Ben Coronell
Ben Coronell downtown with his Wolf headdress, September 2019.
My name is Benjamin Danny Coronell. I am Tlingit Yanyeidí Eagle Wolf and Filipino. My parents, Dorothy and Sam Coronell, raised seven children in a home our father built in the Juneau Indian Village. I served as a police officer with the Juneau Police Department from March 12, 1979 to my retirement on December 1, 2003. After that, I served with the US Marshals as Court Security Officer for seven and a half years, and I left as a Supervisor. My ancestor Chief Kowee was the first Alaska Native officer in 1880 in Juneau. Our family are direct descendants of Chief Kowee. I like to think I am following his footsteps to help others. I had the honor of wearing Chief Kowee’s badge as I received an Alaska Federation of Natives public service award. I have served on the Goldbelt Board since 2006 and the Juneau Tlingit and Haida Community Council since 2014. I previously served on the United Way Board. This has enabled me to help effect positive changes in our community. The Juneau 4th of July committee has selected me to be one of three Grand Marshals for the 2021 parade. In the early 80s my mother Dorothy Coronell was a Grand Marshal; in her honor I accepted this recognition. I hope to inspire the future generations to take pride in themselves and work towards a better quality of life for those around them.