Village Telegraph

This is a notice from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to all subsistence waterfowl hunters on the Yukon – Kuskokwim Delta.
From information we have received from village residents and biologists, it is clear that birds are nesting across the delta. Under regulation, a 30 day closure on hunting of all migratory birds, along with egg gathering, must be imposed beginning June 7, 2010 at midnight and will remain in effect until July 6, 2009 midnight.
However, by regulation, all Brant and cackling Canada geese on the Yukon Delta are closed to hunting until the young are flying. This closure will remain in effect until midnight July 30, 2010.
The Refuge, Regional Director of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP), and the AVCP Waterfowl Conservation Committee have agreed that the closures of migratory bird hunting cease on dates specified as above.
If you have any questions please call the Yukon Delta NWR in Bethel at 543-3151 or 1-800-621-5804.

Lead shot in migratory
bird hunting meeting

On June 3, 2010, a delegration of 20 individuals from the Village of Kipnuk arrived in Bethel to meet with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Association of Village Council Presidents on the issues surrounding the use of lead shot in migratory bird hunting, compliance with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Goose Management Plans, and making steel shot available in the village of Kipnuk.
The composition of the delegation included representatives from the Native Village of Kipnuk, the Kugkaktlik Ltd. Village Corporation, and interested individuals. The meeting was hosted at the AVCP conference room which started at 10:00 in the morning and concluded at 3:30 in the afternoon.
“This was a very productive meeting, in my opinion, in addressing various issues and questions the village was encountering with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and USFWS enforcement efforts on use of lead shots,” said Myron Naneng Sr., President of AVCP. Mr. Naneng continued, “We held an open and frank dialogue on issues relating to the use of lead shot and its effects on the environment, wildlife and humans, its prohibition in Alaska and the Lower 48 states. We answered questions on the history and the implementation of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Goose Management Plan. We openly discussed the use and availability issues of steel shot in the community of Kipnuk.”
The meeting concluded with mutual understanding and with five objectives which includes:
1. Hold a community-wide meeting which include the participation of the Association of Village Council Presidents and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
2. Address the issue on the prohibition on the use of lead shot in the community of Kipnuk which was banned two years ago.
3. Hold steel shot clinics in the community provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
4. Contact the local businesses in Kipnuk to discontinue stocking and selling lead shot for the benefit of the hunters, the wildlife, and the health of the community.
5. Address various issues with steel shot effects on migratory birds harvested and consumed.
“We thank the group for having come to Bethel to meet with us and look forward to working with the village of Kipnuk to resolve the issues and hope for continued effective dialogue in the future,” said Mr. Naneng.
This press release was prepared by the AVCP Natural Resources Department and authorized for release by Myron P. Naneng Sr., President of AVCP on June 4, 2010.

Local singer releases first CD

5-27-10

Hilda Oscar of Bethel just recently released her first musical CD entitled “Joy Unspeakable”, featuring 10 faith and worship songs.
Oscar is the daughter of James and Ina Nicholai of Atmautluak. As a little girl of 4 or 5, she grew up singing in the Moravian church with her older sister Alice. Their mother also had them singing in other villages during rallies and church gatherings.
One of the first songs she learned to sing was her favorite, ‘Trust and Obey’ and ‘Dust on the Bible’.
To record her songs, keyboard accompaniment was provided by Paul R. Kiunya Jr. of Kipnuk. The CD was manufactured and produced at Door-Keepers Music Ministry, owned by Hilda’s aunt and uncle Luke and Mary Smith of Anchorage.
Hilda, whose Yup’ik name is Nanugaq, is married to Harry Oscar. They have three children – Cherilyn, Damon, and Hilary. She hopes to record another CD by the end of this year, but this time would like to sing some of her songs in Yup’ik.
“Yugtun aturyugtua,” she said. “I want to sing in Yup’ik.”
Her inspiration to make a recording came from the many people who requested that she pursue creating a CD.
“I would first of all, like to thank the God - all the glory to Him, and my parents James and Ina, and the Luke and Mary Smith family.”
The CD features the songs Sheltered In The Arms, Pass It On, He’s In the Midst, Don’t Go Home Tonight Unsaved, Joy Unspeakable, Don’t Give Up, Welcome Into This Place, I Can’t Make It Without You, Diamonds in the Rain, and Who Am I.
Hilda frequently enjoys singing at the United Pentecostal Church in Bethel during service times on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Kuskokwim Library Summer Reading Program

Earn prizes and free books at the Kuskokwim Consortium Library in the Cultural Center Building during the 2010 Summer Reading Program for children. Attend The Ice Cream Party, Color Your own Rubber Duck, and other water-related programs. All activities are free. Pick up your starter bag, 2pm, June 5th at the library. For questions or additional information call the Kuskokwim Consortium Library at 543-4516.

Bethel City council hears update on Donlin Creek project

5-20-10

by K. J. Lincoln

The President and General Manager of Donlin Creek, LLC. - Doug Nicholson - gave an update on the current status of the Donlin Creek mine project to the Bethel City Council during the May 11, 2010 regular city council meeting.
During Nicholson’s opening comments, he stated that they have been trying to carry the project forward into the permitting process. He said that Donlin Creek had been the region last year doing a number of village meetings, holding open houses with one in Bethel, answering questions, informing the public and receiving comments on the project in order to better help them design and take into consideration some of the concerns from the people.
After hearing comments and concerns about how the mine would be powered, Donlin Creek has decided to pursue the possibility of building a natural gas pipeline from Cook Inlet to the mine site.
“Where we are at right now is to enter a phase of study on a gas pipeline from Cook inlet to the project,” said Nicholson. “We’ll look at sources of natural gas supplied Pipeline, pipeline routes, go out and do field assessments on routing and collect baseline environmental data.”
As the project stands right now, the current plan to power the mine is with diesel and wind - with diesel being barged to the project over a 120 day window up the Kuskowim to a port at Birch Tree Crossing, and then a pipeline into the project.
However, barging enough diesel up the Kuskokwim would require – on any given day during the barge traffic window - 3 barges a day.
“If you were at one point along the river and sat there for the day you would see three barges, whether it’s two going up and one going down, however the combination were to happen,” said Nicholson.
But if the gas pipeline works, then a certainly significant volume of that fuel would be taken off the river and replaced by natural gas, Nicholson said.
“Not only does that potentially make economic sense for the project but it also is a way of addressing some of the concerns that we had heard from the region on the volume of barge traffic on the river.”
So, if the pipeline were to happen, the volume of barge traffic on the river would be reduced.
Donlin Creek is anticipating that after submitting permit documentation that they will enter a NEPA process, which would take three years to complete - and at the end a permit may or may not be granted.
“During that time then federal and state agencies would really run an assessment of the proposed project, they would come out and hold meetings in the region, consult with the region, solicit input from the region, and really weigh the pros and cons of the project and whether or not to issue a permit to construct,” said Nicholson. “At the end of that should a permit be issued to the project only at that time will a decision be made to construct. That will rest with our parent companies – Nova Gold and Barrick.”
Assuming that construction can begin at that point in time, there will be a 3 ½-4 year window when construction would happen, and by the end of that in 2018 or so, Donlin officials anticipate the project going into production.
According to Nicholson, deposit samples have revealed that production would continue for 25 years on with 600-800 people employed on the site on rotating shifts as well as a number of contractors and service industry that would be able to provide services to the project.
Discussion shifted to more questions from the city council. Council member Thor Williams asked a question concerning the port of Bethel.
“The question we have (is what) was your company’s idea of the port of Bethel and your use of the port? Because in the previous meeting it was talked about unloading your oceangoing barges in the mouth, transferring that onto a huge barge and then lightering those barges up the river from that point - passing Bethel altogether because of the economics of it all. I can understand that, but we were wondering what is the plan now?”
Doug Nicholson: We’re looking at what the options are right now. We would anticipate there’d be some sort of port facility here on the lower river that would facilitate transfer from oceangoing vessels to river barges to take the material up the river. Where that port is is the question mark right now. Certainly we are willing to and have been talking with a number of entities about establishing a port down here on the lower river. Certainly we are willing to talk to the city if the city would like to understand better the volume of traffic and what might be needed in way of a laydown area and so you might be able to put together a proposal of your own to come to us. Certainly it is a significant opportunity for whoever puts the port in, it is a significant business opportunity for them to benefit from the potential development of the mine. To have a facility that would not only service the mine but also then to have the facility go on and use it thereafter.
Council member Rick Robb: I’ve always felt that Donlin Creek has great opportunities for economic expansion for the entire Kuskokwim River, including Bethel. My concern that I have is this mine gets develops and Bethel gets left out. I was disappointed in the vote this council took a month ago about not to formally open communications, but I think this council should reconsider that. I think the best bet we have is to continue having open communications with your companies. I would like to encourage your companies to consider using Bethel as the port of transfer and even possibly offering to do some port improvements that would benefit the people in the long run and you could still make a lot of money. In order to gain more support for this project, what can you do for us and in turn what can we do for you?
Another question I have is, and you’re talking about building this gas pipeline all the way from Cook Inlet to your facilities, would you then consider extending it downriver and tying in to villages all the way to Bethel, would that be a feasible project or help subsidizing that?
Doug Nicholson: We can help each other. Should the city decide they would like to pursue upgrading their port facilities, they can participate in the potential economic benefit from the mine, we are more than wiling to talk to the city and to supply you with any information that we have regarding the project. From there forward, discussions on tariffs and all that that certainly becomes negotiation. With the volume of material that the mine could potentially use, using the river makes sense. Its something that’s been done for centuries. It is an economic way of moving large volumes of material. So the opportunity is there for whoever wants to grab it.
On the gas situation, we are studying the potential for bringing gas to the project and the pipeline route. We certainly have selected a potential pipeline route. What we’ll look at over the course of the year is the needs of the mine. If the mine goes, there’s a significant amount of benefit that will flow to the region if we’re able to make the mine go. What we want to focus on is supplying the mine with power and getting that gas to the mine. So we’ll only look at that. We’re not looking for subsidies from the state or the feds while building this line, the proposal was for the mine to build it by itself, we expect there will be offsets in the anticipated capital that we saw for infrastructure that was required for the diesel. If you’re not building a lot of that infrastructure to supply the diesel, there’s a significant savings there that can be applied to the gas pipeline.
We realize too in doing it there is a potential benefit to the region to bringing natural gas out here. What we would look at ourselves more as is a catalyst in the region for bringing gas out to as far as maybe Bethel. We anticipate that that potential is there and in doing our design and consideration we will certainly size the line with the expectation that it may become a common carrier and at some point along the way that somebody will come along and want to tie into that line and say bring a gas pipeline to Bethel to supply gas out here or to take gas off at some point to some of the villages along the way. We’ll size it with that but we won’t, in doing our study, what we will look at is how it impacts the mine. Somebody else will have to look at taking it beyond the mine to Bethel, but certainly there is an opportunity there.
Council member Beverly Hoffman: I’ve been on record as being opposed to this huge open pit mine out of fear for the resource that we so depend on - the fish. My concern over barge traffic, especially when we have low water years such as this, and the type of barge traffic, and my other concerns are the cyanide and the mercury, and earthquakes and devastation. It has caused me great fear. It is like, yes, we want economic development, but I really fear all of that. One thing that came out at the Akiak meeting last summer or the summer before, one of the ideas that came out is you are required to put up a million dollar bond to cover reclamation and the closure before you start mining, but the fear of your company going bankrupt – then that money is no good. Have you thought about putting up a protected account an independent account of all that, that would assure people in this area a million dollars in a designated account growing if all hell breaks loose?
Doug Nicholson: You’re absolutely right. There will be a bond required of the project, not in the millions but in the 10s of millions of dollars. Yes, what is required is a cash bond, its money that is there and pledged, and the intention of it is if the company were to go away, that the money is there for the state to come in and reclaim the project.
Council member Thor Williams: My next question is a local concern and a corporate concern for you - we have 2 places on the river on the lower side here that are becoming impassable for any size barges. This low water season is coming up because we had lack of snow in the delta and the Kuskowkwim watershed. That is the Johnson River Crossing and the Oscarville Crossing. In the past when we’ve had low river, our mid-draft barges cannot come up and had to unload downriver to come up. What is Barrick’s take on this and are you looking as a corporation to build your port lower than the Johnson Crossing to allow your barges to come up?
Doug Nicholson: we go through a risk assessment and we look at the potential for low water years. Any day that we’re down costs the company loses a significant amount of money. At one time we were looking at Johnson River, we had gone away from that in favor of portsite somewhere closer to Bethel if not in Bethel itself and right now that is still our take.
Currently, there’s been budgeted over $300 million to the project to date from 1995.

KuC Graduation:
Historic and Emotional

5-13-10

by Susan Baird

Kuskokwim Campus Director Mary C. Pete’s voice broke and tears welled in her eyes as she reflected on the progress Alaska Native people have made in regard to higher education in her lifetime. Her grandparents heard commencement addresses and accolades in English, a language they didn’t understand, and were slightly bewildered at the pomp and circumstance.
Today’s ceremony in the Yupiit Piciyarait Cultural Center conferred certificates and degrees on mostly Native students and almost everything, from the processional and recessional to the addresses and student remarks, were primarily in Yup’ik, with a little Tlingit and Athabaskan thrown in.
Participants were lead into the room by Panigkaq Agatha John-Shields who drummed and sang in Yup’ik and whose students from Inuqaar Carrie Dahl’s second grade class later performed the Pledge of Allegiance, America and the Alaska State Song in Yup’ik. They closed with Yup’ik drumming and dancing.
The keynote speaker was KuC Assistant Professor of English Ben Kuntz who likened the event to a toast at a wedding, his only public speaking experience to date. He substituted the word “diploma” for “wife” and continued undaunted. He remembered when he first met the members of the graduating class and wondered if they would ever settle down and decide to earn a diploma. He remarked that doing that involved a lot of time and work, but they could always get another diploma.
Professor Kuntz noted that although many students might feel graduation is the end, commencement means to begin, not finish. This is only the beginning and they must keep their faith in themselves and their ambition strong to realize the rest of their goals. As a professor, Ben could not only tell them to read, but what to read. With their graduation comes a shift in obligation from instructors to themselves. He hopes to see them in the future, with a book tucked under an arm, hoping he has instilled a love of learning in them. Mr. Kuntz closed by borrowing a metaphoric quote from student Andrew Beaver, “The lifespan of a person is like a fish jumping out of a river.” Enjoy your time in the air but don’t forget to pack a book!
The speaker for the Associate of Arts students, Tiffany Andrew, is the first member of her family to graduate from college. She battled a completely new atmosphere and homesickness, but prevailed, crediting the Emerging Scholars Program, tutors and mentors. Tiffany felt the first week of the Emerging Scholars Learn-to-Learn camp was like “jail” to her. Another student speaker, Dorothy Riffe in the Bachelor of Arts program, was happy to have earned her degree before she turned 70. Dorothy also prevailed against personal losses to finish.
Carol Naniruar Oulton spoke for the largest contingent ever of Master of Arts students, her talk poetic and peppered with humor at the struggles of the Second Language Acquisition Teacher Education (SLATE) program participants. She recalled leaving families for classes, finding coffee at UAF, fire alarms in the night and raucous calls of celebration throughout their ordeal.
The first doctoral candidate at a rural campus, Theresa Arevgaq John, was given a standing ovation not only for her accomplishments but for her message of persistence and celebration. Theresa’s thesis was Yuraryaraput Kangiit-llu: Our Ways of Dance and Their Meanings, which had two purposes: to describe the categories of dance and to describe how Yup’ik music has played a functional role in organizing and maintaining societal infrastructures within the Yup’ik culture.
Following Theresa’s hooding, another historic event elicited another standing ovation. Theresa’s father, Elder Paul Kangrilnguq John was also hooded for an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, an honor for which KuC nominated him. His message focused on retaining and exhibiting humility throughout personal and professional success. Paul noted Yup’iks are drawn to humble leadership.
University of Alaska Fairbanks Chancellor Brian Rogers reminded graduates they did not arrive on this stage with these degrees in their hands by themselves. It is important to thank those who assist you in achieving goals—family, friends and instructors. The UAF College of Rural and Community Development’s Vice Chancellor, Bernice Joseph, was impressed with the number of speeches and remarks in Native tongues and thanked the area partners who contribute to the educational opportunities of both KuC and its students.
Regent Robert Martin was challenged to give lifetime advice to the students in five minutes as Tlingit culture thrives on discourse. He encapsulated it to include what he has learned: learn from other’s mistakes; keep track of your peers; don’t burn any bridges; don’t make decisions when angry; fear neither change nor failure; be a problem finder as well as solver; hire the most qualified (even over qualified) person you can; allow others to fail; be a life-long learner; nurture and protect your reputation; and never pass up the opportunity to vote, even if it is to decide what’s for dinner.
The seventy-four graduates from thirty-one communities (twenty-six YK delta communities) at Friday’s KuC Commencement exercises were treated to a very special day with extraordinary significance. The delicious reception was literally the icing on the cake of historic accomplishments.

