Our Story
Family Run Business
We are Yup'ik and Inupiaq from Southwest Alaska, a family run business based in Anchorage focusing to help serve Alaska Native communities specializing in grant writing, grant management, project development, and technical assistance.
Our mission
Anaruk's Consulting Services seeks to collaborate with Alaska Native communities in the YK-Delta to assist in promoting community health and well being.
Mark Anaruk
Owner of Anaruk's Consulting Services
Mark grew up in Portland, Oregon, but his Alaska Native heritage in Alaska brought him to the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta. With his Bachelors in Secondary Education from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Masters of Education in school counseling and guidance from University of Alaska Anchorage, he spent 10 years as a school teacher in rural Alaska, he sensed a disconnect in the methods of educating and treating Alaska Native students and families. He began to see how the impacts of colonization and historical trauma have led to a dependence on institutions and outside resources. Overtime he saw that if we are going to positively impact our communities, the solutions would have to come within each community, using the strengths of their local culture.
Grace Anaruk
Program Specialist
Grace works alongside her husband and daughters with Anaruk’s Consulting Services. She is Alaska Native from Akiachak, a village on the banks of the Kuskokwim River in Southwest Alaska and Yup’ik is her first language. She is mother of five and feels blessed to have been able to stay at home to raise them. She was a caretaker, together with her family, siblings, and nieces, of their mother/grandmother until her passing. Grace learned firsthand the Yupiaq way of life from her late parents, older siblings, aunts, uncles, and elders from the community and now practices and promotes cultural activities, and healthy living skills to her children, grandchildren, and anyone willing to learn. Grace was a CNA and holds an AAS in Human Services and lives in Anchorage with her family.
Chrissy Jewell
Program Support
Chrissy is Mark and Grace’s eldest daughter. She grew up between Akiak, Akiachak, Bethel, and Anchorage. She was blessed to spend summers growing up at fish camp on the Kuskokwim River, around family and immersed in Yup’ik culture. Chrissy worked eight years at Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage and Wasilla, but was drawn to work with her community in Rural Alaska. She got a job with Access Alaska and was able to serve Southwest Alaska during her two years there. Chrissy found her niche when she came on board with her father at Anaruk’s Consulting Services in the summer of 2021. With over 10 years of grant experience; she is passionate about helping rural communities with grant requirements so the people working directly within the communities can focus on their programs and participants. Chrissy now lives in Palmer with her wonderful husband, Keith, three bonus children, and two dogs. Keith and Chrissy just welcomed their baby boy, Mark Daniel Ayak'aq, to the world. She is grateful to be serving communities in this way and is so excited to see the programs grow: practicing and promoting cultural activities and wellness in Rural Alaska!