Myra Munson was born in Juneau, grew up in Fairbanks where she obtained her BA from the University of Alaska, after which she worked as a state child protection worker. Her two children were born in Fairbanks before she and her family moved to Denver for three years during which she earned a master’s degree in social work and a law degree from the University of Denver in 1980. Myra returned to Alaska to work in Anchorage in a statewide policy and training office of the (then) Division of Family and Youth Services, before accepting a position as an assistant attorney general in Fairbanks.
In 1986 Myra moved to back to Juneau to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Health and Social Services. In 1990 she opened an office in Juneau for the Sonosky Law Firm LLP, a DC based firm specializing in representing Indian tribes and tribal organizations throughout Alaska and the lower-48. Myra served as a managing partner until 2016, when she “retired” from her partnership, became of counsel, and continued working. Her practice continues to specialize in tribal self-determination and self-governance and implementation of health and social service programs.
In addition to serving on the JCF board, Myra serves on the Board of the Alaska Legal Services Corporation and is active in the Kunéix Hidi Northern Light United Church, where among other things she is co-director of its Geneva Woods’ summer lunch program. In 2003, Ms. Munson was given the Denali Award by the Alaska Federation of Natives, in 2009 the Healthy Alaska Native Foundation honored her with its President’s Award, and in 2017 the National Indian Health Board gave her the Jake White Crow award.
