Cassidy Miligruak Kramer was raised 30 miles above the Arctic Circle in Kotzebue, which is a hub village on the northwestern coast of Alaska. She’s an Inuk and grew up with a blend of traditional Iñuit and modern practices. Since early childhood, Cassidy has learned to hunt, fish, trap, and gather from land and sea, and shares her catch with families in her community. She is passionate about the continuation of the Iñupiat cultural way of life. Already in her short life as a hunter, she has seen evidence of changes in her environment due to global warming.
Cassidy is currently a student at the University of Alaska Fairbanks and plans to become a high school science teacher in Northwest Alaska. She is a Caleb Scholar, a program continuing the legacy of her grandfather, Caleb Pungowiyi, a Siberian Yupik leader known worldwide as an advocate for marine conservation. Cassidy hopes to continue his work of bridging Indigenous knowledge with scientific research. Her roles as an Indigenous youth include teaching our younger generations while advocating for the conservation of her environment and Inuk way of life. Cassidy’s story was highlighted in a BBC documentary as part of their 100 Women series titled “Life on Thin Ice”. She is part of Arctic Basecamp's youth team, was part of a panel for climate change awareness with Arctic Basecamp at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, and on a panel for the Science Museum Group’s series Climate Talks, sharing about the changes seen in the Arctic. She also was a member of the Generation Climate Initiative with the New York Times and spoke at the New York Times Climate Hub alongside COP26 on a panel pertaining to Indigenous rights and biodiversity.