Nunam Iqua clinic shut down
Harassment and demands prompts health aides to quit

4-15-10

by K.J. Lincoln

The village of Nunam Iqua's health aides have resigned until further notice. The health aides and the clinic secretary decided last week to quit until working conditions improve in their village. Prior to their decision to resign, they were being subjected to harassing calls by people under the influence who were demanding that they come and provide health care in sometimes life-threatening situations.
“I think they mustered everything they could and finally decided that one of them was going to quit, and then the other two were scared to work alone so they wanted to quit too,” said Paula Ayunerak, the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation’s Unit 1 Representative for Nunam Iqua, Alakanuk, Kotlik, and Emmonak.
Nunam Iqua has no police officers.
“When a health aide is responding to an emergency at the scene, if they understand there to be alcohol or other kinds of concerns and the people have been consuming something, and there’s a group, that location needs to be secured first by responsible folks,” said Bill Schreiner, Director of the Community Health Aide Program. “That’s not their job, they’re just there to provide health care. I think that issues around responding to medical situations and scenes where there may be alcohol concerns are part of their consideration.”
In response to the two health aides and the office assistant’s resignations, Schreiner and other YKHC officials and staff flew out to Nunam Iqua last Friday to attend a meeting to address the problem. Alaska State Troopers, several AVCP staff members, Nunam Iqua school staff, and tribal and city council members were present.
What happened at the meeting?
“There were questions about what would happen with the two health aides and the office assistant resigning. We answered that and we’ve got an agreement that we’ll do our very best to float health aides in whenever troopers are going to be in the village,” said Schreiner. “So if we know for example that there we’re going to have troopers in the village then we’ll do everything we can to float one or two, maybe even 3 people in at that time. But when there is no trooper due to safety concerns and our own policies and procedures that all employees need to have a safe environment to work in, we won’t have anyone out there when there isn’t a trooper until such a time as the village of Nunam Iqua is able to provide a solution.”
Alaska State Trooper David Tracy attended the meeting.
“Troopers will help out with safety issues. What we are there to do is recognize that they have no enforcement officers in the village. It has been going on for a long time, they (health aides) have been asked to do things outside of their comfort zone – (involving) danger and violence, and they are no longer going to do that,” said Tracy.
Tracy also said that many of the calls that the health aides respond to and many of the calls the troopers respond to in that village are alcohol related.
As of last week, state troopers said they will be proactively patrolling the village and responding to any calls and are committed to providing support in Nunam Iqua for the next two weeks.
Schreiner praised the health aides - Savannah Strongheart and Francine Afcan - to be “really terrific health aides”. Savannah was health aide of the month last year and also health aide of the year. Gloria Abraham, the office assistant, was also a former health aide.
“All three ladies are very dedicated and I know that they really enjoyed providing excellent health care in the village and it is tough for them to make this decision and I know they did it with heavy hearts,” said Schreiner. “They are not being selfish, they’re doing it because at the current time they feel like it is just not the right environment for them. But I believe all three have it in their heart to come back at some point, so I am hopeful that will take place.”
Ayunerak was also at the meeting. She said that alcohol was a definitely a factor in the harassing calls to the health aides.
“Yes, alcohol related incidents have been the main reason why they quit – because of the incidents and people’s demands while under the influence and the harassment,” she said. “Nunam Iqua as a village is a good village, it is just the young people who don’t know how to take alcohol and be normal and they just go into things they don’t naturally do in sober life.”

Senate passes legislation ensuring School Construction Funding

4-9-10

The Alaska Senate yesterday voted unanimously to support legislation that addresses the way in which Alaska funds school construction for both Rural Education Attendance Areas (REAA) and Municipal districts.
SB 237, sponsored by the Senate Education Committee, makes permanent a program the legislature has, up to now, kept running through regular reauthorizations and codifies in statue a system for the equitable distribution of school construction funds it has historically attempted to achieve through the yearly budgetary process.
“This Legislation is a very positive step forward in assuring that rural districts have reasonable, predictable funding in school construction,” said Senator Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel. “The Kasayulie case pointed out the differences between construction funding opportunities for municipal districts and Rural Education Attendance Areas. This bill helps to close that gap.”
“The State of Alaska’s school bond debt reimbursement program is an important partnership between local communities and the State”, explained Senator Kevin Meyer, R-Anchorage, Co-Chair of the Senate Education Committee. “It has allowed projects on the Department of Education and Early Development’s approved list to be reimbursed for up to 70 percent of their costs by the State and allowed local governments to perform school construction they might not otherwise be able to afford.”
However, because it only applies to localities with bonding capacity - organized boroughs and municipalities - the bond debt reimbursement program has left a sizable sector of Alaska’s citizens without access to the program’s benefits. Senate Bill 237 fixes this by creating a comparable statutory mechanism to support rural school construction: an REAA construction fund.
“This bill brings equity to school construction funding across Alaska and gives REAAs the same level of funding predictability urban areas have enjoyed for years”, said Senator Joe Thomas, D- Fairbanks, co-chair of Senate Education. “This is good legislation for both rural and urban schools and is a step in the right direction for coming into compliance with the Kasayulie and the recent Moore decision.”
Consideration for SB 237 now moves to the Alaska House of Representatives for consideration. The bill is scheduled for hearing by the House Finance Committee, Wednesday, April 7, 2010.

Carl named to EOU Dean’s List

Liandra Carl of Kipnuk has made the Dean’s List at Eastern Oregon University for the 2009 Fall semester. She is the daughter of Elizabeth Carl and joins more than 500 students enrolled who have been named to the dean’s list. To qualify for the dean’s list, students must achieve and maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale while completing a minimum of 12 hours of graded coursework for the duration of the term. Eastern Oregon University serves as an educational, cultural and scholarly center in La Grande, Oregon.

Tribal Gathering set for April 7-8

This year marks the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation’s 17th annual Tribal Unity Gathering, to be held at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel April 7-8.
YKHC’s Senior Leadership has identified disease prevention as the focus of this year’s Gathering, adopting the theme “Prevention Today for Wellness Tomorrow.” Preventative care has always been at the center of YKHC’s approach to health maintenance. Now, with the challenges of chronic illness resulting from changes in diet and lifestyle, not to mention the rising cost of treatment, prevention is all the more important to quality of life in the future.
YKHC’s president and CEO Gene Peltola states, “We realize of course, that not every condition can be prevented. Many of our people have chronic or genetic illnesses that must be treated. However, so many of the injuries and illnesses we care for every day are preventable. During the Gathering we look at many different ways to ensure a healthier tomorrow through prevention today.”
YKHC has invited two Tribal Council members from each village to represent their tribal members at the Gathering. More than fifty tribes from around the Delta Region are heading to Bethel for our two day event.
During the Gathering, YKHC will honor the memory of Dr. Gerald Mohatt, Pete Brown, Hilary Kairaiuak, and Mary “Sweetums” Pavil for their contributions to Alaska Native health and wellness.
We are also looking for local businesses and sponsors to assist us with donations of door prizes since we anticipate an economic boost to the city of Bethel. YKHC anticipates as many as 150 individuals in town participating in the event, not to mention all the YKHC employees who help with organizing the event.

17 days left in Legislative Session

by Senator Lyman Hoffman

Hello –
Good Friday…and only 17 days before session ends. Bills in both chambers are on the move. SB 230: FY11 Capital budget was scheduled this week, but had to be postponed – it is still being worked on (wink/wink). I expect the bill will come before us sometime next week.
The Senate passed their version of the FY11 Operating Budget and sent it back to the House for concurrence. The House will then vote against concurrence and the House members of a conference committee will be appointed. Then the Senate will vote against receding from its amendments and the Senate members of the conference committee will be appointed.
The 24-hour rule goes into effect once the House and the Senate have both appointed conference committee members for the operating budget. When the 24-hour rule goes into effect, committees only have to notice meetings and their content 24 hours in advance. During this time, you will want to rely on the committee schedule posted in BASIS.
This session has been on “double-time” since we gaveled in. Before we know it, we’ll be done and I’ll be home! -Lyman
HB 307: Sexual Assault Protective Orders
HB 307, sponsored by Representative Lindsey Holmes (D-Anc), amends existing law to explicitly give magistrates and district court judges jurisdiction to grant protective orders in cases of sexual assault. This change is especially important to Alaska’s rural communities, which often have access only to magistrates or district courts.
“This bill makes it easier for victims of sexual assault – especially those in rural communities – to obtain protection from their assailants,” Rep. Holmes said. Governor Parnell signed HB 307 into law on March 31, 2010.
SB 217: AHFC Veterans Bond/Building Acquisition
•SB 217 places a revenue bond authorization for veteran housing loans on this November’s general election. If passed by the voters, $600 million would be available to the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation for purchasing housing mortgages for qualifying vets. This extends the existing program which has spent $2.7 billion to date.
•Other features of the program are the lowest possible interest rates provided to veterans and no income limitations. SB 217 passed out of the Senate and is now in the House Finance Committee.
Senate Finance Committee action….
CSSB 237: School Construction Debt Reimbursement moved out of committee and passed the Senate. This bill establishes a funding mechanism and an account for REAA school construction and eliminates the sunset provision for Municipal school debt reimbursement.
CSSB 305: Separate Oil & Gas Production Tax moved out of committee and passed the Senate. This bill is the infamous “decoupling” bill, which separates oil and natural gas for purposes of calculating the production tax. Happy Easter!

Local workers build village housing

4-1-10

by AVCP Housing staff

In Alakanuk and Chevak, multi-family housing units in the shape of triplexes are being built – four in Chevak, consisting of 12 units; and three in Alakanuk consisting of nine units. The homes will benefit low-income families that are unable to obtain housing in other ways.
All the homes are being built by local hire, said Ron Hoffman, AVCP Housing President & CEO. “The idea of hiring local people in our housing projects in villages has long been a dream of mine,” he said.
Force accounting means local workers get employed in village projects that otherwise would’ve been ignored if those projects were contracted out. “It’s been my goal since I became head of AVCP Housing to ‘force-account’ all our village projects,” Hoffman added.
The Chevak and Alakanuk triplex construction began in the middle of last summer, when materials began arriving in these villages. “Rural Alaska villages usually have a short window of opportunity for construction, and with no roads, they also depend on infrequent barge schedules,” Hoffman said. “Some barges carrying construction materials arrive either in June, July or August and construction starts immediately thereafter.”
Late summer starts mean construction building into the winter months. Hoffman visited those projects last week on a blustery March 24 to see how progress was occurring. In Chevak, 31 roofers, carpenters, laborers, and construction trainees worked industriously side-by-side on the four triplexes.
Temperatures were in sub-zero temperatures and workers were bundled up as they worked on the exteriors of the buildings, Hoffman said. “Nonetheless it was rewarding to see local people hard at work in such an unusual time and climate.”
But there was another contributing factor at work in these villages. “That’s Economic Stimulus Bill funding working right there,” Hoffman said. “We’re on the other side of the continent from Washington D.C., but the stimulus bill is putting these far-flung Americans to work and building much-needed housing projects, even in deep winter.”
The total wages paid to date to workers in Chevak is $590,868, while $489,641 was paid to Alakanuk workers. “That’s what’s being pumped into the economies of those villages,” said Brad Thomas, one of AVCP Housing’s Project Managers.
Most of the workers in Chevak and Alakanuk are the result of AVCP Housing’s construction training program which it has offered in the last 10 years. The Apprentice Training Program, also known as the Building Maintenance and Repairer Training Program, was developed by Hoffman with the aid of the statewide Alaska Works Partnership program.
“In this program we take construction trainees and let them work side-by-side with journeymen until they’ve accumulated 4,000 hours of training, which is a requirement to graduate,” Hoffman said. “Upon graduation, they become highly-sought after as well-trained construction workers.”
Most recently, AVCP Housing has also initiated a Weatherization Worker training program as well, where weatherization workers can learn the best available methods of tightening up a home thereby reducing energy usage and heat loss for homeowners.
These training programs are currently on-going. “I know we’ve accomplished one very good thing out of these training programs,” Hoffman said. “We’ve developed a large and experienced local workforce that lives in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta which we can then draw upon for the many construction jobs and projects we have every summer.”

