About the Editor

Kimberly Metcalfe was born in Juneau in 1949 to Vernon M. Metcalfe and Patricia McAlister Metcalfe. She is the second oldest of nine children. Her siblings include Vernon "Mac" Metcalfe, Peter Metcalfe, Patrice Parker, Kathleen "Teeny" Metcalfe, Jake Metcalfe, John Metcalfe, Mark Metcalfe and Heather Bell.

Kim was married to photographer Paul J. Helmar for twenty three years, until his death in 2002. She has two grown children, Patrice Helmar and Leo Helmar. Kim lives in the downtown Juneau home that her grandparents, James K. McAlister and Helen Flynn McAlister, bought in 1928. Four generations of herfamily have lived there.

Kim learned to interview Native elders under the direction of Cy Peck, Jr., for "Southeast Native Radio," a production of KTOO FM Radio in Juneau.

In 2002, Kim was deeply honored to be adopted by Stella Martin, then President Emeritus of the Alaska Native Sisterhood. Martin gave Kim her own Tlingit name, Yaan da yein. Through her adoption, Kim is an Eagle and member of the Tsaagweidí, Killer Whale Clan, of the Yellow Cedar House (Xaay Hít).

Kim currently serves as 2nd Vice President of Camp 2 of the Alaska Native Sisterhood. She has been a member of Camp 2 since 1997. In Sisterhood: The History of Camp 2 of the Alaska Native Sisterhood is Kim's first book.