Raymond Woods was born and raised in Shungnak on the Kobuk River. He completed grade school in our region, attended Chemawa Indian School, and graduated from Mt. Edgecumbe High School.  After high school, Raymond enlisted in the military and attended Officer's Candidate School.  He was commissioned in February of 1978 as a military officer.  Raymond was a Commander and a Battalion Training Officer for 22 years before retiring from the military.

 

Raymond spent the next 6 years working for British Petroleum in Prudhoe Bay as an Emergency Responder, Firefighter, and Security Guard.  Following his term with BP, he was the Northwest Arctic Regional Village Police Safety Officer coordinator.

 

Raymond became involved with the Northwest Arctic Borough School District as a Regional Board Member.  He occupied this position for two years before taking on the role of Bilingual Coordinator.

 

He lives a subsistence way of life and strives to pass on his knowledge to others.  Raymond works to provide hands-on cultural activities throughout the region.  This includes 500-mile snowmachine trips, hunting, trapping, berry picking, etc.