Mission, Core Purpose & Values

​Mission
It is the mission, duty, and purpose of Alaska Natural Burial to provide environmental conservation and stewardship, and equitable access to recreational green space and natural burial.
 
Core Purpose
​Honoring the cycles of life and death through sustainable practices and environmental conservation.

Core Values

• Community and Connection: Natural burial cemeteries are socially and ecologically significant places,  providing the opportunity for communities to connect with nature. 
  
• Sustainability: Cemetery infrastructure should create an environmental legacy for future generations.  
• Service: It is a privilege to be of service to our community and to serve as stewards of the land. 
• Respect: Access to respectful and meaningful deathcare is a human right for the deceased and the bereaved; respect for each other and for the natural world is at the core of the conservation burial cemetery model.  ​

Board of Directors

Alaska Natural Burial is led by a Board of Directors who volunteer their time and resources to bring this vision to fruition. 

Rachel Bernhardt
Rachel is the founder and Board President of Alaska Natural Burial. She is in love with the Conservation Burial Ground model for its ability to cultivate a cultural and spiritual connection to nature, involve families in deathcare, sequester carbon, preserve biodiverse habitat, and serve communities with truly multipurpose spaces in ways that conventional cemeteries cannot. A lifelong Anchorage resident, Rachel lives for sunny June days spent in the woods. 
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Amy Franz
Amy is a lifelong Anchorage resident and passionate outdoors enthusiast. Her profound connection to Alaska's untouched beauty fuels her commitment to environmental causes and conservation efforts. With a BBA in Accounting from UAA and certification as an Internal Auditor, Amy's dedication to financial integrity and her passion for the Alaskan wilderness converge. Her leadership balances fiscal responsibility and environmental stewardship, guiding the organization towards its mission with dedication and purpose.

Sage Stoneking
Sage is one of those weird kids who was always curious about death, dying, and the dead, now studying Anthropology and minoring in Art History. With a background in programming, Sage has worked on diverse projects ranging from designing client intake sites to cloud management. Her ability to understand and "translate" technical knowledge to non-tech people along with her desire to help promote dignity in death set her apart. Sage finds inspiration in books, classical music, and houseplants.

Julie Raymond-Yakoubian
​Julie is a Home Funeral Guide, End-of-Life Doula, ordained Reverend, funeral celebrant, and anthropologist. She enjoys assisting people in thinking through their end-of-life planning and options and is honored to guide families through home funerals for their loved ones. Julie’s ritual and ceremony work is inspired by the natural world. She lives in Girdwood with her family.

Keary Warner
Keary is a graduate of the UAF accounting program and has lived in Anchorage her whole life.  She fell in love with the area's unique beauty at a young age, and exploring the trails and hidden places around home has always brought her peace and comfort in stressful times.  When the opportunity to be part of Alaska Natural Burial presented itself, she was excited to help bring those feelings to families experiencing the loss of a loved one and work to preserve more of Anchorage's natural beauty.

Charlie Kidd
Charlie is an attorney with the Alaska Native Justice Center in Anchorage. He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and the Georgetown University Law Center. He grew up in Oregon but has been in Alaska since 2017. He enjoys spending time in natural spaces and is an avid gardener and backyard composter. He joined the Alaska Natural Burial Board in 2024.