Reforms demanded by AK Tribal Leaders in Washington, DC

3-25-10

The landless state of Alaska’s tribes, the security of ancestral lands now held by state chartered ANCSA corporations, subsistence hunting and fishing, and Alaska Natives disenfranchised by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act were concerns addressed by tribal leaders and elders at meetings in Washington, DC, March 1-4, 2010.
Delegates from the Alaska Tribal Leaders Summit spoke to the National Congress of American Indians and high ranking Federal officials to explain the urgent need to save Alaska’s Native tribes by returning land title back to them and conveying them to trust status. They also called for the restoration of Alaska Native aboriginal hunting and fishing rights as a matter of Human Rights.
These issues are a part of emerging problems with ANCSA that, among other unilateral acts, “extinguished” land and other Inherent tribal rights held by Alaska Natives born after December 18, 1971, a group that now represents over 60% of living Alaska Natives.
Chuck Chaliak, President of the Native Village of Nunapitchuk said, “(The) younger generation needs land because ANCSA did away with land ownership. Our rights were [extinguished]. . . Our people are being fined for fish and game infractions. Opening of moose hunting, for example, is reduced to (a) scrap of land… and that is ridiculous for there is no moose on that itsy bitsy scrap of land.”
Anna Pratt shared from the Yupiit of Andreasfski (St. Mary’s, Alaska): “As tribal people, it is sad to see the effects of dysfunction and the division of entities within the communities. We used to have one leader in the villages that lead our tribes and life seemed to be happier then. Now, we have many entities, dividing families and friends, which is leading to our present dysfunction. We need to band together, support each other, and have a common goal. Together as one unit we can accomplish more and that should be our ultimate goal.”
Darryl Sipary, of Andreafski, added that “If we do not stick together, we may become extinct or lose our lifestyle forever, and forever means extinction.”
Eighteen tribal leaders met with Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs, the Hon. Larry Echo Hawk, who listened attentively and committed to address their concerns while traveling to Alaska next month when he will meet with Alaska’s federally recognized tribes to begin resolving these outstanding problems facing Alaska’s Native people.
Virginia Cormack of Ambler said the trip to Washington D.C. “has brought peace into my heart. . .Now that we have introduced ourselves as Tribes, my feeling is our presence has to be consistent and in an ethical, respectable, and orderly fashion.”
The tribal leaders and elders also met with the Alaska Congressional delegation to brief them directly on these matters. They also met with the staff of Sen. Daniel Inouye and the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Senator Mark Begich said that he would do all he could to assist Alaska’s Indigenous peoples, and asked Alaska tribes to assist him with the forthcoming tribal law and order bill.
Senator Murkowski said that she would meet with Alaska’s tribes on her next trip home in April. However, Senator Murkowski’s staff reported her opposition to Alaska tribes establishing their lands in trust, and acknowledged she authored an amendment to the Carcieri bill (S. 1703), that, in her opinion, would aid in retaining in regulation 25 C.F.R. 151.1 a bar against the Secretary of Interior accepting any Alaska tribes land in trust.
The Alaska Tribal Leaders were led by Bill Martin, President of the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indians of Alaska and Mike Williams, Chief of the Yupiit Nation. Williams reiterated that “Alaska Native tribes are presently engaged in a quiet but desperate struggle for survival, and the Federal Government has a trust obligation to all of the Tribes of this Nation to protect and enhance our communities.”
Williams called for Alaska Native unity, the need for Tribes and their ANCSA corporations to work together to protect their ancestral lands and to recover other Inheritances so as “to forge a more hopeful and brighter future for our children.” He is recommending that these existential issues be addressed by Alaska tribes and the United States on a government-to-government basis, and again reiterated that the outcome will determine the viability and survival of Alaska’s Indigenous people.
A Second Alaska Tribal Leaders Summit is being scheduled for April to allow the delegates to report to the federally recognized tribes of Alaska and to determine the next course of action. Meeting dates will be announced as soon as they can be firmed up with the Assistant Secretary of Interior-Indian Affair’s office, Senator Mark Begich and Senator Lisa Murkowski.
All tribal, village, corporate and nonprofit leaders who care about these issues are encouraged to attend the Tribal Leaders Summit in April.
Alaska Tribal Leaders Summit Anchorage, Alaska; Website: www.AlaskanVillages.org. To register for the Summit in April, contact Summit coordinator Anna Davidson, 907-227-2099 or email: upick2@aol.com.

Cama-i Festival 2010

3-17-10

This year’s Cama-i Festival will be held March 26 – 28, 2010 at the Bethel High School. It is sponsored by the Bethel Council on the Arts for your enjoyment and participation.
Featured this year will be the Living Treasure – Mary Ann Sundown of Scammon Bay. The festival will be dedicated to Andy Paukan, Agnes Aguchak, and Hilary Kairaiuak, who have passed on.
The doors open at 5pm on Friday, March 26th with the performances beginning at 5:30pm until midnight. On Saturday, doors will open at 11:30am with dancing beginning at 12 noon until midnight. Sunday doors will open at 12:30pm with dancing starting at 1pm until 9pm.
Featured local dance groups include: the Bethel Traditional Dancers, Kaluiarmute Kinguliarit, Upallret Dancers, Yurartet Dancers, Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, Mikelnguut Elitnaurviat, the Warriors’ Native Dancers, the BRHS JROTC Drill and Step Teams, the Dazzling Northern Lightz Dancers, and the YKHC “Dance Away Diabetes” dancers.
From the Region will be dance groups from: Chevak, Marshall, St. Mary’s, Scammon Bay, Nunapitchuk, and the Napaskiak Tundra Tappers.
From elsewhere in Alaska will be the Ingrimiut Dancers, the Pavva Inupiat Dancers, the Mother of Mukluk Seal Mask Dancers, and the Mt. Edgecumbe High School Native Dancers.
National dance groups will include the Midnight Sun Cloggers and the Static Elementz Break Dancers. The international group this year are the Tomodachi Daiko – Taiko Drummers.
Other activities will include the excellent Native Arts & Crafts Sales, the Cama-i Quilt Show and Raffle, Mr. and Ms. Cama-i Pageant, Heart of the Drums, the YK Delta Memoriam, “Up Close and Personal” seminars to learn more about various dance groups, “Smile Alaska Style” YKHC free dental checkups on Saturday, the delicious Native Foods Dinner on Saturday from 4-7, the Lions Club Pancake Breakfast on Sunday starting at 10am, and online visitors can view the festival through the live webcam at www.bethelarts.com. Arts and crafters who wish to reserve a table can call Minnie at 543-1835. Volunteers are always welcome – to sign up please call Joan at 543-5885 evenings, and 543-1149 during the day and to leave a message.
There will be a Cama-i planning meeting on Tuesday, March 9th, 2010 at KuC. Everyone is invited to join in helping with the festival.
Quyana Cama-i!

Government
Contracting Week begins

Government Contracting Week will begin March 8-11th- at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel sponsored by: ROPE – Rural Outreach Program for Entrepreneurs.
Monday, March 8th
2-4 pm Business Planning - Deborah Kvasnikoff, ROPE Director. If you are thinking of starting a business or you already have a business and just want some guidance on how to give your business some positive direction, then this workshop is for you! Deborah can provide resources and will help you take the steps you need take a critical look at your business.
5:30-8pm Government Small Business Certifications Overview – Carolyn Pratt, Director of the Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). What is the difference between self-certification and Government Certification programs? Is your business qualified for women-owned, 8(a), HUBZone, or Veteran-Owned certification? This workshop will review these programs, discuss what role they play in government contracting, and consider how certification benefits a business.
Tuesday, March 9th
9am-11:30pm Government Contracting 101 – Carolyn Pratt, PTAC Director. An introduction to government contracting that will help you understand the process and what you need to do if you would like the government as a customer. This workshop is the first in the PTAC Government Contracts Series, and is the essential first step in understanding how to win government contracts.
1:30-4pm Marketing to Government Agencies – Carolyn Pratt, PTAC Director. How can you set yourself apart from your competitors for a government contract? How do you know if a government contract opportunity is right for you? At this workshop you will learn how to make your business stand out in a crowd. You will also be given the resources that can help you find the right contracts to pursue.
5:30-8pm Business Insurance & Bonding – Colleen Ferris, The Insurance Lady LLC. Everything you need to know to insure that your business is adequately insured, bonded, and eligible to win government contracts!
Wednesday, March 10th
9-11:30am 8(a) Business Development Program – David Matekovich, 8(a) Specialist with the SBA. Do you qualify for 8(a) contracts? How do you get certified? What does the future look like for 8(a) business in Alaska? David’s presentation is sure to be an important part of your government contracting plans for the next year!
1:30-2:30pm HUBZone Certification – Sam Dickey, Deputy District Director with the SBA in Alaska
The mission of the HUBZone program is “to promote job growth, capital investment, and economic development to historically underutilized business zones, referred to as HUBZones, by providing contracting assistance to small businesses located in these economically distressed communities.” Hear what the SBA is doing to help businesses like yours get government contracts.
3-5pm Partnerships in Contracting – Dusty Kaser, retired CEO of the Afognak Corporation. Whether your business will do the work for a specific contract or intends to contract work out through business partners, you may still have questions about how exactly to complete your contract. How do you put all the Government Contracting knowledge you’ve gained this week to use? How about hearing from someone with experience!
Thursday, March 10th
9-11:30am Business Banking – speaker TBD. Put the final piece of the puzzle together by learning about business banking and financing. What can you do now to prepare yourself for potential business banking needs? What is available to help you finance your potential government contracts? Complete your week by getting answers here!

RSV (Respiratory
Syncytial Virus) Advisory

3-2-10

Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation would like to advise all patient/customers, Bethel community members, and it’s employees to be aware of a recent outbreak of the RSV Virus.
YKHC has seen a recent spike in RSV related cases. The virus causes acute respiratory tract illness in patients of all ages and occurs in annual epidemics of variable extent during winter and early spring in climates such as ours.
Severe RSV illness is more likely to occur in infants and young children, especially those with chronic lung disease and prematurely born infants with or without chronic lung disease.
RSV is treated by the symptoms it causes. Symptoms of RSV are similar to a cold. Most symptoms go away on their own after several days. If your child is having problems breathing, please bring them to see a provider immediately.
To help prevent spreading RSV:
• Wash hands frequently. If running water is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Cover your mouth when coughing.
• Avoid sharing items such as cups, glasses, and utensils with persons diagnosed with a respiratory illness.
For additional questions please contact Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation’s Infection Control at 543-6303.

4th Annual
Women of Science Day

Attention ALL Girls! On Saturday, March 6, 2010 the 4th Annual Women of Science Day will be held at Bethel’s Kuskokwim Campus UAF. K-3rd 11-1:30; 4th and older 11-3:30. A $5.00 donation includes lunch, event backpack, & patch. Come have fun with your friends exploring science!
Workshop topics will include geology, rocket science, medicine, wind energy, nursing, glacier science, film making special effects or migratory bird studies. Many sessions will be led by special presenters traveling to Bethel for the event.
Ben Grossman (originally from Delta) and Ariane Rosier both movie visual effect stars fresh from Hollywood just finished making the special effects for the new 3D movie Alice in Wonderland and will be presenting at the event.
YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT! You do not need to be a Girl Scout to come. ALL girls 5 and older invited. Questions/Want to Help: Please call or email Amy at 545-2625 avondiest@girlscoutsalaska.org. No need to sign up ahead of time or be a Girl Scout, just come and bring your friends!
Brought to you by: Girl Scouts of Alaska, KUC’s Continuing Education Department, BP, and Era Aviation. (Please use college’s entrance.)

YK Delta Subsistence
Council to meet in Bethel

The Yukon Kuskokwim Delta Federal Subsistence Regional Advisory Council will meet in Bethel March 2-4, 2010. The meeting will be held at the Moravian Church Fellowship Hall and will begin at 9 a.m.
The council will develop recommendations on proposals to change Federal subsistence hunting and trapping regulations and Yukon River Chinook salmon fishing regulations and will discuss current issues affecting subsistence on the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta.
For additional information, teleconferencing arrangements, special accommodations, or an agenda for the meeting, contact Alex Nick at least 72 hours prior to the meeting at (907) 543-1037 or (800) 621-5804, ext. 257 or by e-mail at alex_nick@fws.gov. Additional information on the Federal Subsistence Management Program can be found at http://alaska.fws.gov/asm/home.html.

Searchers look for Bethel hunter

2-24-10

by Bethel Search and Rescue

On Saturday last week, a hunter became separated from his hunting party and in the days following became the subject of an intensive search involving as much as seven villages and several organizations.
The area of search concentrated in the Devil’s Elbow region, which is the southernmost leg of Yukon River upriver from Marshall and known for being treacherous when windy out during boating season. Without snow, the tundra was also very rough in the area, according to searchers.
Norman Japhet and two other men were planning to camp in Pitka’s Point, where one of them had family, and hunt for moose in areas below Mt. Village. But Japhet, while on route to Pilot Station, lost his sled around Devil’s Elbow and turned around to look for it, making plans to meet up with his hunting partners at the Pilot Station portage.
But with so many snowmachine tracks from other travelers and moose hunters, Japhet couldn’t figure out which was his that lead to his sled, which contained his medicine, camping and survival gear, and gas. After searching for his sled for some time, he began to get low on fuel.
Soon night came and Japhet knew he couldn’t make it to the portage, so he decided to make his way toward a cabin he knew was near, but his GPS gave out before he reached it. While making his way around rough tundra, his snow machine suddenly tipped over and onto him, especially his ankle, injuring it. He decided to stop there and made camp, but there wasn’t a lot of fuel for fire. He ended up staying there for several days waiting for help.
On Sunday, when he hadn’t yet arrived, Japhet’s partners called the Alaska State Troopers in St. Mary’s and reported him missing. A hasty team was then sent out to look for him within the hour but came back without results. A larger search party was assembled and deployed, consisting of about 20 SAR volunteers from Pilot Station and Marshall. Four AST aircraft also joined the search for Japhet that day.
On Monday, Mt. Village and Russian Mission SAR teams were added and a wider search was initiated. Aircraft from the Fish & Wildlife Service and Civil Air Patrol were also added. Ground searchers found Japhet’s sled and siwash camp, both west of Devil’s Elbow. Concern grew for Japhet when searchers learned he was out there without his survival gear and extra gas.
On Tuesday, Bethel and Nunapitchuk SAR teams joined the search making wide sweeps in their respective areas for signs of Japhet and his snowmobile track. By evening, none were found and they returned home, making plans to continue searching the following day.
According to Japhet, he could see and hear search planes far to the east and west of him. “I could hear or see planes far way and high above me.” On Sunday, he had pulled off his bunny boot on his hurt ankle, but couldn’t put it back due to swelling. “So I covered it up as much as I could with the space blanket.”
For shelter, he made a windbreak behind a fallen tree and formed a wall of branches, using a poncho for a blanket. He tried calling on his radio to Pilot Station, to airplanes flying overhead, and other locations that might hear him but to no avail.
Waiting a long time for help – several days – was getting frustrating, Japhet said. “So I decided to move and see if I could make the Pilot Station portage and try to get within radio distance.” But his snowmachine ran completely out of gas after running a short time. “So I made another shelter and prepared to stay put again. I tried the radio again and finally heard someone, so I started making distress calls, but somebody replied ‘stand down’ and then I couldn’t hear anyone again.”
Finally, around 8 pm Tuesday evening, Japhet heard a plane flying near so he lit a nearby tree on fire using his plastic poncho and space blanket as fire starter. Immediately the plane, piloted by AST pilot Earl Samuelson and carrying a crew of spotters, saw and flew circles around him until a ground search party reached Japhet and took him to Pilot Station. He was later taken to Bethel hospital for treatment of a frostbitten foot.
“I wasn’t lost – I just ran of gas,” Japhet said. “But no matter how much survival gear you have with you when you travel, it’s never enough. You need to keep it with you and not in your sled, and pack every compartment you have in your snowmachine with survival gear.”
The Alaska State Troopers also recommend that people traveling or hunting in the wilderness carry flares or other night-signaling devices that can be seen for long distances and to use them only when they get in trouble.

KYUK announces scholarship winner

Bethel Broadcasting, Inc. is proud to announce the recipient of the 2010 Alexie Isaac Memorial Scholarship for the spring semester. Andrew White of Kasigluk has been awarded a $1,000 scholarship.
White, a 2009 graduate of Akula Elitnauvik high school in Kasigluk, is currently in his second semester at the University of Alaska-Anchorage in the Air Traffic Control program.
The Alexie Isaac Memorial Scholarship was created in 2006, in memory of Isaac, a long-time employee of Bethel Broadcasting, who worked as a television producer, cameraman, editor, translator, and radio announcer. Bethel Broadcasting awards a $1,000 scholarship each year in his memory. For more information about applying for the 2010 fall semester scholarship, visit www.kyuk.org or call 907-543-0222. The application deadline is Friday July 30, 2010.

Chythlook-Sifsof endures fall in Olympic debut

The Olympic dream turned into history for Callan Chythlook-Sifsof.
The first Alaska Native to compete in the Olympics, the 21-year-old suffered falls in both of her qualifying runs on Feb. 16 and failed to advance to the medal round of the snowboardcross race at the Vancouver Olympic Games.
Battling rain and thick fog on Cypress Mountain, Chythlook-Sifsof struggled on her first qualifying attempt. After seeing the race postponed by more than two hours due to poor weather, she fell on her back during the first run, but managed to regain her feet and finish the race. Her time in the first was the slowest among all qualifying runs.
Her luck didn’t get any better in her second run. A finalist at the Winter X Games a few weeks earlier, Chythlook-Sifsof suffered another fall on her second run. She, again, managed to get going again but removed herself from the race shortly afterward.
Chythlook-Sifsof etched her name into the state – and U.S. Olympic – history earlier this year when she was earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Well-wishers and fans were very proud of her, despite the falls, for her success in making it to the Olymics. “We are still so proud of you here in Bristol Bay and the State Callan!!!” wrote one fan. “AND the First Alaskan Native in the Olympics ever! You being there was a huge win for the people of Alaska... Good Job. Thanks for being so great!”

