Alaska Wilderness League Announces 2026 Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant Recipient 

Koyukon Dené storyteller and filmmaker Brittany Woods-Orrison will receive $20,000 to document the traditions, knowledge, and relationships connecting Alaska Native communities to the land and wildlife 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Alaska Wilderness League is pleased to announce Brittany Woods-Orrison as the 2026 recipient of the Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant, an annual award established in memory of AWL’s late executive director to support storytellers whose work brings Alaska’s wild lands, waters, wildlife, and communities to life. 

Woods-Orrison, a Koyukon Dené storyteller, filmmaker, and photographer raised on her family’s traditional homelands of Dleł Taneets along the Yukon River, will receive a $20,000 unrestricted grant to support the production of a documentary film exploring the importance of traditional hunting, hide tanning, and the intergenerational sharing of Indigenous knowledge. 

“At its heart, this is a film about a father handing down his knowledge to his daughter, and about our responsibility to the land and the animals that sustain us. I think that’s what makes this project particularly special to me,” said Sam Kolton, Adam Kolton’s son and AWL board member-elect. “So much of what I carry with me from my dad comes from the time we spent together and the things he passed down to me. And I think Brittney’s film captures just how important it is to preserve those stories and traditions for future generations. I know my dad would have loved it.” 

The Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant was established in 2022 to honor the legacy of Adam Kolton, who led Alaska Wilderness League from 2017 to 2021 and dedicated his career to protecting Alaska’s wild lands and waters. A passionate advocate for Alaska’s Indigenous communities, Adam recognized the importance of elevating the voices and stories of the people whose lives and cultures are inseparable from these landscapes. 

Made possible through generous contributions to the Adam Kolton Memorial Fund, the annual grant provides $20,000 in unrestricted funding to support an Alaska-based storytelling project, along with opportunities to collaborate with Alaska Wilderness League to share that work with audiences beyond the state. 

“Adam understood that protecting Alaska’s wild places was ultimately about protecting the people, cultures, and communities that call them home,” said Kristen Miller, executive director of Alaska Wilderness League. “He believed deeply in the power of storytelling to build connections and inspire people to take action. Brittany’s work embodies that spirit. By sharing a story rooted in cultural knowledge, family, and an enduring relationship with the land, she is helping preserve traditions while reminding all of us why these connections matter. We’re honored to support her work and help bring this important story to a wider audience.” 

As Woods-Orrison moves into production, she plans to work with a fluent Gwich’in speaker on narration and collaborate with Alaska Wilderness League on an impact campaign to bring the film to festivals, conferences, and communities. The goal is not only to preserve a family’s story, but to create opportunities for more people to understand, appreciate, and engage with the knowledge and traditions that continue to shape life in Alaska. 

To learn more about the Adam Kolton Alaska Storytelling Grant and its past recipients, visit AlaskaWild.org/storytelling-grant. 

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