Longtime reindeer herders in Northwest Alaska join our region and state in honoring the life of Tom Gray of White Mountain, who served for decades as the President of the Kawerak Reindeer Herders Association until his passing.
Tom owned Gray Reindeer Herd for close to 40 years. As a young man in the 1980s Tom turned to reindeer herding as a way of life on land surrounding White Mountain on the Seward Peninsula of Alaska.
Kawerak Reindeer Herders Association members lost a friend, a fellow herder and a strong advocate for reindeer herding. Tom spent days on end in the open natural range with his herd, tending to them as a shepherd would his flock. He was just as comfortable in the board room, where he was unwavering in his advocacy for our way of life. Ever the charismatic diplomat, Tom established a leadership role in the industry and took time to listen to herders and in turn, share knowledge with resource managers. When herders or managers had concerns, he made time on the agenda and allowed all sides to speak. He was well-versed in the myriads of federal, state, and private regulations. That, along with his well-established working relationships, made him able to impact natural resource and wildlife management decisions in Northwest Alaska in a way that was beneficial to the herders and people living in rural communities.
For many in the region and around the state, Tom’s name was synonymous with the reindeer herding way of life. In addition to being elected RHA President for several decades, Tom represented the reindeer industry on the Western Arctic Caribou Herd Working Group, served on various federal and state boards and commissions in support of the subsistence use of fish, game, and marine mammals, and elevated other RHA members into additional advocate roles.
Tom’s advocacy led him to travel statewide, nationally, and even internationally to coordinate and advocate with other Indigenous livestock owners and agricultural councils. His generational knowledge was highly regarded and he was a frequent speaker at various forums. His wisdom and wit and ability to “say it how it is” with diplomacy and tact and a twinkle in his eye will be missed.
RHA extends its deepest condolences to Tom’s family, his wife BeeJay, ever present by his side as they supported each other, his children, grandchildren and extended family and the community of White Mountain which he loved and served in many capacities.
Teller reindeer herders, Jimmy Noyakuk and James Pushruk, shared “Tom was a big advocate for the RHA membership and our region to keep the reindeer industry alive. Tom will be greatly missed and remembered by all the people who knew him and our condolences and prayers go out to the Gray family.”
Tom was generous with his time, efforts and subsistence harvests. In many ways, RHA owes much of its ongoing efforts in stewarding the reindeer industry and its economic contributions to the region to Tom’s passion and steadfast focus. We thank his family and community for generously supporting him as he shared his time and experiences with many. His legacy will not be forgotten.
