About Neal

Neal is a descendent of Otton and Aukpayook (she is pictured on the right). Otton was born in Koyuk. Aukpayook was born in Kotzebue in 1848 and passed away in Golovin in 1933. They had 7 children. Today their descendants include the Ottons and Okitkons from Koyuk & Unalakleet, the Amaktooliks and Murrays from Elim, and the Pushruks & Sirloaks from King Island & Nome. Their 5th child was Lena.

Neal's great grandmother - Lena Otton - was "born on the banks of the Tubutulik River (near Elim) when the salmonberries were ripe." She married Billy...a Swede in search of his fortune in the gold fields of western Alaska. Their 2nd of 8 children was Jane.

Neal's grandmother - Jane - was born in Haycock, a once busy gold mining town north of Koyuk. She toiled over a hot cook stove in various gold mines before marrying Willie. He flew P-38 Lightnings over North Africa during World War 2. Together they started Foster Aviation in Nome. Richard, their 2nd of 4 children, operated the air taxi until 1989.

Neal's father - Richard - served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He also served 21-years in the Alaska State House. Both Richard and Dominique had their first child - Neal - in 1972.

Neal grew up picking berries with his grandmother and hunting moose with his father. He graduated valedictorian from Nome-Beltz High School, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University, and earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Alaska Anchorage. While at Stanford he did a study abroad program at Oxford University in England.

He then went to work for Sitnasuak Native Corporation and spent 10-years managing many of its businesses as the Vice-President of Operations. He served on the Sitnasuak Native Corporation board for 15-years and the Bering Straits Native Corporation board for 12-years. He sat on the Nome City Council, is a member of the Pioneers of Alaska Igloo #1, and is a tribal member of Nome Eskimo Community.