Peter M. Moore, of Emmonak, volunteered to make his first casket at age 18.

He's 76 now, and has donated more than 160 handmade caskets to families in the lower Yukon Delta. That's about $200,000 worth of work -- had it been in him to charge for it, said Moore's brother, Martin.

Peter's retiring now, but not before passing along his trade. "He's teaching the young generation to take over," Martin said.

The Alaska Federation of Natives honored Moore's lifelong work with its annual "Public Service" award Saturday.

Find Kyle Hopkins' political blog online at adn.com/alaskapolitics or call him at 257-4334.

Other award winners from this year's convention:

Citizen of the Year

Ellen Hope Hays, Sitka

Arnold Brower Sr., Barrow

Culture Bearer

Madeline Williams, Huslia

Della Keats "Healing Hands"

Evelyn Karmun, Kotzebue

Eileen Panigeo MacLean Education

Clara Johnson, Fairbanks

Elder of the Year

Gladys Hall Jung, Bethel

Health

Barbara Riley Asher, Dillingham

Hunter-Fisher

Eleanor Wilde, Eklutna

Parents of the Year

Alexander and Ina Oscar, Bethel

Roger Lang Youth Leadership

Cassandra Jones of Dillingham

Randy Boskofsky of Port Lions

Small Business

Lisa Yoshimoto, Copper Center

Denali Award