FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 19, 2026
Yup’ik advocate, child protection expert, and Master Social Worker joins gubernatorial campaign in a foundational role
ANCHORAGE, AK — The Meda DeWitt for Alaska campaign today announced that Elsie Boudreau (Yup’ik name: Apurin), MSW, has agreed to serve as Campaign Chair. Boudreau is a proud Yup’ik Eskimo from the village of St. Mary’s and one of Alaska’s most respected advocates for the safety and dignity of children.
Her appointment comes at a moment when Alaskans and Americans are paying close, overdue attention to how institutions and those in positions of power treat the most vulnerable among us. Across the country, there is a reckoning underway about the obligations of public life and the trust communities place in their leaders. Meda DeWitt believes that the character of a campaign reflects the character of an administration, and that the people who build this effort must embody the values it stands for.
Elsie Boudreau embodies those values completely.
Boudreau has devoted her career to protecting children from abuse and ensuring that Alaska’s families — particularly Alaska Native families — have access to healing, justice, and support. She has provided therapy and advocacy for families whose children have experienced severe physical and sexual abuse, conducted forensic interviews, and she has also worked with law firms Manly & Stewart and Cooke Roosa Law Group as a Victims Advocate, providing support to approximately 300 victims of clergy child sexual abuse in Alaska, South Dakota, Oregon, and Montana. Her work with Alaska CARES helped establish an Alaska Native Unit within the Child Advocacy Center. She served as a Children’s Justice Act Project Coordinator with the Tribal Law & Policy Institute, where she helped develop educational resources on child sexual abuse grounded in the wisdom of Alaska Native Elders. Her advocacy has been recognized by FRONTLINE (PBS), The Huffington Post, and she is a 2018 recipient of the Bonnie Heavy Runner Advocate Award. She currently serves on the Alaska Children’s Justice Act Task Force.
“Elsie has spent her life standing up for children when systems failed them,” said DeWitt. “Having her as a foundational part of this campaign is an honor, and a statement about what kind of leadership Alaska deserves. Children are to be seen, heard, and believed. That principle belongs at the center of public life, and Elsie lives it every day.” Boudreau says, “I believe all children have the right to grow up in a safe and loving environment.” “I am joining this campaign because I believe Meda DeWitt will govern with that truth at the forefront.”
She continued, “It is my greatest honor to accept the position of campaign chair for the Meda DeWitt for Governor campaign. I believe the Meda will make a difference for all Alaskans. I look forward to working closely with the team and contributing to the campaign’s success. Thank you for this opportunity and for your trust in my leadership.”
Boudreau holds a Bachelor of Social Work from Carroll College and a Master of Social Work from the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is a wife, mother of three, and grandmother of three.
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For media inquiries, contact the Meda DeWitt for Alaska campaign. medadewitt@gmail.com or 907-764-4490
Paid for by Meda DeWitt for Alaska, PO Box 110005, Anchorage, AK 99511 | www.medaforalaska.com