Ilarion (Kuuyux) Merculieff
Unangax̂ Elder | President & Founder, Global Center for Indigenous Leadership & Lifeways | Co-Founder & Visionary of Wisdom Weavers of the World
Ilarion (Kuuyux) Merculieff is a respected Unangax̂ elder and messenger who brings ancient wisdom to modern times. Drawing on his Pribilof Islands upbringing, he contrasts the powerful lessons learned from wildlife and his mentor with the painful history of U.S. control and forced labor in the seal harvest. Kuuyux advocates for the resilience of Unangan culture and the urgent need to return to heart-centered living, emphasizing reverence for nature and the restoration of women's traditional role as healers.
Kuuyux has dedicated over forty years to leadership and service for his people and Indigenous communities internationally. He achieved a historic milestone as the first Alaska Native commissioner of the Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development, a state cabinet post.
A renowned advocate, Kuuyux co-founded several pivotal organizations, including the Indigenous Peoples’ Council for Marine Mammals, the Alaska Oceans Network, the Alaska Forum on the Environment, and the International Bering Sea Forum. He is the President of the Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways (GCILL) and an advisor to the World Wilderness Congress. His global influence has also included chairing the Indigenous knowledge sessions for the 2009 Global Summit of Indigenous Peoples on Climate Change.
Kuuyux has been honored with numerous accolades, such as the Buffet Finalist Award for Indigenous Leadership. His central mission is sharing traditional Elder wisdom to tackle modern challenges, specifically by advocating for the restoration of women to their traditional roles as original healers and addressing the imbalance of the masculine.
“Traditionally the heart used to tell the mind what to do. Now the mind tells the heart what to do... In today’s world, most people are looking on the outside of themselves for answers to the greatest problems we face today.”
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