Overview

Byron Ivar Mallott (April 6, 1943 – May 8, 2020) was a prominent Alaska Native elder, tribal leader, and public official who played a visible role in state and indigenous affairs for several decades. A Tlingit leader of the Kwaash Ké Kwaan clan, Mallott combined roles in municipal government, statewide advocacy, business leadership and state administration. He is best known for serving as lieutenant governor of Alaska from 2014 until his resignation in October 2018 and for his long association with the Alaska Federation of Natives and other institutions representing Native interests.

Early life and tribal leadership

Mallott grew up in southeastern Alaska and was an active member of the Tlingit community throughout his life. He held the hereditary leadership title of Kwaash Ké Kwaan within his clan and was respected as an elder and cultural spokesman. Over many years he worked to advance the economic and political interests of Alaska Native people, taking leadership roles in organizations that negotiated with state and federal governments and that promoted Native education, culture and economic development.

Public offices and professional roles

Mallott's career spanned local government, nonprofit advocacy and state business. He served as mayor of smaller and larger Alaska communities, including as mayor of Yakutat and later as mayor of Juneau. He was also president of the Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN), an influential statewide Native organization, and held executive positions connected with state financial and resource management, including a period as executive director of the Alaska Permanent Fund. His professional experience also included work with Native corporations and other enterprises that sought to increase economic opportunities for Alaska Native people.

2014 gubernatorial campaign and lieutenant governorship

In the 2014 Alaska gubernatorial cycle Mallott was the Democratic nominee for governor. He later joined forces with independent candidate Bill Walker, merging their campaigns in a rare cross-party alliance; Mallott became Walker's running mate. The Walker–Mallott ticket won the election and the pair were inaugurated on December 1, 2014. As lieutenant governor Mallott carried responsibilities that included election administration and representing the administration on matters involving Native affairs and regional outreach.

Resignation and later life

On October 16, 2018, Mallott resigned from the lieutenant governor's office after acknowledging he had made an inappropriate remark to a woman. He issued an apology and stepped down from public office, ending a decades-long career in state and Native leadership. In the years after his resignation he remained a figure of note in Alaska civic life and in the Native community.

Death and legacy

Byron Mallott died of a heart attack on May 8, 2020, at a hospital in Anchorage. Tributes following his death emphasized his role as an advocate for Alaska Native rights, a mediator between communities and government, and a leader who used both public office and tribal authority to advance cultural preservation and economic opportunity. His career is often cited as an example of the complex intersections between indigenous leadership and state-level governance in Alaska.

Selected offices and roles

  • Mayor of Yakutat
  • Mayor of Juneau
  • President, Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN)
  • Executive director, Alaska Permanent Fund
  • 2014 Democratic candidate for Governor; lieutenant governor (2014–2018) with Bill Walker (Bill Walker)

Mallott's life reflected sustained engagement with both his cultural heritage and the institutions of state government. He is remembered for bridging different communities in Alaska and for advocating policies aimed at strengthening Native institutions and broader civic life in the state.