Keynote speakers — 2026 WAISC
We are excited that our keynote speakers will be Lynn Marie Church, CEO of Nalaquq in Quinhagak, and consulting archeologist Richard Knecht, Ph.D. Lynn and Rick will be speaking about the Nunalleq archaeological dig site and museum in Quinhagak, the cultural importance of the findings, the collaborative nature of the project, and the impacts of ex-Typhoon Halong.
Lynn Marie (Kic’i) Church
For more than three decades, Lynn has been living, working and subsisting in rural Alaska, with deep ties to the community of Quinhagak. Fluent in Central Alaskan Yup’ik, Lynn is well-versed in the cultural, economic and social dynamics that shape collaborative research in the region.
Lynn has been supporting the Nunalleq archaeological dig since 2012. She is committed to ensuring that researchers and locals collaborate closely to find practical solutions that meet community needs. By blending traditional practices with modern approaches, Lynn helps create sustainable, culturally relevant solutions for capacity building, cultural research management and community development.
Lynn is currently the CEO of Nalaquq, LLC, a Quinhagak-based organization that supports Nunalleq’s efforts to excavate, preserve and share material culture for future generations.
Richard Knecht
Rick is an archaeologist and has worked in Alaska for more than 40 years. He was the founding director for the Alutiiq Museum and Archaeological Repository in Kodiak, and the Museum of the Aleutians in Unalaska. Rick has co-directed the Nunalleq Archaeological Project in Quinhagak since 2009 in partnership with Qanirtuuq, Inc., and helped establish the Nunalleq Museum.
Rick is currently a Northern Research Fellow at the Anchorage Museum.
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