Canine Comfort, Inc.
yearly update

2-11-10

From April 2009 through January 2010 Canine Comfort, Inc. has been very busy. This is an accounting of what we have accomplished thus far this year.
Thirty puppies were taken in, wormed, vaccinated and held for a period of time to be sure all were healthy. They were then surrendered to Alaska Dog & Puppy Rescue (ADPR) for adoption. ADPR always lets us know when they are adopted and so far all puppies have been adopted. Sue and Craig Luchsinger adopted one of the beautiful boys and Kathy Sweeney just couldn’t live without a gal with wiry hair.
Three adult dogs were given up to Canine Comfort. Two were sent in to be spayed, one to be re-homed and one returned to Aniak to a new forever home. One was sent to Alaska SPCA where he was adopted before the week was out into a home fit for a king.
Seven loose/stray dogs were taken in until the owners were found and notified.
Twenty-five phone calls from concerned citizens were responded to. We would like to thank those who care enough to have Canine Comfort, Inc. check on questionable animal situations. Thank you.
Assistance was given to three homes concerning containment success. The proper set up of runners and positioning of dog houses is important for the dog to be happily contained.
Nineteen calls for medical treatment were dealt with. These treatments are the vaccination of dogs and puppies, the removal of stitches, an accidental poisoning, dog fighting injuries and a dog that was shot. Some of these calls were assisted by Dr. Robert Sept via telephone.
One little dog was given an overnight stay at Kathy Sweeney’s home and put onto his homeward flight the next morning.
Kalskag, Kwigillingok, Toksook Bay and Mt. Village were in need of our assistance with the re-homing of puppies, the feeding of starving dogs and the emergency treatment and rescue of a puppy with a string embedded into her neck. Canine Comfort, Inc. is very grateful to ADPR for quickly responding to these needs. And to all the people who donated dollars for food to be sent out to dogs in need.
We are able to provide straw for sale to pet owners for their dogs who live outdoors. Our high school shop class made it possible for four more dogs to have a more comfortable winter. Thank you to the wood shop teacher and students.
On April 12th and October 11th 2009, Dr. Sept was here to provide veterinary care. Canine Comfort, Inc. was proudly able to provide pet owners monetary help for twenty-two dogs and cats by subsidizing the cost of surgeries by approximately 40%.
On May 11th 2009 Bev, Sue and Kathy were interviewed for the Purina Pro Plan magazine, Rally to Rescue. The good folks of Purina did an excellent job with this article about our efforts here in bush Alaska. Thank you again. With this publication we gained many people interested in helping us educate, provide better care and rescue domestic animals that otherwise may have perished.
On May 22, 2009 Kathy Sweeney received her lay vaccinator certification.
On June 20th 2009 news anchor, Andrea Gusty, interviewed Sue Luchsinger and Kathy Sweeney for Channel 11. Thank you Andrea, many people did see that piece out here and are better informed on the proper care of their pets.
On July 21st 2009, Kathy Sweeney was invited to speak at Kids Camp about how to be safe around strange dogs, the proper care and training of a puppy, and the best way to care for a dog going to have puppies. Sookie, one of Canine Comfort’s puppies at that time came along to demonstrate all the commands she learned in only a short two weeks. Of course she was a huge hit. Thank you for inviting Canine Comfort, Inc. to Kids Camp.
On August 15th 2009 a benefit concert was put on by Rally to Rescue called “Pipe Line to Rescue”. All proceeds and donated goods from this event were slated for us here in Aniak, but sadly we have not received anything from this event. Those companies, here in Aniak, who were contacted for this event, we thank you just the same for your support and good will to help us provide for the homeless and hungry animals we will continue to provide for.
Canine Comfort, Inc. is located in Aniak, AK and is run by Bev LeMaster, Sue Luchsinger, and Kathy Sweeney.

City of Kwethluk objects to
alcohol sales in Bethel

During the City of Kwethluk’s January 5th, 2010 regular city council meeting, a resolution was passed objecting to all applications for alcoholic beverage sales licenses in the City of Bethel. The resolution was sent to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board.
The City of Kwethluk, which is the local governing body for their community, stated in the resolution that Kwethluk is 15 miles east of the Bethel and that members of their community frequently travel to Bethel for health care, to purchase goods, for services, and other matters.
It also says that despite no liquor sales in Bethel since 1977, alcohol has negatively impacted their community, and in some cases with tragic consequences. They are also concerned that if alcohol is permitted to be sold in Bethel that such sales would increase the prohibited sale of alcohol, importation, and possession within Kwethluk – in effect invalidating their own local option status.
The resolution also states fears that if alcohol sales are permitted, there would likely be an increase in alcohol-related search and rescue efforts, incarcerations, accidents, traumas, fatalities, and intervention and removal of children from families within the cities of Bethel and Kwethluk – increasing the workload of service personnel.
Kwethluk is a dry community under local option.

Resident moose hunt extended
in Remainder of GMU 18

2-3-10

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game will use its emergency order authority to extend the moose hunting season in Unit 18 in response to community needs.
The Alaska Board of Game approved a request from local communities to extend the moose season in the Remainder of Unit 18. Residents requested that the season be extended due to lack of snow and the poor travel conditions associated with little snow. The extended season will allow resident hunters to take any moose during the winter season of January 27-February 28 in the portion of Unit 18. In conjunction with the early emergency order opening the area below Mountain Village, this emergency order allows hunters to harvest a moose in any area north and west of the Kuskokwim Hunt area, also known as the former moratorium area. Please note that if a person has harvested a moose in the fall 2009 or winter 2010 season they are not eligible to harvest a moose in this extended season.
ADF&G biologists have determined that additional hunting opportunity is biologically defensible given the low harvest that has already occurred and the low harvest that typically occurs in this area in the winter season.

Fairbanks Diocese set to
emerge from reorganization

Federal Bankruptcy Court Judge Donald McDonald Monday approved the consensual plan of reorganization for Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska that was filed jointly by the Committee of Tort Claimants and Catholic Bishop of Northern Alaska. The ruling permits the diocese to emerge from bankruptcy almost two years after it originally filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code. The plan was accepted by creditors, including 256 of the 258 victims of clergy sexual misconduct who voted on the plan.
Bishop Donald Kettler was in Anchorage at the hearing. He says the plan’s confirmation opens a new chapter for the diocese and the people across Alaska.
“With this ruling we can now begin the process of restoring trust and healing. Not only does the plan financially compensate those harmed, but it will allow us to focus our energies on healing and the essential ministries we are called to perform.”
The diocese filed for reorganization in March 2008 in the face of more than 100 lawsuits brought in state court by people sexually abused by either Church ministers or volunteers. In the months following the filing, the number of claims nearly doubled with a large percentage of the cases dating from the 1960s through the1980s.
Under the terms of the plan CBNA will establish a fund that will compensate victims with almost 10 million dollars. The money comes from sales of diocesan property to the endowment. The plan also gives the victims the right to pursue claims against two insurance carriers who the Diocese sued after the Chapter 11 case was filed and any recoveries will go to further compensate claimants in CBNA’s Chapter 11 case.
The plan also calls on the diocese to meet nonmonetary obligations. Among those obligations are the following: Bishop Kettler will travel to communities where people were harmed and apologize to victims; he will also conduct healing ceremonies and listening sessions; and, the diocese will be posting a general letter of apology on its website along with the names of perpetrators.
The plan involves certain settlements with the diocese’s 46 parishes, the Catholic Schools of Fairbanks and KNOM, the diocese’s radio station located in Nome. Bishop Kettler acknowledges their contributions:
“Without the hard work of our diocesan partners, the parishes and other entities, this confirmation would not have been possible. Indeed, it has been heartening to see us work with so many people to achieve this measure of justice and financial restitution.”
The diocese of Fairbanks encompasses more the 400 thousand square miles. It is home to some 15 thousand Catholics. It is the only missionary diocese in the United States to fall under the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples, the Vatican’s office of overseas missions.

Brink of Kasiguk passes Instrument Rating checkride

Congratulations to Wilson Brink, of Kasigluk, for passing his FAA Instrument Rating checkride. Wilson is the son of Lucy and Franklin Brink of Kasigluk and together with his wife Lucy is the father of three children.
Wilson started flying a couple of years ago and has steadily chipped away at his certificates and ratings; he has only his Commercial License to earn before he can fly for hire. He first soloed in a Cessna 150 rated at 100 HP, and transitioned to a Cessna Skyhawk sporting an engine capable of 150 HP and speeds approaching 140 miles per hour. Soon he was generating contrails back and forth above the YK Delta racking up the required hours along the way. Now in his future he will be behind the yoke of a Cessna Cutlass II, a retractable landing gear, 180 horse complex ‘plane cruising faster than grandfather’s Ferarri at 160 miles per hour!
Does it sound interesting to you? You may be missing your chance to become a pilot. Call Thad Tikiun at 1-888-543-7209 or 543-7209 to find out if you qualify. Wilson would like to thank one or more of the following organizations for their help, Alaska Airlines, AVCP, CVRF, State of Alaska, The Delta Discovery, Hageland Aviation, Calista, and the Tribes of the YK Delta.

City Council votes down all liquor license applications

The Bethel City Council, influenced by the January 19th alcohol advisory vote and other issues such as parking and crime rates, voted to protest the issuance of liquor licenses for 3 restaurants and one package store - Corina’s Restaurant, 123 BBQ Express, Dimitri’s Restaurant, and AC Commercial Co. - during their Jan. 26th, 2010 city council meeting.
Bethel voters overwhelmingly voted that they do not want to see any type of alcohol sales in the community during the special election on January 19.
The first protest was issued by the city council on January 12, 2010 for the Osaka Restaurant. The resolution was delivered to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board for Osaka on January 13, 2010.

Commerce Secretary Locke announces Yukon fishery failure

1-21-09

Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke determined that there has been a commercial fishery failure for the Yukon River Chinook salmon due to low salmon returns.
“Communities in Alaska along the Yukon River depend heavily on Chinook salmon for commercial fishing, jobs and food,” said Commerce Secretary Gary Locke last Friday. “I have determined that a fishery disaster has occurred due to consecutive years of low Chinook salmon returns. Alaska fishermen and their families are struggling with a substantial loss in income and revenues.”
Because of low Chinook salmon returns, the state of Alaska reduced the 2008 commercial Chinook salmon harvest to 89 percent below the recent five-year average. No commercial Chinook salmon fishery was allowed in 2009 on the Yukon River. The state also restricted subsistence harvests.
“While subsistence fishing is not a factor in determining a commercial fishery failure, for Yukon River communities the commercial and subsistence fisheries are inseparable,” said Doug Mecum, acting administrator of the NOAA’s Fisheries Service Alaska region. “These communities are very isolated and do not have the economic diversity to withstand the disastrous economic impact of extremely low or no commercial harvest coupled with a decline in subsistence harvests.”
The State of Alaska manages the Yukon River salmon fisheries and collects biological and economic information.
Although the reasons for the decline of Chinook salmon are not completely understood, scientists believe they are predominately natural. Changes in ocean and river conditions, including unfavorable shifts in temperatures and food sources, likely caused poor survival of Chinook salmon.
Chinook salmon bycatch in the Bering Sea pollock fishery also may contribute to low returns. However, the impacts of ocean bycatch on Chinook returns to the Yukon River is expected to be small compared to natural causes. The North Pacific Fishery Management Council has recommended measures to minimize this bycatch and NOAA’s Fisheries Service is reviewing the Council recommendations and developing proposed regulations.
Under Section 312(a) of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the Commerce Secretary can make a determination that there has been a commercial fishery failure if requested to do so by the governor, or at the Secretary’s discretion. The Secretary must determine that the commercial fishery failure resulted from a fishery resource disaster due to natural causes, man-made causes beyond the control of fishery managers, or undetermined causes.
Alaska Governor Sean Parnell requested that Secretary Locke determine a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster. The Association of Village Council Presidents, the Alaska Federation of Natives, and the villages of Kwethluk and Chevak also asked Secretary Locke for a disaster determination. Their request was supported by the Alaska State Legislature and Alaska’s Congressional delegation.
While appropriations were not provided specifically for this failure, the Department is prepared to expedite the delivery of resources should they become available. The Department is prepared to work with the State of Alaska and the affected communities on these issues.

Resident Moose Hunt extended
on Lower Yukon River

The Alaska Department of Fish & Game will use its emergency order authority to extend the moose hunting season in Unit 18.
The Alaska Board of Game adopted an extended winter season for the Lower Yukon River hunt area below Mountain Village in Unit 18 at its regular meeting in Nome during November 2009. To allow hunting in the current regulatory year, the Board approved an emergency order announcement of the extended Dec 20-Feb 28 season to be issued by the department. Residents from the affected area requested that the season be effective during the current winter season rather than waiting until the next regulatory year which is the normal process for changes in regulation.
The extended season will allow resident hunters to take any moose during the winter season of Dec 20-Feb 28 in the portion of Unit 18 north of a line from Cape Romanzof to Kuzilvak Mt. to Mountain Village, excluding all Yukon River drainages upstream from Mt. Village. Please note that if a person has harvested a moose in the fall 2009 or winter 2010 season they are not eligible to harvest a moose in this extended season.
ADF&G biologists have determined that additional hunting opportunity is biologically acceptable because the hunt area of approximately 1,100 square miles has an estimated 3,300 moose and the moose population there has been growing at about 27 percent per year.

Twenty one Fire Deaths in 2009

Twenty-one Alaskans have died from fires in 2009. In 2008, 19 Alaskans perished from fire-related deaths. Traditionally, the occurrence of fire deaths increases during the holiday season and into the end of January; it is especially important to practice fire safety throughout this time. Alcohol usage was confirmed to be a contributing factor in the majority of these fire deaths. Alaska has averaged 21 fire deaths per year for the last 5 years; a rate three times the national average.

