Nikki Corbett

Born: Unknown

Country of Birth: USA

Nationality: USA

Ethnicity: Native American-Yup'ik Tribe

University of Alaska anchorage AAS Registered Nursing 2018, BS Nursing 2020

"“The younger generations, like my generation, in some of those areas, they don’t know the language because their parents were punished for speaking Yup’ik,” Corbett says. “And so I think that they were afraid to teach their children because they didn’t want their children to be punished for speaking our language.” (wskg.org); “The letters of the Yup’ik language, they relate to something in our culture, like you won’t see a coloring book that has fry bread in it,” Corbett says. “And so it’s images from a part of who we are as Alaska Natives.” (wskg.org); “I realized that taking orders was stressful and just kind of took the fun out of sewing for me,” she said. “And so instead of taking orders I just started doing what I wanted to do, ’cause sewing is kind of like therapeutic for me. … And if folks purchase them, great, if not, they just sit in my sewing room and I’m not out there pushing my products.” (kdll.org); (adn.com); “As Yup’ik people, we’re not very boastful. We’re taught to be modest and humble. I was raised in that sort of sense. Yup’ik elders have always said, ‘Don't praise yourself.’” (tribalbusinessnes.com); "My perseverance to continue with my business helped me to keep pushing forward. Getting out of my comfort zone and putting myself out there was important for me and my business to expand and travel to places I have never been before. I have really been lucky to have a supportive husband and family who allow me to travel and teach classes around the state. It’s hard running a business, and hard trying to run a successful business. I wear all the hats in my business, and sometimes I have difficulties taking the hats off to spend time with my family. I had to separate my business from my home life to find a balance that was healthy for everyone. But I think the force behind all of my successes was just my capabilities to keep going and to never give up on myself. I am fully confident in myself and that took some time to find and discover but I am thankful that I did." (calistacorp.com); "

— Nikki Corbett

Field of Study: Nurse; Seamstress; Author; Entrepreneur

Institution/Corporation: Sew Yup'ik; University of Alaska Anchorage

Degrees & Memberships: Member: National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN 2019)

Awards: 2020 Alaska Federation of Natives President's Award for Small Businesses; 2020 Association of Villages Council Presidents (AVCP) Smal Business Award

Achievements: wrote an alphabet coloring book to teach Yup'ik language to children in Alaska that was illustrated by Katie O'Connor; the 2 are working on a similar book for the Inupiaq language; with O'Connor started a business titled Ciuneq, meaning “path to the future” in Yup’ik;