About Us
Our
Mission
They say man evolved from ape, but we, as Indigenous peoples of the Bering Sea, are the people of seals, whales, and marine life. We have lived as islanders and on the coasts for tens of thousands of years, and the sea is as much a part of us as our flesh and blood.
What we have learned over millennia is everything we need from nourishment to clothing, shoes, tools, ornamentation, and other materials that make life easier, the land and sea provide for us as long as we take care of them.
However, in this modern day and age, we are drifting farther from nature, and it is the ecosystems that built us up that we are letting down. Our languages and cultures are becoming foreign concepts to many of our youth.
Tukuuludaa’s mission, as a Bering Sea-based tannery, design studio, and educational center, is to try to reverse these developments. We aim to utilize our craft to create a sustainable economic future for coastal Western Alaska, grounded in the generations of Indigenous bio-cultural knowledge that have enabled us to thrive here and foster our communities. It is with these values in mind — showcasing cultural pride as we care for our environment — that we (Garrett Iĝayux̂ Pletnikoff and Hannah Atsaq Zimmerman) used to found Tukuuludaa and weave into every item we create.
We believe that companies like Tukuuludaa, which build sustainable industries in our region, are essential for human populations to thrive on the islands and coasts of the Bering Sea for the long-term future.
Tukuuludaa is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered to the state of Alaska, USA.
Meet the Team
OUR SPONSORS
We are eternally grateful to our generous sponsors whose support and commitment make our work possible. Their contribution plays a crucial role in our continued success and enables us to make a significant impact. Join us in celebrating these partnerships that help bring our vision to life.