Amllenminek Cimingeciiquq

1-6-09

by John Active for the Seniors at the Eddie Hoffman Senior Center

First of all I would like to express the gratitude of the seniors of the Eddie Hoffman Senior Center and the Chrissy Shantz Adult Day Care Program, who say they have had a wonderful year in 2009 and are looking forward to what the New Year, 2010 will bring.
Secondly, they are most grateful to the Orutsararmiut Native Council for providing them a nice, safe place to go each morning and spend the day and have lunch. They also appreciate that the Senior Center takes them to the Post Office, stores and to pay bills, otherwise they would have to ‘cabit’ to get around.
“We love seeing our friends daily and enjoy our outings when weather permits. We appreciate the Senior Center Staff who love us and care for us and, cater to our needs but they also empower us to do for ourselves if we are able.
For instance, when we sew they help us thread our needles. When our hair needs combing, someone combs our hair. When we need bathing, we are bathed. When we are sad, they cheer us up and make us laugh. When we get weird letters, they explain to us about scams.
We love it when someone comes to visit us. Dropping by just to say ‘hello.’ Some of us are far, far away from home. We come from all over the Yukon and Kuskokwim Deltas. Boy, sometimes we get real homesick for our old friends and especially our traditional Native foods.
Sometimes we cry for home when we get too lonely. We also cry for our children and friends we have lost over the years. But we have long since discovered that crying helps us because we know that ‘Ellam Yua’, the all seeing One, will comfort us in our sorrow. We feel better after we cry.
We really enjoyed it when the students of the Bethel Alternative Boarding School came and sang Christmas Carols for us. God Bless you.
We like it when someone asks us to tell stories about our past lives. We love talking about when we were young and strong, how it was back then. We like to tell about our first dance in the Qasgiq, ‘men’s communal house’, and the gift we gave to the elders of our time. We like to tell about our parents, how hard it was for them to raise us when we had nothing, at modern conveniences.
We are grateful and appreciate all the traditional foods donated to the center. All the salmon, moose and caribou meats, dry fish and other Native foods we crave and cannot go out and get for ourselves anymore. We go hunting, fishing and gathering only in our minds. So we say to all of you who brought traditional Native foods to the center without the asking, “Amllenminek Cimingeciiquq,” this is an ancient Yup’ik saying that means, “What you gave will come back to you many times over.”
We are grateful also that we have a good cook. Art Santamour. He cares, that is why what he cooks is so delicious.
We also appreciate the boys and girls from the Tundra Center who do community service work here. It is always up lifting to see a new, young, vibrant face. They help Art prepare food and keep our center healthy and clean. We talk to these young people whenever we get a chance, to change their ways so they will not get into trouble again. Some listen. Some don’t.
Back to that old saying. That saying is the strength of the gratefulness of our grateful minds. We believe in this with our hearts and with all our strength. We have faith in this saying and know it works because we have seen it with our own eyes. Most of us believe in this without having to see.
This is our ancient Yup’ik custom, Law if you will, to say this to those who give us things without the asking. Your acts of giving without the asking and our gratitude for your thoughtfulness is powerful and there are no greater acts you and I can share.
This is a heart-lifting act. It makes you feel good and makes us feel good. By giving you are practicing genuine Yup’ik tradition and custom. You will become a Yup’ik, a real human being. God and our ancestors smile on you by your acts.
Finally, we want to thank all the Bethel organizations that have made monetary donations for the operation of the senior center. Quyana.

Blessed Mother Blue

by Marvin N. Kelly

This letter is dedicated to Mary A Jones, deceased August 9, 2007. My name is Marvin N. Kelly, a Parish council member. It was brought up that our church needed a facelift. It is because of Mary A. Jones that our church was painted blessed mother blue. Nick C Tucker Sr., another Parish council member had talked to Mary A. Jones - she wished for it to be Blessed Mother Blue, and that is the color of our church.
There were volunteers young and old painting the church, especially the Kwikpak laborers. They painted the church when there was no fishing beyond the call of duty, inside and out, even the roof!
Many people like Pat Tam, Franklin Murphy, Rachael Phillip and my daughter Azzian M. Kelly painted. One day she came home and her clothes were full of paint. It was hard for me to get angry at her because she was scraping and painting for four days. I was proud of her because she was serving God her time.
She was a blessing from God through Marlene Sheldon from Alakanuk. We had another daughter, Kimberly M. L. Kelly from a family in Mountain Village eight years later. Talk about a blessing!
So why am I telling all these stories? Well, our dioceses is being sued and another is saying that the dioceses is hiding monies. Well, if the dioceses is doing these kinds of things, why are we looking for help with our church? The church here in Emmonak does many good things for people like me and the late Mary A. Jones. My daughters were both baptized there and that is where I got married. I also held AA meetings there. So the church has many benefits to help people in our area. All 46 churches in our area are used not only for services, but for many other needs.
I can imagine Mary A. Jones getting to heaven and God telling her, “I knew you want the Emmonak Sacred Heart church painted Blessed Mother Blue, so let it be done.” So we know God works in mysterious ways.
I also went for alcohol treatment in Anchorage at the Ernie Turner Center for two months and I thank God every day for keeping me sober all these years. Things are getting better and life got easier after I stopped drinking and I keep getting “blessings” from God.
This goes to all the young people all over Alaska. God has a plan for you, you just need to pray and have faith in God that he will help you in everything you may need or any problems you may have. I thank God for helping me keep sober and staying with me with everyday life. God Bless You All.
Marvin N. Kelly is a resident of Emmonak, AK.

AVCP Housing has record year

12-9-09

by AVCP Housing staff

Bolstered by funding from President Obama’s 2009 economic stimulus bill and AHFC’s weatherization program, AVCP Housing had a record year in the construction, renovation and weatherization projects, and employment of a record number of people in Y-K Delta.
During the peak of the construction season, AVCP Housing employed a total of 676 workers, consisting mainly of local village residents, paying a total of $9,003,889 in wages. Most of the work involved construction of new homes, renovation of AVCP Housing units, and weatherization of AVCP Housing units and privately-owned homes.
“When I was hired in 2000, I had two goals – to develop a carpentry training program and start force accounting all new developments and construction and in other projects such as modernization,” said Ron Hoffman, President/CEO of AVCP Housing.
“I am proud of our accomplishment. We’ve trained and developed a local workforce that is now building our houses and working in our projects,” Hoffman added. “This creates self-esteem, a sense of appreciation, and pride in their work. I thank all the workers for their dedication and work, which is under difficult conditions at times.”
This summer, AVCP RHA built new homes in Atmautluak, Kasigluk, Eek, Upper and Lower Kalskag, and Nunapitchuk. AVCP Housing also built multi-family housing in Hooper Bay, Chevak and Alakanuk, with Hooper Bay being the largest at 19 units. Overall, AVCP Housing began building 57 new home units.
In 2008, the Alaska State Legislature appropriated $200 million for a statewide Weatherization Program through the Alaska Housing Finance Corporation. Out of this amount, AVCP Housing garnered $3 million and completed 124 weatherization projects in Aniak, Bethel, Kongiganak, Kwethluk and Russian Mission.
In 2009, AVCP Housing was funded an additional $5,340,000 from AHFC to weatherize more homes in Aniak, Bethel, Chevak, Kongiganak, Toksook Bay and Tuntutuliak. Some of these projects are continuing, but AVCP Housing will have weatherized up to 259 homes with this additional funding.
AVCP Housing’s Weatherization and Modernization programs are working in cooperation in Chevak, Toksook Bay and Tuntutuliak where a percentage of the costs for boiler replacement are funded by MOD, said John Agibinik, AVCP RHA Weatherization Director. MOD is also doing electrical upgrades on the three villages.
“The MOD program, which does home renovations, was in 11 villages this summer – Akiak, Bethel, Chefornak, Chevak, Kotlik, Upper & Lower Kalskag, Newtok, Toksook Bay, Tuntutuliak and Tununak – where such services were provided to 133 homes,” said Bosco Hooper, Director of Facilities and Special Projects for AVCP Housing.
On another note, house fires continue to be a major problem and concern for AVCP RHA and AMERIND Risk Pool, AVCP Housing’s insurance carrier. Therefore, AVCP Housing is developing a Yup’ik version of a DVD toward fire prevention and instructions on how home fires can be prevented.
“The translation into Yup’ik we worked on for the AMERIND Fire Safety DVD is now complete and going to be dubbed within few weeks,” said John B. Andrew, Maintenance Manager.
An AMERIND crew and four employees from Tribal Department did the translation, Andrew added. “We’ll be eligible for a 1% deduction for our annual member contribution as soon as the dubbing is done and we’ll be sending the DVD out to all our clients.”
AVCP Housing is also encouraging every homeowner to obtain fire insurance if they don’t have any. “No one, not even AVCP Housing, can replace a burned-out home that doesn’t have fire insurance,” Andrew added.

Kuskokwim 300
Purse and race sponsors

The Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee is pleased to announce that the purse for the 2010 race will remain at $100,000, the same amount that has been offered for many years. Both the Bogus Creek 150 and Akiak Dash will also remain at their traditional levels, $25,000 and $10,000.
We have 3 entrants for the K300 so far:
-Ramey Smyth, 34, from Willow, AK
-Jeff King, 53, from Denali Park, AK
-Dallas Seavey, 22, from Willow, AK
We also have one musher signed up for the Bogus Creek 150: Charles John, 21, from Aniak.
If you haven’t heard yet, the K300 has a new fundraiser this year. A $50,000 winner takes all raffle! K300 has 5,000 tickets for sale at $25 a ticket or 5 for $100. The drawing will be held in the AC Store in Bethel on Dec. 19th, 2009. Proceeds will support the Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee (Permit No 18). Tickets are being sold in Bethel at the AC K300 booth, FNBA, Northstar Gas, ID Variety and at the Saturday Markets. Tickets are available in Aniak through Roxanne Longpre. Tickets are being sold in Anchorage at Goldrush Liquor and through Vern Chimegalrea. The Race Committee working on making tickets available in more locations. The Committee recently obtained permits to sell tickets in 15 villages in the YK Delta and is working on distributing the tickets.
Support for the K300 has been very positive this year and the Sponsorship Drive has been as successful as in past years, despite an expected decrease in sponsorship due to the current economy.
The Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank these dedicated sponsors who have committed Sponsorship this month for 2010. These businesses generously give back to the YK Delta by sponsoring this great community event. We’d like to first recognize our long-time, largest contributor, Crowley Petroleum Distribution for returning as a Major Sponsor for the Kusko 300. Crowley has been supporting the Kusko for many years both with monetary and in-kind donations and will be returning as our Start/Finish Line Sponsor for this years’ race.
Returning sponsors
Major Sponsors: Crowley, Northern Air Cargo. Supporting Sponsors: Collins Construction, YP Cultural Center, Northstar Gas. Additional Local Sponsors: Bethel Chamber of Commerce, Unicom, KC Supply, Warning Lites of Alaska and Action Sign and Graphics.
The K300 Race Committee would like to invite any interested business or individual to help keep the sprit of dog mushing alive in Western Alaska. Sponsoring the K300 is not only a great was to give back to the community in which we live and work, but also is a great way to promote your business. Visit www.k300.org for more information about our sponsors.
To get involved as a sponsor or as a volunteer, contact Casie Stockdale, K300 Race Manager at 907-545-3300 or k300@alaska.com.

BAG looking for actors

The Bethel Actors’ Guild is announcing tryouts for their spring Valentine musical: I Love You, You’re Perfect…Now Change! “It’s a wonderful musical comedy,” says director Mike Bricker, that follows the history of relationships from Adam & Eve to the present day. The show is really a collection of 16 musical skits, rather than a “story” like The Sound of Music. According to Bricker, “This allows for some unique casting – someone can sing in one number, or three, or all 16. The cast calls for just 2 men and 2 women, but we’ll give an opportunity to anybody who’s interested.” Bricker is giving a copy of the CD and music to interested singers, and inviting them to try out for any songs they like.
The production opens on Valentine’s weekend, with dinner theatre on Saturday evening. “If we get enough singers”, says Bricker, “we can rehearse individual songs and people won’t have to give up their lives to be in the show.” Bricker is planning an informal “sing-along” audition after the Community Christmas Carol Singalong at the Cultural Center Anyone who is interested can contact mike.bricker@hotmail.com or call Mike at 545-1645.

Important News
for Hunters

11-21-09

by Mike Taras

There are new application dates for permit hunts. Apply Now!
The application period for all Tier I, Tier II and drawing hunts is occurring from November 1 through December 31. That is now!
You must apply now for all hunts that occur in the spring and fall of 2010. This change extends the application period to two months and allows for an earlier release of results.
The results of the applications and drawings will be released in late March. They were previously released in mid-July. This provides hunters more time for hunt preparation and planning.
If you miss the December 15 deadline for mail in applications, you will still have an additional two weeks to apply online. Online applications will be accepted until December 31.
This change was highlighted in the May 2009 drawing supplement and on the back page of the Tier I/II supplement.
New Customer Service Numbers
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Wildlife Conservation Division has begun assigning customer service numbers (CSN) to each hunt applicant. More than 13,000 numbers have already been assigned and hunters recently received a letter in the mail notifying them of their number.
Last year, a new bonus point system for specific drawing hunts was adopted by the Board of Game, but the system for implementation is still being developed. The customer service number is a vital part of this new system which will be instituted over the next few years.
So, don’t delay. Get your hands on a Tier I/II supplement and/or 2010-2011 Alaska Drawing Permit Hunt Supplement. Or go to http://wildlife.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=permits.hunting to apply online.
Mike Taras is a Wildlife Education and Outreach Specialist with the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. He lives in Fairbanks but supports ADF&G biologists throughout the Interior and Northeast part of the state. You can contact Mike at mike.taras@alaska.gov, 907-459-7230.

AITC announces annual convention

Mike Williams, Chairman of Alaska Inter-Tribal Council announced last week that AITC will be convening a meeting of Alaska’s federally recognized tribes to formulate a response to the Obama Administration’s invitation on ways that the “broken” ANILCA Title VIII subsistence regime might be repaired.
The theme for the convention is “Alaska Tribal Sovereignty, the beat goes on!”
The meeting will be held in conjunction with the BIA Providers Conference: November 30 and December 1, 2009 at the Egan Convention Center. The meeting will include a government to government consultation session between the tribes and the Acting Regional Director of the BIA regarding the Department of Interior Strategic Plan; Jurisdiction issues in Alaska; and Subsistence on November 30th. The second day will end with the annual election of officers and Area Council representatives.
The Alaska Tribes will review the AFN resolution calling for a near total overhaul of ANILCA Title VIII in addition to other courses of action available to the tribes including Congressional restoration of aboriginal hunting and fishing rights.
The Alaska Inter-Tribal Council is working with the BIA to ensure that a delegate from each of Alaska’s 229 federally recognized tribes will be represented at the meeting. Updates to this gathering of Alaska’s tribes will be emailed and faxed to the tribes as they become available. We are working hard to make sure that the Tribes that cannot afford to come to this meeting will be assisted with travel funds. As the assistance is confirmed we will be notifying the tribes and will also post the information on the AI-TC website: www.aitc.org.
If you have any questions, please call Mike Williams, Chairman at 907-765-2061 or the AI-TC offices at 907-563-9334.

