Auk people. Her Tlingit name is Kalxeich. Kayla is the loving mother of four children whom she calls her buddies. She enjoys traveling, camping, and sewing with them.
Joe Stewart
Joe Stewart is a long-time Petersburg resident who joined the Council in September 2018. He has been President of ANB/ANS for over five years and a member for over eighteen years. He is very interested in the future of Petersburg Indian Association, the programs it is involved in and the direction it will be going.
Mary Ann Rainey
Mary Ann Rainey is of the clan Eagle/Sharks from the Thunderbird House. Her Tlingit name is Kalk'ech, named after her grandmother. She has been a Council Member for years off and on. She is the liaison between the PIA Members and the Council. She reports what goes on at the PIA Department Director Meetings to the Council. She has 6 children, 18 grand children and 2 great grand children. She loves to work on crafts, especially ones that have to do with her native culture, such as weaving and button blanket regalia.
Heather Conn
Heather Conn is Petersburg grown with an ethnic background of both Aleut and Norwegian. Her family was adopted into the Eagle clan in 1978. She is a mother of three, wife, PIA council member, and the principal of Stedman Elementary School. She currently holds a Masters in Elementary Education, Special Education and Educational Leadership. Her passion is advocating for children and their families in which she serves. She is excited to bring her voice to the Petersburg Indian Association.
Jaclyn Lyons
Jaclyn Lyons was born and raised in Petersburg. A proud descendant Amy Hallingstad, a great woman who fought tirelessly for the rights of Alaska Natives. Jaclyn has been a commercial fisherman since the age of 16, catching dungeness and tanner crab, and longlining for halibut. In her free time, she loves to be with her family, whether it be cutting firewood, subsistence shrimping, or playing board games with her fiance Lansing Eide and spending quality time with their son Sterling. She looks forward to serving her tribe and community.
