Today we’d like to introduce you to Stacey Simmons .

Hi Stacey , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I grew up in Old Harbor, a rural commercial fishing village on Kodiak Island. Both my parents are indigenous from our region. We are called Sugpiaq or Alutiiq.

My father was a commercial fisherman and traditional artist, and my mother was a teacher and bear-viewing guide. I have five sisters and a brother.

My village was small, and our high school had just over 20 students. My last two years of high school, I moved to the southeast part of the state to attend Mt. Edgecumbe, a boarding school originally established by the Bureau of Indian Affairs to provide higher education to rural Alaska Native students.

After graduation, I joined an international leadership organization named Up with People, which performed Broadway-style musicals. I spent two years touring the U.S., Canada, Europe, Mexico, and Japan. I loved Up With People. We stayed with host families and did community service work in each town we visited. Seeing the world in this way after coming from such a remote community was really eye-opening, and I remain grateful for this experience.

During my second tour, I met my husband, Brock, and we’ve been married for 22 years. After our travels, we returned to Kodiak to start and raise our family. This was very important to me; I had always wanted my children to be raised around our traditional land, culture, and people. I began working for my regional Alaska Native Corporation, Koniag, which serves the Alutiiq people of the Kodiak Archipelago.

At Koniag, I manage both the Shareholder benefits department, and an eco-tourism bear-viewing lodge called the Kodiak Brown Bear Center and Lodge (KBBC) on Karluk Lake. Outside work, I love being outdoors—fishing, hiking, hunting, camping, and jet skiing when the weather permits. My work blends my passion for serving my people with my love of Kodiak’s natural beauty and wildlife. I have the best job in the world!

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Challenges are inevitable. 2019 was my first year managing the lodge. That summer had record-high temperatures. The rivers dried up, the fish disappeared, and most importantly, the bears hovered in the shade, making them nearly impossible to spot. While we couldn’t control the weather, we focused on maintaining the guest experience without compromising the lodge’s integrity.

The tourism industry is constantly changing. We understand that to stay relevant, we must provide new and different opportunities. This and seeing a growing number of health-conscious clients led us to build a wellness center for next season. Guests can enjoy a yoga class or work out in a space built on a bluff with 180° views of Karluk Lake. It will also have a massage room. Our beautiful sauna adds to the wellness experience for our guests.

As many other lodges in remote locations can attest, staffing is always an issue. To help with this, we created an apprenticeship program for the lodge through the Shareholder Services Department. This program provides employment and training opportunities to introduce our people to the tourism industry. We sponsor training and certifications for apprentices while they get on-the-job training.

Logistically, our location provides a host of expensive challenges. For reference, we built the lodge on a small island on a lake called Camp Island. So, we are located on an Island (Kodiak) on a lake (Karluk Lake) on an island (Camp Island)—fun to say but hard to explain. We’re several hundred miles from the road system in the city of Kodiak. Everything at our lodge is brought in by plane or slung in by a helicopter. This includes our 30-foot catamaran which was delivered in three pieces by helicopter and welded together on the island. To fuel our facility, we have to fly in fuel as well. As you can imagine, these costs add up fast. To mitigate this, we are investing in more green energy. We hope by next season, we will have a new automated system that includes new solar panels on all our buildings. This will complement our existing wind turbines and our green energy operation.

Managing a remote lodge comes with ongoing challenges—whether it’s weather, staffing, or unexpected surprises. One of the best lessons I’ve learned is to embrace the unexpected. When faced with a challenge, we try to find the opportunity to do better or become better. It’s a chance to learn, improve, and adapt. Change is growth. It isn’t always easy, but I have always found it worth it.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Our lodge is on private Koniag-owned land, with the highest concentration of bears on Kodiak Island. We offer a unique and authentic wildlife experience, specializing in bear viewing. Surrounded by pristine wilderness, it offers guests unparalleled access to Kodiak’s famous brown bears. By focusing on small groups with no more than eight guests, we create an intimate experience with nature. Unlike other bear-viewing experiences, you’re not distracted by swarms of other visitors.

Our guests enjoy luxurious accommodations and gourmet meals in one of the most beautiful places in the world. In addition to bear viewing, our lodge offers a fly-fishing program, specializing in steelhead on the Karluk River each October. It includes a float along the Karluk River, where the groups stop and stay in cabins along the river.

In August, Koniag sponsors archeological digs by the Alutiiq Museum. Karluk Lake is a significant cultural location for our people because its large salmon runs have meant that it has hosted settlements for thousands of years. Salmon, a staple of our diet, holds immense cultural significance for our people. Our guests have the unique opportunity to visit the dig sites, engage with the archeologists, and gain a deeper understanding of the land they are exploring. The blend of wildlife viewing and cultural tourism has been a resounding success. We take great pride in being Alaska Native-owned and operated, and all our efforts are geared toward nurturing a sustainable future for both our people and the land. Our unwavering dedication to responsible ecotourism and cultural preservation truly sets us apart. As part of an Alaska Native Corporation, we are deeply committed to preserving our people’s heritage.

At Koniag, we say, “The better we do, the more good we can do.” Revenue generated from KBBC supports programs and benefits for our Alutiiq Shareholders that range from cultural preservation efforts such as language revitalization to providing subsistence fish to our elders and sending preschoolers to ballet school with our youth scholarships. At the lodge, we adhere to our Alutiiq cultural belief that we belong to our land rather than the reverse and facilitating our guests’ connection with wildlife and our people’s rich history and traditions is an important part of preserving that legacy.

Lastly, I would say that when you step off the float plane after arriving at our lodge, you may be overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the land surrounding you. I cannot explain it, which is probably a good thing. I would welcome anyone to come to experience it for themselves.

What matters most to you?
When reflecting on my travels, I realize the importance of raising my family in Kodiak. This decision made it possible for my children to maintain a strong connection to our Sugpiaq/Alutiiq heritage. They have had the opportunity to participate in cultural programs where they immerse themselves in traditional dance, language, and culture. It is essential for them to understand and embrace their rights and privileges as Alaska Native people, particularly concerning subsistence hunting and fishing. Ultimately, my goal is for them to “walk in two worlds,” by maintaining a balance between our traditional way of life and the influences of the Western world.

I am deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve and work for my people. It is a tremendous privilege that I hold with great respect and responsibility. These roles not only allow me to contribute and give back to my community but also provide me with the important task of preserving and protecting our rich heritage for the benefit of future generations. It is a duty that I treasure wholeheartedly.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kodiakbearcenter.com
• Instagram: kodiakbearcenterak
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KodiakBrownBearCenter

Image Credits
Jake Lange, Tamara Swensen, Fallon Parker, CJ Christiansen, Kelli Hendricks, Diane Murphey