Don wins National and
State top 40 under 40 honors

11-11-09

by Greg Lincoln

Wayne Don was recently honored by the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development (NCAIED) in its inaugural top 40 under 40 class for 2009. The award recognizes 40 young native professionals all across Indian country under the age of 40 who have contributed to their tribes and communities and are recognized leaders with a proven track record of achievement. This year’s inaugural class represented the National Centers emphasis on recognizing the up and coming leaders across the United States that are making a difference in their communities and who have demonstrated potential to serve at local, state and national levels of leadership. Don’s service as the Chairman of the NIMA Corporation and involvement in various local, state and civic organizations were cited among the criteria for his nomination. In addition to winning National honors he was also recently recognized in the states annual Alaska Chamber of Commerce 40 under 40 list which is officially presented in January 2010.
Don who is with the Army National Guard is currently on assignment in Afghanistan as an advisor to a Mongolian Infantry Company and is expected to return in the late spring to early summer of 2010. We wanted to ask about his recent national and state recognition.
So how do you feel about your recent recognition?
It’s a tremendous honor to be recognized with such a distinguished group of people nationally and in the state.
Can you share what you believe are some of the highlights of what you have been able to achieve in your role with NIMA?
As a director on the NIMA Corporation I think diversifying our corporation’s business interests and entering a very competitive federal contracting market are some of the highlights. We’ve changed our strategy fairly significantly in the last 3-4 years and focused on opportunities and industries that have high potential returns and managed to mitigate our exposure in a safe way. We’ve been fortunate to find good business partners and mentors who share similar values and business philosophy which has meant a fair amount of success in the federal marketplace for us. We’ve won some fairly significant contracts to date and are continuing to look at other opportunities; we’re in the early stages of our growth phase financially so we are pretty happy with that portion of our business. Some of the other highlights include our eco tourism business which is a local and regional investment that we would like to expand and continue to see grow. More practically though our increased capacity and financial performance allowed us to control fuel costs for our shareholders this year despite some really high costs in the entire region, 3 or 4 years ago we might not have been able to do that. As a result of our management and financial performance we were able to offset fuel costs for our community and have some of the lowest fuel costs in the Y-K Delta.
What do you attribute your organizations success to?
We have a pretty solid group of directors who made a collective decision to change how things are done and what we are about. By that I mean we have slowly changed the culture of the organization to a more aggressive and forward thinking group committed to realizing some of the goals that were set for native corporations when they were legislated into existence. We also have a relatively young group of directors with business training and some experience mixed in with folks who have been around for a while that have been able to make sure we don’t make some of the same mistakes that were made early on. We work pretty well together and have been fortunate to maintain continuity with people on the board who have been a part of the changes that have been made. So the bottom line to your question is people with the right training, skill sets, education and commitment to make NIMA a world class organization.
What impact do you think the new proposed contracting rules will have on native corporations like yours who are in the government 8(a) program?
The proposed rule changes will impact corporations when they enter into the 8(a) program from a size perspective (earnings wise) and more closely regulate how much work is actually being performed by native corporations and how work is subcontracted out. So for corporations like ours not too much of an impact since we are in the early stages of the program and are already doing what the proposed rule changes are suggesting. Some of the other proposed changes are to more diligently have corporations who are in the 8(a) program report how shareholders are benefiting from their 8(a) status and what kind of benefits financial or otherwise shareholders are receiving. I think this is a pretty fair thing to expect and is consistent with our commitment to being transparent to our shareholders. So more than anything else for smaller organizations like ours the impact is not too bad right now, but as we continue to grow there will be more oversight from the small business administration.
Do you have other interests and organizations that you might be interested in serving?
That’s a good question. I like the opportunities that I’ve been able to influence with my role in the NIMA Corporation and would be interested in serving as a board member for our regional corporation and also as a board member on AFN. I think both of the things I’ve listed would afford a good chance to influence more broad regional and state level policies and I would welcome that kind of service and leadership opportunity.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I have been fortunate to serve as the Chair of our board for the last couple of years and have been a director since 2003, so I want to thank the shareholders for entrusting me with the opportunity to serve and give back to the community. I’d also like to thank the board of directors for their service and commitment to the community and the corporation. Lastly, I want to thank my family and my extended family for their continued support.

DANGER: Thin Ice

by Megan A. Peters

It is the time of year where ice begins to form on many bodies of water statewide. The danger of falling through ice is very prominent in Alaska as the state encompasses many thousands of lakes, streams and rivers. This past weekend a man in rural Alaska drowned after he and his son broke through thin ice while snowmachining.
Factors that affect ice strength included weather, water depth and size of the body of water, currents or undersprings, water level fluctuation and obstructions. ALWAYS BE ALERT WHEN VENTURING OUT ON ICE!
Allow for at least 2 inches of clear, solid ice to build up prior to walking (without stopping) on it. For any type of stationary activity, such as ice fishing, allow at the minimum of 4 inches of clear, solid ice to form. Do not ride snowmachines or ATVs on the ice unless at least 5 inches of clear, solid ice has formed. For larger vehicles, do not drive out on the ice unless there are 12 or more inches of ice built up. Keep in mind that older ice is not as strong as newly formed ice and river ice is not as sturdy as ice formed on lakes.
Signs of weak ice include:
•Varying ice colors (black and gray)
•Obstruction sticking through the ice (i.e. logs, vegetation and rocks.)
•Slush or snow on ice
•Bubbles or water on ice surface
•Porous-looking ice
•Cracks in ice
•Pressure ridges or faults
•Water running underneath ice
•Open water in the middle of a large body of water
If you hear ice crack, spread out and move away from others to distribute weight. You should immediately lie down on the ice, than crawl on your stomach until you reach a safe location. If someone falls through the ice call 911 and then use a pole, branch, rope or other long object to try and reach the victim—stay clear of the broken ice as there is a risk of the ice being too weak to hold your weight. If you fall through the ice, stay calm. Call out for help and kick your feet while getting hands and arms up onto the ice. Continue to swim up onto the ice until you can crawl or roll to safety. Pets that go out on ice are a major cause for many near-drownings and deaths. If your pet wanders onto dangerous ice, do not follow them. Stay where you are and coax them back to safety. DPS cautions all recreationists to keep safety first while out in the backcounty!
Megan A. Peters is the PIO for the Department of Public Safety in Anchorage, AK.

United States 2010 Census
Alaska Native Village Conference

11-4-09

Overview: Napaimute Traditional Council Vice President, Bobby Kristovich and Director of Operations, Mark Leary attended this very informative conference on the upcoming 2010 Census, October 21, 2009 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Along with hundreds of other village representatives from across Alaska we learned about the critical importance of getting an accurate count of Rural Alaska’s Native people in the 2010 Census.
Why an Accurate Count of Rural Alaska’s Native People is so Critical in 2010: Prior to attending this conference, we didn’t have a good understanding of the importance of making sure our people are accurately counted. Now we do!
Federal Funding: 63% of all general funding that comes to Alaska from the Federal Government is based directly or indirectly on formulas that rely on census population data. The big three program areas that are most affected by Census Population Data are:
• Health (such as Medic Aide & IHS Funding)
• Transportation (airport & highway improvements)
• Housing (Indian Housing Block Grant)
While these are the big three Federal Programs critically dependent on Census Population Data, there are many, many other programs that rely on the Census in the calculation, allocation, and distribution of financial and even natural resources. The U.S. Census even effects the harvest allocation of whales to Alaska’s Northern Villages!
Redistricting: The number of seats allocated to States in the U.S. House of Representatives is based on population. This is a more important issue to States with larger populations, but may become important to Alaska as we continue to grow. More critical to Alaska and especially Rural Alaska is the fact that Census Population Data is also used to allocate seats in the State Legislature.
Rural Alaska has been losing 6% of its population annually through out‐migration to Urban Alaska. There is concern that Rural Alaska may lose some of it’s already few seats in the State Legislature and Urban Alaska will gain seats. This out movement of Rural Alaskan’s may be offset by the high birth rate among Alaska Natives. So an accurate count in 2010, especially of the very young, is crucial if we are to hold on to the limited representation we currently have in Juneau.
Tribal Affiliation: Conference Presenters also stressed the importance of Alaska Natives accurately recording their tribal affiliation. The 2010 will be using a “Short Form” that is quick, easy, and safe (your personal information is confidential) to fill out. It is made up of only 10 questions. Question number 9 asks for a person’s race. For people identifying themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native there is a separate set of boxes for them to write in the name of the tribe they are enrolled with. It is very important for tribal members to accurately identify their tribe – no matter where they are living at the time of the 2010 Census.
Please make sure that you write in the boxes the name of the tribe you are enrolled in – no matter where you are living today. For example, Napaimute’s Tribal Members should write NV (Native Village of) Napaimute.
Problems with the 2000 Census: To help us understand the importance of getting an accurate count of Alaska’s Rural Native Population in 2010, Conference participants looked back at some of the population data from the 2000 Census.
We noticed that serious undercounting occurred in the 2000. For example, one Lower Kuskokwim village had only 12 Native people counted in a community that we know has over 200 Natives living in it! It made us wonder just how much Federal Funding our region missed out on during a decade of declining economic opportunities (commercial fishing) and skyrocketing energy costs where additional assistance could have really helped the people.
2010 Census Kick Off: We were proud to learn that the 2010 U.S. Census will begin in the Alaska Village of Noorvik in late January. This means that the very first United States Citizen counted in the 2010 Census will be an Alaskan Native! It is the goal of the Census Bureau to complete the population count of Alaska’s Rural Villages prior to Spring Break Up in May – before people scatter for their summer subsistence activities. Also, over 2,000 temporary jobs will be created in Alaska during the 2010 Census. These are good paying jobs ranging from $18.75 to $28 per hour. If you are interested in a job with the 2010 Census contact: The Anchorage Local Census Office Manager; 2000 W International Airport Rd., Suite C6; (907) 249‐2901.
Summary: Now we know how crucial the 2010 U.S. Census is to our region and our people. An accurate count of the people in our villages will affect the level of Federal Funding we receive over the next 10 years and how much representation we have in Juneau for another decade.
Please help get the word out to everyone young and old, up and down the River, and across Rural Alaska that they must make sure to get counted in the 2010 U.S. Census! Also please pass the word to our people living outside of the region to make sure they identify themselves as tribal members and the name of their tribe when answering the Census Form. Thank you.
This article is courtesy of Mark Leary, Native Village of Napaimute.

St. Mary’s pilot flies solo

10-28-09

Thaddeus John Riley, better known as TJ from Saint Mary’s, took to the air solo for the first time at the Bethel Airport on Monday, October 12th, 2009.
While he was a little nervous about going solo for the first time, his Instructor Jonathan Malin knew TJ was ready to handle the airplane by himself. TJ did a great job flying the airplane even when the winds switched to another direction and the tower had to switch the runway mid solo; something he had only experienced one other time.
Yuut Yaqungviat would like to congratulate TJ for reaching this exciting goal as he goes on to pursue his Private Pilot Certificate. TJ’s parents are John and Ruth Riley.
TJ would like to thank AVCP, Calista, and Unicom for making it possible to pursue his career goals by providing him with a scholarship. Yuut Yaqungviat would also like to thank UUI, CVRF, ONC, AVCP, AVEC, YDFDA, State of Alaska DOL/WD, AACA, Calista, Tribes in the YK Delta for supporting students with scholarships, making it possible for them to pursue their Professional Pilot Careers.
If you are interested in pursing a career as a Professional Pilot, please contact Thad Tikiun, Student Services Manager at Yuut Yaqungviat at 907-543-7209 or on our Toll Free Number 1-888-543-7209 to request a student pilot application or visit our website at www.yuutyaqungviat.org.

Flynn flies solo at Yuut Yaqungviat

Arthur Flynn, of Tununak, made his first solo flight at the Bethel Airport on October 2, 2009. His Instructor Paul Ough and everyone at Yuut Yaqungviat would like to congratulate Arthur for reaching this exciting milestone as he goes on to pursue his Private Pilot Certificate.
Arthur plans to pursue his Commercial Pilot Certificate and Instrument Rating, and hopes to fly for one of the air services here in Bethel once he completes his training with Yuut Yaqungviat. Arthur’s parents are John and Edna Flynn.
Arthur would like to thank AVCP and CVRF for making it possible to pursue his career goals by providing him with a scholarship. Yuut Yaqungviat would also like to thank UUI, CVRF, ONC, AVCP, AVEC, YDFDA, State of Alaska DOL/WD, AACA, Calista, Tribes in the YK Delta for supporting students with scholarships, making it possible for them to pursue their Professional Pilot Careers.
If you are interested in pursing a career as a Professional Pilot, please contact Thad Tikiun, Student Services Manager at Yuut Yaqungviat at 907-543-7209 or on our Toll Free Number 1-888-543-7209 to request a student pilot application or visit our website at www.yuutyaqungviat.org.

Governor, youth
speak at AVCP Convention

10-22-09

The theme for this year’s Association of Village Council Presidents Annual Convention was “Yuuyaraput Ciumurulluku Ayagyuaput-llu Tengruvkarluki”, “Preserving our Traditional Way of Life; Inspiring Our Youth”.
The three keynote speakers were high school students Nicole Pingayak of Chevak, Mary Petluska of Eek, and Kira Wilkinson of Kwigillingok. The three young ladies gave their speeches on their visions for the region to the delegates. Pingayak and Wilkinson’s speeches appear on page 6.
Also speaking at the Association of Village Council Presidents’ 45th annual convention was Governor Sean Parnell.
With a focus on revitalizing the Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) program, the Governor called for a greater partnership between the state and communities to increase training, recruiting and retention efforts. Of the 71 funded VPSO positions, only 52 are filled.
“I want to see a far greater and more meaningful law enforcement presence in the villages,” Governor Parnell said. “I’m asking for your help in identifying solid prospects for these law enforcement positions.”
Gov. Parnell also addressed fisheries and energy issues.
“I understand and see the hardship rural Alaskans experience as a result of poor chinook salmon runs,” Governor Parnell said. “Families lack food for the winter and incomes are stretched even thinner.”
Governor Parnell recently sent a second letter to Commerce Secretary Gary Locke requesting swift action in declaring a fishery disaster due to poor returns of chinook salmon on the Yukon River. The state is working to provide better in-season assessment and management and more opportunities to harvest other species during times of weak chinook runs. An extension of a special subsistence season for moose hunting is also being considered.

AFN Convention

The Alaska Federation of Natives will hold its 2009 Convention on Thursday, Friday and Saturday - October 22, 23 and 24, at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage.
The theme of this year’s Convention is “Northern Dreams: Our Historic Journey Continues.” Delegates from regional for-profit and non-profit corporations and from village tribes and corporations will attend. The Convention is open to the public at no charge, and everyone is invited to attend.
The Keynote Address will be delivered jointly by veteran Native leader Willie Hensley and his daughter, Elizabeth Hensley.
From 2:00 to 5:00 PM on Friday, October 23, members of the Alaska State Senate and the Alaska State House of Representative will hold an official Legislative Hearing (on the public record) regarding the crisis of rural energy.
Other Convention features include a trade fair with 100 exhibit tables; “Quyana Night” dance performances at 7:00 PM on Thursday (10/22) and Friday (10/23); AFN awards for outstanding achievements; addresses by Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, by Governor Sean Parnell, and by all three members of Alaska’s Congressional Delegation; gavel-to-gavel radio and TV coverage throughout Alaska, as well as web-streaming to any Internet connection in the world; and a closing reception at 6:00 PM and banquet from 7:00 to 9:00 PM on Saturday, October 24.
Arts and crafts sales tables will be open from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Thursday and Friday, October 22 and 23 – and from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Saturday, October 24.
Convention-week activities begin on Monday and Tuesday, October 19 and 20, with the annual AFN Elders and Youth Conference (also at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center), planned and operated by First Alaskans Institute.

Annual Elders & Youth Conference

First Alaskans Institute (FAI) will hold the 26th annual Elders & Youth Conference October 19 and 20 at the Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage. Elders & Youth will be the first of the week’s events, directly preceding the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention.
The purpose of the Elders & Youth Conference is to further strengthen the knowledge and self-confidence of Native people to encourage a stronger voice in an effort to create change within themselves and their communities. It celebrates the Alaska Native intellect and encourages young and old alike to work together in pursuing the great task of maintaining traditional Native values and practices while succeeding in the modern world. For a detailed agenda and schedule of events, please go to firstalaskans.org.

AVCP Unit Representatives Election results

Unit 1: Edward Adams
Unit 2: William Andrew
Unit 3: Marcie Sherer
Unit 5: James Paul
Unit 7: David O. David
Unit 9: Roy Atchak
AVCP Housing Commissioners: Robert Nick of Nunapitchuk and Moses White of Eek.

