Name
Benozaadleyo
she has followers / leader
(grandma’s sister’s name)
Tribal Nation
Koyukon Athabascan / Dene
Tribal member of Native Village of Ruby
Serve
Born in Fairbanks and raised throughout seven different Alaska communities, Helena Benozaadleyo Jacobs has ancestral ties to Ruby and Kokrines. She is Koyukon Athabascan and the daughter of Dee Olin and David Hoffman. Growing up in Ruby, Anchorage, Juneau, Nome, Utqiagvik, Sitka, and Fairbanks shaped her worldview and connected her with indigenous ways of being from many different cultures throughout Alaska. Helena uses this knowledge and experience to serve others through her work as a birth helper, mother, auntie, friend, and sister.
Helena and her husband reside and work in Anchorage on Dena’ina land, where they are raising their children. Her journey as a birth helper is a continuous learning process, enriched by the families she has had the privilege to serve, her sister and mentor Margaret David, and learning opportunities led by Indigenous people. Her training as a full spectrum Indigenous doula, Indigenous childbirth educator, Indigenous breastfeeding counselor, and her completion of a Spinning Babies workshop are a testament to her commitment to enhancing her skills and knowledge in Indigenous birth practices.
Helena is a co-founder of the Alaska Native Birthworkers Community. She continuously seeks opportunities to learn cultural values and wisdom from her community to improve the level of care and service she can offer the families. She readily shares with others to help them grow in their own confidence and competence as birth helpers as they collectively call back these sacred roles.
