Who We Are

Strengthening identity, opportunity, and well-being across the Calista Region.

Yuuyaramun
Yuum Ayuqucia

Our Mission

Calista’m avatiini uitalriit kevgiullrat piciryaramteggun, cumigutii eliiqurallrat, Yuuyaram elitnaurutiikun elluarlluni ciunerkaatnun.

To serve the people of the Calista region by preserving culture, empowering education, and facilitating Yuuyaraq, our traditional Way of Being, to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future.

Yuuyaramun Ciunerkaq

Our Vision

Calista Education and Culture-aam tangruarutii ciunerkamtenun Yuuyaram pinia aturluku, elluarluteng yuuluteng, picirkiuterluteng, piciyaramteggun atauciurluteng.

Calista Education and Culture envisions future generations rooted in the strength of Yuuyaraq, thriving in a world that celebrated sustainability, purpose, and cultural unity.

Smiling woman with earrings and a purple lanyard taking a selfie with a girl wearing glasses at an indoor event with audience members seated in the background.

Ciunerkiungnaqellerkam piiyutii

CEC Strategic Priorities

A black and white illustration of a stylized alarm clock.

Qelkurluku Piciryaraput

Igatgun gekurluki piciryaraput.

Preserving Culture

Documenting and sharing our Way of Being

Black and white image of a smiling clown face with wild hair, facing forward.

Cumigulluku Elitnaullerkaat

Ciumarluki yuut elitnaulerkaatnun.

Educational Empowerment

Empowering our People through education and promoting self-determination.

Line drawing of a graduation cap with a tassel.

Yuuyaramek Alerqualuki

Igatgun qelkurluki piciryaraput.

Yuuyaraq Guidance

Teaching our People the Way of Being.

Meet the Team

Close-up of elderly hands weaving straw, wearing a dark blue jacket with floral embroidered cuffs.

  • Johnnie Evan | Chairman

    Earl Samuelson, Sr. | Vice Chairman

    Tisha Kuhns | Secretary

    Francis Thompson | Treasurer

    Andrew Guy | Director

    Ruth Jimmie | Director

    Nick Andrew, Sr. | Director 

  • Francis Thompson | Chairman

    Ruth Jimmie | Vice Chairman

    George Morgan | Member

    Annie Cleveland | Member

    Marie Meade | Member

People working together to harvest or tie stalks of crops, possibly for traditional or cultural purposes, in a grassy outdoor setting.

IN MEMORIAM

Miisaq Mark John

Cultural Advisor

Ciuliamta eriinii nep'airutngermi, qaruyutii piurturciquq.

“Though our Elder’s voice is silent, their guidance will continue on.”

CEC honors the life and legacy of Mark John, a revered Elder and teacher whose guidance shaped the work we do every day at CEC. During his tenure as our Cultural Advisor he was an integral thread in the very fabric of this organization. We honor Miisaq’s legacy by continuing to commit ourselves to living and practicing Yuuyaraq.

Three young girls lying on grass in a field, smiling and posing for the camera.

OUR HISTORY

Honoring Our Past, Empowering Our Future

For more than four decades, Calista Education & Culture (CEC) has built on the vision of our Elders and leaders — uniting education, culture, and identity to strengthen the people of the Calista Region. From the first scholarships to modern cultural education initiatives, each milestone reflects a shared purpose:
to live Yuuyaraq.

Explore Our Story

The Symbolism of Our Logo

Each element of the CEC logo carries meaning that reflects the unity of people, land, and language:

A technical drawing of a mechanical component with detailed labels and measurements.

The Calista Education & Culture logo annotated to show the cultural meaning of its symbols.

QUYANA

Together we sustain education, culture, and connection across the Calista Region.