Youth to Address AVCP Annual Convention as Keynote Speakers

10-15-09

The Association of Village Council Presidents is preparing for the 45th Annual Convention to be held in Bethel on October 13-15, 2009 at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center for the 56 Tribes in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta. This year, the theme of the convention is “Preserving our Traditional Way of Life; Inspiring Our Youth”.
During early September 2009, in striving to meet the theme of the Convention, AVCP contacted the tribes and school districts in the region and asked for nominations for youth who are proactive in their communities and schools. These nominations were turned in by mid-September. AVCP received 23 nominations.
A committee reviewed the nominations immediately after that and chose five youth nominations. The five youths were asked to write a short essay describing self, family, community, school; what their future plans are; the challenges youth face in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta today and the solutions; and what message they would like to share with the 2009 AVCP Convention.
The committee reviewed the essays at the end of September 2009, and based on the essays, selected three students. The three students have been invited to be Youth Keynote Speakers at the Annual Convention. They will share their “Vision of the Region” as a young person with the delegates at the convention.
The youth to speak at the convention include Nicole Pingayak-Chevak; Mary Petluska-Eek; and Kira Wilkinson-Kwigillingok. All three students have been identified as being leaders in their schools.
Nicole Pingayak is a senior at Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka, Alaska and is the daughter of John and Teresa Pingayak of Chevak. She was nominated by William Hutton, Mt. Edgecumbe High School Superintendant. He writes, “Nicole is a leader in our school.”
Mary Petluska is a senior at the Eek School in Eek, Alaska and is the daughter of Leona and Bobby Petluska. She was nominated by Marlene Schmitt, a teacher in Eek. She writes, “Mary is one of the leaders in our school.”
Kira Wilkinson is a junior at the Kwigillingok School in Kwigillingok, Alaska and is the daughter of William and Mary Ann Wilkinson. She was nominated by Tommy J. Andrew, a teacher aide in Kwigillingok. He writes, “She has a high potential of becoming a strong leader in the future.”
Michael J. Hoffman, Executive Vice-President of AVCP says, “We are looking forward to hearing from all three of the Youth Keynote Speakers as they share their vision of the future for the region. We also want to support all the young people in the region as best as we can.”

Jason Isaac Ticketed

by the Ohogamiut Traditional Council

The Ohogamiut Traditional Council (OTC) as a federally recognized Alaskan Native tribal government opposes the citation issued on Jason Isaac for the protest fishing in late June 2009.
On Wednesday, September 30, 2009, two Wildlife Enforcement Officers from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service flew into Marshall three months after the fact that the “Marshall Protest” occurred and ticketed Isaac, who serves as the OTC tribal president, and lone Marshall Village Police Officer.
The citation was written for $275.00 according to 50 CFR 100.19 (g). Jason Isaac was the only person that admitted to the “illegal fishing” that prompted international media attention, highlighting the strong message of the dire situation our People are facing. King salmon is our traditional and customary staple food source, and after a long hard expensive winter compounded by the Energy Crisis of 2008, we needed to get the message out that we will no longer sit idle and silent as another injustice was happening at the hands of the state and key federal fishery managers.
One of the most important Yup’ik Eskimo cultural, traditional, and customary morals and beliefs encourages helping those most in need. Tribal Elder Paul Boots also firmly believes that no crime was committed, nor should anyone fight over a food resource that nature alone manages, said, “King salmon feeds us, and we should not fight over who gets to eat it.”
Jason Isaac who wants to get the message out that he is no criminal or a salmon poacher stated, “I did nothing wrong, we helped those who could not provide for themselves, especially our elders, widows, and the disabled.”
He further added that his citation should be “thrown out” based on after the fact that the Pilot Station Sonar miscounted migrating king salmon this earlier summer, which affected both the subsistence and commercial opportunities during these trying times.
The OTC is requesting for support and advocacy from the Native community of Alaska to protest the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to have the charges dismissed, we also ask that all Alaskan tribal governments, regional non profit Native organizations revoke their working relationships with state and federal subsistence managers until this matter is resolved.
Subsistence is our God-given right that predates this nation and we must continue in our endeavors to preserve this right for those yet to be born.
-Nick P. Andrew, Jr., Executive Director
-William C. Andrew, OTC Vice President

Rep. Herron urges Obama to restore ATG Service

10-6-09

Representative Bob Herron, D-Bethel sent a letter last week to President Barack Obama urging his administration to drop its current policy statement in the pending defense spending bill before Congress and support reinstatement of pension benefits to the 24 surviving Alaska Territorial Guard veterans.
“I write to share my deep disappointment in your Administration’s public disapproval of restoring full pension benefits,” Herron’s letter begins, and then recounts the guard’s formation and service.
The Administration’s Statement of Policy for the reinstatement of the benefits in the 2010 defense spending bill before Congress says they do not support the effort because state service should not be included in federal service accrual, which would set a precedent. Herron believes the federal government should honor their service, as 24 of the 300 surviving guardsmen have long records of military service.
“Now they are our elders, most between 85 and 90 years old. Many of them need these hard-earned pensions,” Herron writes. “You have spoken many times about treating our brave men and women in uniform today with respect, and providing them the support they need to resume healthy and productive civilian lives here at home. Do their predecessors deserve any less?”

Boards oppose repeal of Local Option Law
LKSD, AVCP, YKHC and Bethel ASB do not support Prop 1

The Lower Kuskokwim School District Board of Education has been joined by the Association of Village Council Presidents Board, the Bethel Advisory School Board, and now the Executive Board of the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) in urging Bethel voters to vote no on Proposition #1 on the ballot during the upcoming election on October 6, 2009.
Last week on Tuesday, the YKHC Executive Board passed a resolution in opposition to Proposition #1 on the October 6, 2009 ballot that would have Bethel opt out of the current local option law status, if it passes. The resolution will be ratified at the next YKHC board meeting on October 21, 2009.
The resolution states that “alcohol abuse is the leading disruption of lives in our area which is evidenced by alarmingly high rates of social disorder, including domestic violence, child neglect/abuse, criminal activity, and accidental deaths…” It also states that the passage of this initiative would “permit unlimited and unregulated importation of alcoholic beverages into Bethel.”
According to the resolution, the Board predicts that the deregulation of alcohol importation into Bethel will negatively impact social and economic progress of the YK Delta. The YKHC Board members voted with 7 yes votes and 1 abstaining in their decision.

Fish & Game Advisory to meet in Marshall

The Lower Yukon Fish & Game Advisory Committee will meet October 7 – 8 in Marshall at the Bingo Hall to discuss BOG Arctic Region proposals, discuss reconfiguration of the Lower Yukon AC, discuss removal of the statewide AC system, receive a report from KwikPak Fisheries, and review BOF AYK and Statewide proposals. The meeting will begin at 11 am on October 7th and conclude by 2:00 pm October 8. For more information, contact Ted Hamilton at 949-1041 or Sherry Wright at 267-2354.

2009 Permanent Fund
Dividend is $1,305.00

9-30-09

Governor Sean Parnell announced the amount of the 2009 Permanent Fund Dividend last Wednesday.
This year, 628,499 eligible Alaskans will receive a 2009 Permanent Fund Dividend (PFD) in the amount of $1,305.00, according to the Department of Revenue.
More than 520,000 qualified Alaskans will receive the 2009 dividend by direct deposit into their bank accounts on October 8. The Department of Revenue’s PFD Division will begin mailing checks to all remaining eligible Alaskans on October 22, with those checks expected to arrive within two weeks.
Three out of four Alaskans (487,250 out of 657,764) used the internet to file for this year’s dividend.
$17.35 billion in Permanent Fund earnings has been distributed to eligible Alaskans since the dividend program began in 1982.
Dividend Information Offices are located in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau and are responsible for assisting applicants who need help completing their applications or need information about the dividend program.
Please remember that the Alaska PFD is taxable income for federal tax returns. Be sure to set aside enough to cover your tax bill, or consider making an estimated payment when you get your PFD. For more information on how to report the Alaska PFD on your federal tax return contact the IRS at 1(800)829-1040 or visit the IRS website at www.irs.gov and input the key words Alaska Permanent Fund or estimated.
For more information, please visit the PFD website at: http://www.pfd.alaska.gov/.

Kuskokwim 300 announces
new race trail and sponsors

Another dog racing season is just around the corner! The Kuskokwim 300 will start January 15, 2010. For the first time in K300 history, the trail will run from Bethel to Napaimute and back.
The K300 fundraising drive is now in full swing! Each year, the Race Committee partners with businesses that do a signification amout of work in Western Alaska. We have some very exciting new sponsors so far this season. Full Circle Farms has joined us as a new Major In-kind sponsor, donating a certificate for a one-year family size order of organic produce. The certificate will be sold as an auction item at the K300 fundraisers in January.
Alaska Logistics, “Your Best Barging Option for Western Alaska”, has joined us as a new Supporting Monetary Sponsor to the K300 for the 2010 race season. Alaska Logistics has been operating in Western Alaska for 7 seasons. The K300 Race Committee welcomes Alaska Logistics and hopes to continue this partnership in the future.
Donating 2-round-trip tickets for auction, PenAir is keeping up with their motto, “The Spirit of Alaska… That Alaskan spirit of helping others and of cooperation is what made this great State.” Although PenAir does not offer flights into Bethel, PenAir serves numerous locations in Western Alaska including flights service from Anchorage to Aniak, as well as Dillingham, King Salmon and Cold Bay.
A number of Returning Sponsors have committed sponsorship for in 2010. The Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee would like to thank these dedicated sponsors. We couldn’t put on this great community event without your help.
Returning sponsors
Major Sponsors
The Lynden Family of Companies
Northland Services
Gold Rush Liquors
Alaska Commercial
Long House Bethel Inn
ERA Aviation
GCI
Goodnews River Lodge
Angstman Law Office
Supporting Sponsors
Korthuis Inc/NAPA Auto Parts
Taiga Mushing Supply
YKHC
YipTees
Additional Local Sponsors
Tom’s Enterprise
IFE Inc/Video World
Casey’s Carpet
LKSD
The K300 Race Committee would like to invite any interested business or individual to help keep the spirit of dog mushing alive in Western Alaska. Sponsoring the K300 is not only a great was to give back to the community in which we live and work, but also is a great way to promote your business. Visit www.k300.org for more information about our sponsors.
To get involved as a sponsor or as a volunteer, contact Casie Stockdale, K300 Race Manager at 907-545-3300 or k300@alaska.com.

Kuskokwim Fisheries Disaster

9-22-09

by Robert Sundown and Doug Molyneaux

This was the prevailing headlines in the newspapers from 1998 to 2002, and a disaster it was. During this time period the Kuskokwim River tributaries saw some of the lowest returns of chum and chinook salmon ever recorded.
At this time the commercial fishery was restricted, one of those years the sport fishery was restricted, and impacting local residents most - the subsistence fishery was restricted. Everyone was affected and people were not happy.
At times like this, managers needed help to conserve the wild salmon stocks. It was a difficult request to make, which is to ask the subsistence users to schedule their harvest and the commercial fisherman to forgo a season of income.
That was then and for the last several years we have seen healthy salmon returns to the Kuskokwim River. We wanted to take this time now to thank those individuals for stepping up in their leadership and making the hard and unpopular decisions they did to reduce their harvest and support the conservation measures requested of them. This would not have been possible without their help and the support of the traditional councils and local governments in the villages along the Kuskokwim River.
As it is true in life you look back and thank the people who helped you when you were down. In particular we would like to thank Robert Nick of Nunapitchuk. He volunteered to appear on a salmon conservation poster the first year that urged people to help rebuild salmon to healthy numbers again. This was not without controversy for him. He was chided and ridiculed by people who were uncomfortable with the subsistence fishing schedule. While this might have made him uncomfortable, he stood his ground and urged people on the radio, newspaper, and flyers to help to the salmon so they may one day return in healthy numbers.
Mr. Nick also went on to support the moose moratorium, which helped build the local moose population from less than 70 animals in the Kuskokwim delta pre-moratorium to harvestable levels today.
We have been blessed in the last several years with good fishing and the renewed harvest of moose along the Kuskokwim and it was possible because of the help of individuals like Robert Nick. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, and members of the Kuskokwim River Salmon Management Working Group, presents Mr. Nick with the annual “Robert Nick Kuskokwim Conservation Award“ for his personal efforts in promoting sound fisheries and wildlife management.
When you look back over the last several summers and your fish racks were full and you enjoyed the chance to harvest a moose this fall, please take a moment to thank Mr. Robert Nick for his part in standing up for conservation at a time when we needed it.
Robert Sundown is a subsistence resource specialist for the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Doug Molyneaux is fisheries research biologist for the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.

School Improvement in the Lower Kuskokwim School District

by Gary Baldwin

Recently, the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development released information about which schools made Adequately Yearly Progress (AYP) as defined by the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act. The AYP designation is based on 31 different factors that include state test scores of different subgroups of students, attendance and graduation rates, and even the percentage of students who took the state test last spring.
The schools in LKSD had mixed reviews. This article contains a summary of the results. More detailed information about individual school results will be published later.
There were some bright spots as some of our larger schools made AYP in all 31 categories. Bethel Regional High School, Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk, and Chaputnguak School in Chefornak all met AYP. Smaller schools that met AYP are Arvig School in Platinum, Nuniwarmiut School in Mekoryuk, and Bethel Alternative Boarding School.
It is important to remember that in small schools like most of the schools in LKSD, the calculations for AYP are based on test scores of small numbers of students. Often the performance of one or two students can make a difference in whether a school meets AYP.
The state also released information about which school districts made AYP. LKSD was among the half who did not make AYP, but there were some bright spots in the data. District wide test scores for grades 3-9 were about the same as last year, however High School Qualifying Exam scores have risen significantly in Math and Reading. The LKSD pass rate is around 70% for each of the 3 tests, Math, Reading and Writing, for students in their first attempt, and students have additional opportunities to take it.
One of the most exciting results is the increase in the graduation rate across the district. Over the past year the rate went up 11%, and since 2006 it has gone from 39% to 64%. Obviously the District still has a long way to go to reach the goal of 100%, but we are moving in the right direction, and we have exceeded the state target rate of 55%.
Several years ago, LKSD, along with many other schools across the nation, moved to a Standards Based Education (SBE) system. Under SBE, students are required to demonstrate proficiency in the core subjects in order to pass courses. Previously it was possible for students to pass required classes by simply making a minimal effort to get a “D” grade, and putting in seat time in the classroom.
When state and federal standards were implemented, the graduation rate around the country dropped. LKSD’s graduation rate followed that same trend, dropping steadily after our move to higher standards. It is encouraging to see that we have turned the corner on improving graduation rates over the past 3 years without lowering our standards. It shows that if we keep standards high, our students will make the grade.
LKSD is working hard to make improvement in the following ways:
•We are working to make sure our schools are a place where students want to be and parents feel welcome. A positive school climate is critical to helping our students succeed.
•We are working with parents to reduce the high numbers of students who miss more than 10 days of school per year.
•We are providing excellent professional development for our teachers, which includes effective methods and strategies for teaching students with limited language proficiency.
•We are working to improve our systems of assessing student performance with the goal of making each student’s progress visible, without eating up too much teacher time with testing and record keeping.
•We are developing a system of effective interventions for those students that are falling behind, so that they can catch up as quickly as possible.
LKSD students are as capable as students anywhere. With everyone doing their part to help and support them, they will gain the skills and knowledge they need to be successful and productive adults.
Gary Baldwin is the Superintendent for the Lower Kuskokwim School District.

