The Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) mourns the passing of Lincoln A. Bean, Sr., a highly respected Tribal leader, advocate, historian, and longtime member of the SEARHC Board of Directors. Mr. Bean passed on Thursday, March 12, leaving behind a profound legacy of leadership and service.
For nearly five decades, Mr. Bean’s leadership has been instrumental in communities across the state and played a vital role in shaping the Alaska Tribal Health System as it exists today. As a member of the Organized Village of Kake and of the Tsaagweidi Clan, from the clan house known as “the House that Anchors the Village,” from the Aan Yakaawlitséxi Hít — Mr. Lincoln Bean devoted his life to serving his people.
His tenacity extended well beyond SEARHC, serving in pivotal roles among the Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB), Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) and National Indian Health Board (NIHB), where he was a trusted and influential voice. His work supported the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, advanced Tribal self-governance, and contributed to the growth and expansion of the Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC).
“Lincoln dedicated his life to serving his people and strengthening Tribal health for Alaska Native communities,” said Kimberley Strong, SEARHC Board Chair. “For many of us, he was not only a respected leader, but also a mentor and friend. His wisdom, humility, and unwavering commitment to our communities will be deeply missed, and his legacy will continue to guide our work.”
For more than a decade, he served as a trusted Tribal advisor in health compact negotiations, known for maintaining the spirit and intent of agreements while fostering respect and productive dialogue between Tribal and federal partners. He was widely regarded as a steady, grounding presence — often opening meetings with prayer in the Tlingit language and redirecting discussions toward shared purpose and progress.
Throughout his career, Mr. Bean was also appointed by the Alaska Tribal Caucus to represent Alaska on the Indian Health Service Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee and the National Facilities Appropriations Advisory Board, where he helped shape policy decisions that strengthened healthcare infrastructure and access at the national level for Tribal communities across the country.
In recognition of his lifetime of service, Mr. Bean received the NIHB Jake Whitecrow Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024 — an honor reserved for those whose work has elevated health advocacy and driven positive change for American Indian and Alaska Native people. This recognition affirms not only his professional accomplishments, but the perseverance, humility, and example he set as a leader grounded in culture, compassion, and accountability.
Early in his career, he answered search and rescue calls, served as an Emergency Medical Technician and Volunteer Firefighter, and quietly advocated for patients behind the scenes —regardless of the hour. He also responded to deep community challenges, including high suicide rates, by helping establish one of Alaska’s oldest culture camps nearly four decades ago — an effort rooted in tradition, mentorship, and resilience.
At SEARHC, his leadership was both formal and deeply personal. His legacy is one of strength, a bridge between generations, ancestral responsibility, and community. His life reflects a model of leadership that anchored the village, protected the land and waters, strengthened institutions, and placed people always at the center.
We will miss Mr. Bean not only as a leader, but as a steady presence and dear friend. SEARHC extends its deepest condolences to Mr. Bean’s family, the Organized Village of Kake, and the many communities across Alaska whose lives were touched by his leadership, compassion, and service.