Cora Demit

Cora Demit is Upper Tanana Athabascan from Northway, Alaska. Her parents are Andrew and Sarah Jimmie. Her father was originally from the Nabesna area and her mother was born and raised in Tetlin, Alaska. Cora's grandparents on her mother's side are Bill and Eliza Northway from Northway. Eliza was born and raised in Tetlin. Her great-grandparents from Tetlin are Big John and Jessie John. Cora is married to Glenn Demit whose parents are Laura and Joe Demit from Batzulnetas. Cora grew up in Tetlin and Northway, and with her four siblings was mostly raised by her mother and grandmother. The family lived a subsistence lifestyle and spent the summer at fish camp at Charlieskin. Cora attended school in Northway, Wrangell Insitute in Wrangell, Alaska, and graduated from Mount Edgecumbe high school in Sitka, Alaska. Cora has worked as an alcohol counselor, educator, and currently is a cultural specialist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge near Tok, Alaska. Having grown up with her Native traditions and continuing to be a speaker of her Upper Tanana language, it is very important to Cora that this cultural knowledge continues to be passed on and shared.