Tlingit skier Ellen Bradley is an advocate, athlete, scientist and storyteller. Fierce and thoughtful, she defies the narrative that wild Alaska is there only to be conquered by heli operations and other extractive industries. She loves to slide on snow, and wants more Indigenous people to share in her joy.

Born and raised in the Seattle area, Bradley started skiing Stevens Pass at age 4. For her, skiing has always been a source of connection to both the land and her ancestors, especially because she grew up away from her traditional homelands in Southeast Alaska. 

Today, she’s working with tribal organizations and the greater ski community to make the sport more accessible for native kids. That resulted in a partnership between Ikon Pass and Natives Outdoors for the 2023-24 season, in which 30 scholarships have been awarded to Indigenous people who receive passes, rentals and lessons.

In this episode, Bradley speaks about how her background in science and passion for skiing complement each other. She reflects on the challenges of growing up away from her Alaska homeland and why we should let Indigenous peoples tell their own stories.

This episode is brought to you by Arva

Backcountry Magazine

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Host: Adam Howard

Producer + Engineer: Mike Horn