Jaeleen is a member of the firm’s Native Affairs practice where she represents native communities, their businesses, and their stakeholders and partners on a full range of legislative, regulatory, litigation, and transactional matters. She returns to VNF after serving several roles at Sealaska, the regional Alaska Native Corporation owned by more than 25,000 shareholders consisting primarily of the Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian people of Southeast Alaska. At Sealaska, Jaleen’s roles included Vice President and General Counsel and Vice President for Policy & Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary. Jaeleen spends significant time advocating for clients across all of the firm’s practice areas.
Clients benefit from her experience at Sealaska where she focused on myriad business areas including Water Resources, Natural Foods, and Lands. In addition to her work as General Counsel and as Sealaska’s Vice President for Policy and Legal Affairs, she worked closely with Tribal Governments, Alaska Native Corporations, Alaska Native organizations, and many other community and business organizations throughout Alaska, including the Alaska Federation of Natives, the ANCSA Regional Association, the Resource Development Council, Southeast Conference, and the Foraker Group. Jaeleen is well known for her legal and policy work and highly respected amongst her peers throughout Alaska Native Communities and organizations, as well as those in the Lower 48.
Jaeleen grew up in Angoon, Alaska, which is located on Admiralty Island south of Juneau. She carries two clan names from the L’eeneidí (Dog Salmon) Central house in Angoon including Kajoohein and Kinagoo.ut. She is a child of the Teikweidí (Brown Bear) Clan. Jaeleen is a shareholder of Kootznoowoo, Inc., Angoon's Village Corporation, and she is a shareholder of two Alaska Native Regional Corporations, Sealaska Corporation and Doyon, Limited. She is also an enrolled member of the Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska.