NEWS

The Land We Share: A love affair told in hunting stories

ANCHORAGE, AK – Hunting is an age-old tradition that has been an integral part of human history, connecting people to the land and the natural world. The public lands that we Alaskans enjoy provide space for many soul-nourishing outdoor activities, such as hiking, climbing, canoeing, and kayaking. Moreover, these places also play a vital role in supporting the hunting tradition. In fact, many of our public lands were specifically set aside to provide refuge for healthy, harvestable populations of game animals.

Welcome to The Land We Share, where relationships and connections are forged through experiencing the migration of caribou, the winged movement of waterfowl, and misty mornings in the field. Here the too-short lives of good dogs intersect those of the people with whom they hunt for elusive birds and inspiration in the wild public lands of Alaska and the Dakotas.

In partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Geographic has published a remarkable collection of over 60 outdoor essays called The Land We Share. These essays are written by Steve Meyer, a lifelong hunter, and Christine Cunningham, a lifelong Alaskan who embraced hunting later in life. Accompanied by a family of bird dogs, the two authors delve into how hunting on public lands nurtures the human spirit, sustains physical health, and deepens appreciation for the natural world. Although most stories are set in Alaska and the Dakotas, their messages and themes resonate across the nation, appealing to both hunting advocates and those with a profound connection to the outdoors.

The 61 short stories about a large family of bird dogs take place in beautiful settings with a resonant core of day-to-day appreciation for the natural world that nurtures the spirit, sustains health, and connects us to the land we share. We’re proud of this collaboration with Steve and Christine, and our public land agency partners.

Click the images below for a closer look inside the book. Purchase The Land We Share.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Christine Cunningham is a lifelong Alaskan and dog lover. Steve Meyer grew up in North Dakota and has lived and hunted in Alaska since 1971.

Photos, from left to right: author Steve Meyer and Cogsy, Winchester, author Christine Cunningham and Bossy, Boss as a pup on the West side of the Inlet

PURCHASE THE BOOK 

Purchase: The Land We Share

ABOUT ALASKA GEOGRAPHIC

Alaska Geographic is the nonprofit Cooperating Association to the Alaska US Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Park Service, the US Forest Service, and the Bureau of Land Management. Our mission is to connect people with Alaska’s public lands by creating and delivering exceptional educational programs and products that foster stewardship, understanding, and appreciation of Alaska’s natural and cultural heritage. Since 1959 Alaska Geographic has raised and returned more than $23 million to our agency partners. For more information about Alaska Geographic and its initiatives, please visit our website.

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421 W 1st Ave, Suite 250
Anchorage, AK 99515

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Natasha, Education Program Coordinator – Growing up in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, Natasha has always loved going on adventures in beautiful outdoor spaces with friends, family, and dogs!

Natasha loves combining her love for the outdoors with principles of stewardship in guiding, personal endeavors, and research- whether rock climbing in the desert, packrafting in the mountains, or using her degree in Ecosystem Science and Sustainability to teach environmental education to youth.

Over the last few years, Natasha has worked as a backpacking instructor for Alaska Geographic, taught place- based environmental science, researched climate change in arctic Alaska, and completed a thesis focusing on inclusivity and accessibility to outdoor recreational spaces and opportunities. Natasha is thrilled to share her knowledge and passion for the outdoors while ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for everyone. Natasha lives in Anchorage, Alaska and is a Wilderness First Responder.

bio coming soon

Rachael Eggleston, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer – Rachael brings over a decade of experience with Alaska Geographic, where she has led retail, marketing, development, publishing, and brand strategy. As Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, she focuses on driving retail growth, visibility, and educational outreach. She works closely with our teams and public land partners to create content and campaigns that inspire, educate, and invite action. Whether developing a new publication, launching a campaign, or mentoring a teammate, she’s motivated by the belief that meaningful connections can lead to lasting stewardship. She’s proud to contribute to an organization that shares her passion for environmental education, broadening access to public lands and protecting Alaska’s most inspiring places. Outside of work, Rachael can be found hiking, camping, pack rafting, tending her garden, or getting crafty with a new project. She’s an avid reader who believes you can never have too many books or mugs. Rachael shares her home with her husband, Galen, and their very good dog, Lupine, who are always ready for the next adventure.

bio coming soon

Jess Brillhart, Field Course Coordinator – Jess has worked as an educator in several national parks but has called Denali home for many years.  She loves getting people out into the park by coordinating Alaska Geographic’s multi-day courses based out of a field camp near the Teklanika River. She oversees instructor scheduling, university accreditation, registration, and participant communication – ensuring smooth operations and meaningful experiences from start to finish. One of the most rewarding parts of her work is collaborating with scientists and connecting them with the amazing people who participate in our courses every summer.

Shandon Palmer, Staff Accountant – bio coming soon

Karen Bente, Office Administrator (herder of cats) – Born and raised in Wisconsin, Karen came to Alaska via Florida and the Navy. She has been in Alaska for over 40 years and married for 30 years. She has two children, seven grandchildren and one great grandchild. There is one additional son and three more grandchildren on her husband’s side. All in all, they are spread from Fairbanks to Portland, OR. Karen’s 30 years of progressively responsible office positions made her the ideal candidate for this unique position. Karen works with all of AK Geo including our full-time and seasonal staff, our board of directors, our partners, our donors, our vendors, and anyone who calls or comes through the door. If Karen doesn’t have the answer she will find it.

Liz Munns, Regional Operations Manager – Liz manages the retail operations for eight different sites throughout Alaska Geographic’s network. She has a B.S. in Parks & Recreation Management from Western Carolina University and an M.S. in Experiential Education from Minnesota State University – Mankato. She has worked as a classroom teacher, seasonally for USFS (developed recreation), and in other visitor service positions throughout Alaska, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado.  Liz considers the Appalachian Mountains (specifically the Smokies) her home, but she loves her life in Alaska! Her biggest joys are picking berries, rockhounding, and spending time with her loved ones. When she’s not at work, her two labrador retrievers usually boss her around.

Steve Brown, Regional Operations Manager & Warehouse Coordinator – Steve is the Regional Operations Manager for seven of the Alaska Geographic stores around the state, including the online webstore at akgeo.org.  He is also the coordinator for the Anchorage warehouse, overseeing the incoming and outgoing of products both for the web store as well as some products which are passing though to other Alaska Geographic stores. He came to Alaska Geographic with 37 years of experience managing and selling Alaska-themed books to the largest retailers in the state of Alaska.

Mark Bailey, Regional Operations Manager – Mark is responsible for retail operations at several of our locations across the state, including Denali National Park, Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, Lake Clark National Park, and our store within the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Mark was born and raised in Alaska. His first job out of high school was at the Kantishna Roadhouse in Denali National Park. Being in the wilderness for a summer sparked his love for public lands, especially Denali. Mark graduated from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Economics. Mark’s professional experience includes time in the oil industry, politics, state government, and as a small business owner before joining Alaska Geographic in 2022. When not on the job, Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and son at home, camping, or fishing.

Andy Hall , Executive Director – Andy is a lifelong Alaskan who was born in Sitka and spent his early years in Mt. McKinley National Park where his father was superintendent. Andy spent many years as a journalist, editor and publisher working at newspapers around Alaska. For 16 years he was the editor and publisher of Alaska Magazine and general manager of The Milepost. He is the author of Denali’s Howl, The Deadliest Climbing Disaster on America’s Wildest Peak, published by Penguin Random House in 2014. He served on the Alaska Geographic Board of Directors for nine years from 2005 to 2014. He has been Alaska Geographic’s Executive Director since February of 2018.

Caitlyn Tetterton, Anchorage Education Director – Caitlyn is an outdoor education professional with over a decade of experience designing and leading impactful education programs, managing risk in dynamic expedition environments, and fostering strong partnerships to deepen community connection to public lands. At Alaska Geographic, she develops place-based education programs that inspire both local youth and visitors, with a focus on making the outdoors more approachable and accessible, empowering the next generation of leaders, and setting a high standard for risk management. Her leadership is rooted in a people-first philosophy that values growth, empowerment, and fostering engaging environments. Caitlyn holds a B.S. in Outdoor Recreation & Education from Ohio University, is a Wilderness First Responder, and holds certifications in Avalanche Level 1, Swiftwater Rescue, ACA Level 2 Sea Kayak Instructing, and is a Leave No Trace Instructor. She stays fresh with the younger generations by teaching skiing at Alyeska on the weekends and leading teen canoe expeditions in California each fall. When she’s not working, she’s usually on a mountain bike, skiing in the backcountry, at a thrift store, or chasing after her senior (and formerly rejected) sled dog.