2026 North American Goldman Environmental Prize Winner: Alannah Hurley, UTBB
On April 20, our executive director Alannah Hurley became the 2026 North American Goldman Environmental prize winner.
The award celebrates grassroots environmental leaders who take significant action for our planet.
Below is the text of her acceptance speech, which you can also watch on YouTube here.
The Goldman organization produced a short video about the work of UTBB and Alannah (embeded below), as well as posted a write-up to their website.
“Waqaa wiinga Acaq amouluqa, Irish atra Alannah Hurley Mauraluma Mancuaq, Aparuluqa Joseph Hurley Mauraluuma Alannah Hurley. Attaka Desmond Hurley, Aanama Dupelluq. Saguyagamuiungunga. Aipaqa Iirpak, kassatun atra Terry Mann, Karanaq.
*Translation for traditional Yugtun introduction above (caption if possible): Hi, my name is Acaq, I carry the Yugtun name of my late-great-grandmother and my Irish name is Alannah Hurley, also the name of my late paternal grandmother. I am the granddaughter of the late Mancuaq as well as Joseph and Alannah Hurley. My parents are Desmond and Andra Hurley. We belong to Saguyaq. My husband is Irpak, Terry Mann, of Kokhanok and we have six, beautiful children.*
Quyana (thank you) for recognizing and celebrating the work to protect our sacred Yup’ik, Dena’ina, and Alutiiq ways of life sustained by our homeland: Illrayaq, Bristol Bay. While I am humbled by this award tonight, it is contrary to our Yup’ik values to accept an individual award for a collective effort. So I accept this award on behalf of our Tribal leaders, our communities and people, a long list of mentors and allies, many friends, my supportive family and especially those who raised me - my grandparents, parents, and amazing family.
This award belongs to all of us - those who stood against all odds, those who never wavered in speaking up against greed and destruction, those who dedicated themselves to passing on our timeless, sacred connection to our lands and waters. This award belongs to our Tribal leaders who are here tonight representing so many others back in Bristol Bay: Robert Heyano, Thomas Tilden and Karla Jensen - This award honors the courage, service and sacrifice for our people.
This award belongs to those in our communities who wake up everyday and live our indigenous values, who practice and pass down our ways of life. It belongs to those who have shown up year after year writing letters, testifying at hearings, protests, and raising their kids to value people over profit. To our people whose very lives are examples of the sacred teachings from our ancestors on how to live a good life caring for ALL life on Earth with respect, gratitude and balance. The world is in dire need of these teachings as we struggle with the devastating symptoms of greed and individualism.
This award honors our many elders and leaders who joined our ancestors amidst this fight. You made sure we know who we are, where we come from, and that we must do whatever we can to protect and pass our ways of life to the future. Their legacy forever lives on in this critical work and in the young people preparing to take the torch as ancestral stewards and guardians of our homelands.
In closing, while we’ve made amazing progress, this work is far from over. Pebble is not giving up and neither are we. We look forward to working together toward strong, sustainable Tribal communities in Bristol Bay, please join the United Tribes of Bristol Bay’s mission, we need you!
Quyana to the Goldman Foundation for making time to celebrate and honor this important work around the world, it helps rejuvenate our spirits in challenging times. What a beautiful way to remember we are all in this together and that we can accomplish the impossible when we work together. Quyana.”
Alannah accepting the 2026 Goldman Environmental Prize for North America on behalf of our Tribal leaders, our communities and people, a long list of mentors, allies, friends and family. April 20, 2026.
