The Alaska Miner Summer 2023 16 BY LEE LESCHPER Danny: I started working in the environmental field for my tribe in Bethel (Orutsaramiut Native Council) in 2002 as the environmental coordinator and in 2004 I moved from ONC to the Native village of Napaimute in the same capacity as their Environmental Coordinator. As a coordinator for the tribe, we went to many informational meetings hosted by Donlin Gold. I was impressed with the effort and information shared by Donlin to keep the region informed. I started working for Donlin Gold in 2006 as an Environmental Specialist. When Donlin Gold started the EIS process and field work slowed down in 2014, I moved down to Northern Nevada and started working at Turquoise Ridge one of our Parent companies (Barrick Gold) underground gold mines. It was a great experience and I learned more in two years than I thought possible. I moved back to Alaska in 2016 and started working for Donlin Gold as a Community Relations Coordinator. At the time public speaking was scary to me but I agreed to work the position because I believe that Donlin Gold is a very good company and the economic opportunities a project like Donlin will have in our depressed region are needed. Being from the region I knew it was important to share good information with our people because there was so much misinformation being spread by NGO’s. In 2020 I switched back to the Environmental field for Donlin and I am currently the Environmental Field Coordinator and do shift work at Donlin Camp. In each issue of the Alaska Miner, we profile a member of Alaska’s mining industry. In this issue we talk with Danny and Betty Twitchell, father and daughter who have worked together at Donlin Gold. Faces of Mining CONTINUED on PAGE 18 Danny and Betty Twitchell Donlin Gold
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