LKSD Board passes resolution to
support keeping Local Option Law
Board urges Bethel voters to vote “no” on Proposition 1

by Bea Kristovich

The people who had hoped to revive the Native Village of Napaimute – the tribal council and members have had a long dream of resettling this Western Alaska Village. Napaimute is a Yup’ik word meaning “people of the forest”. For our tribe, who has our hearts here and where our roots are, this is a dream of where we want to be.
The village has already made strides the last couple of years. We have acquired 650 acres from the regional Native Corporation; have a handful of homes, with the hope to lease more lots to tribal members as well as others who are not on the tribal rolls.
We now have a tribal and office buildings, a gas station, gas and propane sales, washer and dryer for use, a store and rental cabins on the town site to raise funds from river travelers, a sawmill to sell lumber for log cabin homes, a new 2,600 foot airstrip to shuttle people in and out of our village; a small landfill for our dump, and a sawmill firewood business.
The construction of our non-denominational place of worship for the Community of the Native Village of Napaimute, “Our Lady of the Trees” chapel has been completed and is now useable.
The Napaimute Traditional council has supported this project with approval of the chapel land site, a new access road, continuous donation use of NVN equipment for the construction of the road and the sale of the building package. Once the foundation was laid by the Dammeyer brothers, Mitch and Marcus of Kalskag, various people up and down the Kuskokwim River from Napaskiak to Crooked Creek helped in the various phases of the construction.
The Native Village of Napaimute Council and Mark Leary, our Director of Development and Operations who has been the main backbone of organizing the building the Chapel, and myself would like to thank each of the following special people and organizations who donated money, their time and help with the construction of the Chapel since July 2007. I am sure each one of you can proudly hold up your heads and will be able to tell your grandchildren, “I helped build the chapel at Napaimute”.
Following is a list of people and organizations who donated money, materials, their time and work, and support on the construction of the Chapel since 2007.
Native Village of Napaimute
Mark & Shelly Leary Bethel
Audrey Leary Bethel
Bea Kristovich Bethel
Mike & Leann Salzburn Bethel
Bobby Kristovich Bethel
John & Lepita Kristovich Bethel
Nick Kristovich Bethel
Sonja Olofsson Bethel
Lucy Crow Bethel
Blaine & Nancy Elliott Bethel
Sharon Kristovich Bethel
Angstman Law Office Bethel
Buck Bukowski Bethel
Anita Geerdts Bethel
Sherry Dovolos Bethel
Marilyn Laraux Bethel
Tok Laraux Bethel
Brian Laraux Bethel
Jerry Fredericks (DaDa) Bethel
Joe & Jackie Klejka Bethel
Jeremiah Klejka Bethel
Bobby & Dit Hoffman Bethel
Cindy Lepore Bethel
Crowley Bethel
Brandon Leary Bethel
Swanson’s Lumber Bethel
Corina’s Case Lot Bethel
Hoffman Estate Bethel
Mike & Jill Hoffman Bethel
Eric Hoffman Bethel
Bob & Margaret Herron Bethel
Fr Chuck Peterson, S.J. Bethel
Marvin McDonald Bethel
Diane Coffman Bethel
Gene Peltola Sr. Bethel
Mary Demientieff Bethel
Moses L. James Alakanuk
Liz Murphy Aniak
Douglas Lee Aniak
Alexandria & Sean Lassley California
Georgina Boyd California
Eric Morgan Jr. Chauthbaluk
Jacob Wise Chauthbaluk
Joseph Golley Chauthbaluk
Joseph Phillip Crooked Creek
Dave & Sharon Ausdahl Houston, AK
Connie Werba Holy Cross, AK
Gary A. Johnson Girdwood
Catholic Diocese Fairbanks
Emil & Mary Ellen Johnson Soldotna
Dan & Dora Ausdahl Kalskag
Frank Sam Kalskag
Raven Levi Kalskag
Jodi Samuelson Kalskag
Marcus Dammeyer Kalskag
Mitch Dammeyer Kalskag
George Gregory Kalskag
Frank One Kalskag
Kyle Mute Kalskag
Kent & Gerene Sumpter Palmer
Fr. Peter Chris Anchorage
Heather Atkinson Anchorage
Devron Hellings Anchorage
Arnold Fredericks Anchorage
Karen McIntire Anchorage
Janel Gilles Indian, AK
Mary Mellick Sleetmute
Earl Samuelson Jr. Napaskiak
Brook Kristovich Oregon
Fr. Brad Reynolds, S.J. Oregon
Northern Air Cargo Anchorage
Katherine Bourdukofsky Anchorage
Balassa L. Doughty Anchorage
Bob Charles Anchorage
Carl & Carolinda Wright Anchorage
Calista Anchorage
Marcie Sherer Anchorage
Tommy & Phyllis Charles Utah
Ann Bailey Washington
David Bailey Washington
Alvin Bailey Washington
Cynthia & Anna Moore Wyoming
Without all of your generosity, the Chapel at Napaimute would not have been possible. Please feel free to come and visit and worship at our “Lady of the Trees.” The chapel is open year around for your use.
For more information, contact Mark Leary, Director of Development and Operations, PO Box 1301. Bethel, Alaska 99559, Phone: 907-543-2887 Bethel, 907-222-5058 Napaimute Office, Fax 907-543-2892 Bethel.
All of you who have contributed to the Chapel at Napaimute, I give the blessing that St. Peter gave when he said, “Like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ”. 1 Peter.2:5
-Bea Kristovich, Native Village of Napaimute

Upcoming Moose Hunt details

8-27-09

by Phillip Perry and the Bethel USFWS Staff

Several weeks ago I promised another article with a few more details about the upcoming hunt. To review, a permit, RM615, is needed to hunt moose this year on the Lower Kuskokwim River. These permits are available in most villages at license vendors. Permits will only be available from the 1st of August until the 25th of August.
The season is from the 1st to 10th of September. If you harvest a moose, you need to report that harvest in 48 hours, either in person or via telephone. If you do not harvest a moose during this season, hunters need to turn in their harvest report portion of the permit within 15 days of the close of season, so in this case by September 25. Failure to do so could result in the hunter being placed on the Failure to Report list and that means a hunter cannot get a hunting permit the next year.
The other clarification I would like to make is hunt area boundaries. State managed lands within the Kuskokwim drainage are open during this Sept 1 to 10 hunt. Federal land in Unit 18 will remain closed to moose hunting within the present moratorium area. The closed area includes lands selected by, but not yet conveyed to, Native corporations. Along the Kwethluk and Kisaralik rivers, signs will be posted on both sides of the rivers so that hunters know where the closed Federal lands begin. Please note that the closure does not apply to Native allotments or other private lands above the posted boundaries.
Other areas that will continue to be closed to moose hunting include almost the entire Johnson River drainage, the Pikmiktalik River drainage above the tundra villages, and the Eek River above the “Y.” There are, however, approximately two townships of Native corporation land south of Ohogamiut that will be open to moose hunting.
If you have questions about where Federal lands are within the moratorium area, please visit the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service regional website at http://alaska.fws.gov/nwr/realty/index.htm. When the page opens, click on “Mapping Science.” On the Mapping Science page, scroll down to Yukon Delta NWR, and click on sheet 4 of 4 to see a map showing Native corporation and Federal lands. Please note that it is your responsibility to know where you are when you are hunting and to make sure that you only hunt in a legally opened area.
Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge will have two information camps on Federal land from August 31 (one day before the season opens) through 10 September (the last day of the season). Camps will be located between Magic Creek and Three Step Mountain on the Kwethluk River, and between the Kasigluk River cut-off and Five Fingers on the Kisaralik River. In cooperation with the Alaska State Troopers, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service will have aircraft patrolling in the entire moratorium area before, during, and after the moose hunting season.
Please remember that this is a “bulls only” hunt. Cow moose are the future of this herd. It is up to all of us to protect the cows so that the moose population continues to grow and our local subsistence traditions are protected. Have a safe and successful hunt!
Phillip Perry is a Wildlife Biologist with the Alaska Dept. of Fish & Game.

Governor Parnell urges
declaration of Federal Fisheries Disaster for Yukon Chinook

8-13-09

Governor Sean Parnell sought to secure federal disaster relief for Yukon River residents, the announcement came on August 7, 2009. Parnell urged the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to declare a fishery disaster due to poor returns of chinook salmon on the Yukon River.
“I trust Secretary Locke will recognize the severity of the situation on the Yukon and declare a fishery disaster,” Governor Parnell said. “I look forward to working with federal agencies and Alaska’s congressional delegation to secure disaster relief assistance for this region.”
The Magnuson-Stevens Act authorizes various forms of federal assistance through the National Marine Fisheries Service when the Secretary of Commerce determines there is a commercial fishery failure due to a fishery resource disaster.
State analysis indicates that the decline in the Yukon chinook fishery meets the standards in federal law as well as National Marine Fisheries Service policy for disaster declarations and criteria.
“Residents of Yukon River communities rely on fishing for income and food,” said Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Commissioner Emil Notti. “These Alaskans face a high cost of living and have limited employment opportunities. These factors make the loss of the commercial fishery especially difficult.”
Commercial fishing is the only identified industry in the lower Yukon region that brings new money into the economy. On the entire river, more than 800 Alaska permit holders are directly affected, along with crewmen, processing employees, and those who provide support services.
The state is providing run assessment updates and technical information to assist the National Marine Fisheries Service Alaska region in its analysis of the situation and is committed to providing any additional information that may be necessary for the federal process.
A federal disaster declaration will not bring automatic assistance to the region. A federal appropriation is necessary to provide funding.
The governor’s letter supports earlier requests by the Association of Village Council Presidents and the Alaska Federation of Natives. A copy of the governor’s letter to Secretary Locke can be found at: http://www.gov.state.ak.us/pdf/SectLocke_YukonFisheryDisaster.pdf.

‘It’s a hard time for us’
Marshall fisherman
struggling to provide for 14

7-15-09

by Tommy Wells

MARSHALL – Leonard Fitka Jr. doesn’t ask where the next meal his family of 14 eats will come from. He’ll know as soon as the 20-year-old fisherman catches it.
Catching food hasn’t been easy of late. Thanks to a slow Yukon River king run, along with federal and state restrictions on catching the fish, Fitka and his family are facing hard times.
“It’s a hard time for me and my family,” he said.
The slow Chinook run and the salmon restrictions have made life even tougher for Fitka, who took over the primary provider chores for his disabled mother and father and his younger brothers and sisters and relatives when his older brother was forced to leave the village to get a job to support his family. Fishing, for the large Chinook and the money his older sister, Mildred, makes while working for the tribal office, are their main sources.
“There aren’t many jobs here, and buying food from the store isn’t really an option because we have no money and the cost of them,” he said. “Things are pretty hard for us. We have to fish to eat.”
In June, the Alaska Department of Fish & Game restricted fishing in the Lower Yukon because of low salmon returns and to fulfill a federal treaty with Canada. Since then, Yukon villagers have been allowed to two short fishing windows to catch fish.
The Fitkas, like many village families in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, survive much as their ancestors for centuries have. They harvest enough of the nutrient-rich king salmon and chum from the river during the summer – and kill a moose, when possible – to get through the winter.
Any extra money is used to buy basic food supplies such as salt, sugar and other items.
Of course, many families have someone to help shoulder the load.
“It’s tough but we (he and Mildred, who is a mother of two) do what we can,” he said. “Sometimes we may eat only once a day, but it’s something we have to do. If we could fish for the kings, it would be better. We could start putting some away for the winter.”
Fitka’s parents aren’t able to provide much help. His mother, Palassa, suffers from Parkinson’s Disease and his father, Leonard Fitka, Sr., is physically disabled after having suffered a stroke and aneurism. Palassa and Leonard Fitka. Sr.’s only income is a small SSI check, which was recently reduced by the government.
Faced with 14 hungry mouths to feed, the young Fitka knows the Yukon is his biggest hope to get enough food. When he’s not able to pick up seasonal work around the village to earn a few dollars, he puts his boat in the water and fishes for fish such as chum to get by.
All the way, passing up the Chinook that could be feeding his family this winter.
Fitka said he supported the recent Chinook fishing trip undertaken by several Marshall fishermen earlier this month. The need for food for elderly, widowed and disabled members of the community outweighed the any fear of legal reprisal.
“Right now, we have no kings in the freezer,” he said. “It’s getting late in the season and the first pulse has already passed,” he said. “I know they want the fish in Canada, but we need to eat, too. We rely almost entirely on our subsistence lifestyle to survive.”
“If we can’t catch the fish we have lived off for hundreds of years, what are we going to do? Look around, what else can we do?”
“When we heard this fishing party was going to take place, we were all for it,” said Mildred Fitka. “It’s kind of like our own people (the government) have turned on us so they had to go.”
“I don’t think it was so much a protest as it was something they had to do,” she added.
The kings she and her brother put up last summer were the reason they survived last winter, she said. The dried and salted salmon strips weren’t the main thing on the table. They were the only thing.
“A lot of the times in the winter, the dried fish is all we had,” she said. “There were times we ate only once a day, but the kings helped us get through.”
The kings they don’t have this year.
“I don’t know what people are going to do this winter,” she said. “Last year was a tough winter, but this one could be even harder.”
“It’s tough for us,” Fitka said. “It’s not like we are asking for anyone to give us anything. We take pride in getting by on our own, but we have to fish. If we can’t fish, how are we going to get through the winter?” he said.

Disaster assistance
for spring flooding

More than $2 million in federal assistance has been disbursed to Alaskan residents to help them recover from the 2009 spring floods and ice jams announced officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management (DHS&EM).
On June 11, 2009, the President declared a disaster declaration for the State of Alaska to address damages from the spring flooding and ice jams in designated areas.
Federal Individual Assistance is designated for the Alaska Gateway Regional Educational Attendance Area (REAA), the Kuspuk REAA, the Lower Yukon REAA, the Yukon Flats REAA, the Yukon-Koyukuk REAA, and the Yupiit REAA.
At the close of business last Wednesday, 285 homeowners and renters have applied for disaster assistance and 269 of those homes have been inspected. Grants awarded to date total $1,280,927 to 90 applicants, which includes:
•$940,732 in housing assistance to cover temporary rental assistance, home repairs and replacement.
•$340,194 in other needs assistance to cover essential personal property losses, subsistence items, medical, dental, funeral, transportation or other serious disaster-related expenses not covered by insurance.
•$897,600 in Small Business Administration loans to pay for the repair or replacement of homes and businesses, or personal property not fully covered by insurance or other compensation.
“In addition to providing grants to individuals for home repair or replacement FEMA will pay for the shipping of building materials from the point of purchase to the respective building site,” said Doug Mayne, Federal Coordinating Officer. “We anticipate that most building materials will come from providers here in Alaska.”
“By FEMA coordinating and paying for the transportation costs, it should help the individual homeowner get back into suitable housing before the winter weather sets in,” said Bob Stewart, State Coordinating Officer.
Individuals in these REAAs who did not apply while teams were in their village have until August 10, 2009 to register for federal assistance. Individuals should call the FEMA toll-free registration number, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or 1-800-462-7585 (TTY), between 3 a.m. and 9 p.m. local time, seven days a week. Individuals can also register on-line at http://www.DisasterAssistance.gov. Applicants can call the FEMA Alaska help line, 1-877-444-0829, with any questions about federal assistance. The Alaska help-line is available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Big Trouble on the big river

7-9-09

by Tommy Wells

Nick P. Andrew Jr. didn’t mince words Wednesday when reporters and television crews arrived in the tiny village of Marshall to cover a small fishing party’s violation of a Yukon River king salmon fishing ban.
The true story, he said, wasn’t what the fishermen did by catching approximately 100 salmon and distributing them to the elderly disabled and widowed members of the village. It’s why they felt fishermen in six boats needed to.
The need to eat and get ready for what could be a tough winter.
“We (the people living on the Yukon) have been hit with what is a perfect storm,” Andrew said. “The economy is down, the floods hit and now the salmon closure. There are few jobs. There’s little money and now we can’t fish. The dilemma we are facing is, we’re trying to harvest our food supply for winter and so far we’ve only been allowed one opportunity to get the food we will need to get through the winter.”
To be sure, he said, hard times are ahead – maybe even harder than last winter – if they aren’t allowed to fish very soon.
“Everyone suffers when the fishing is closed. That’s the bread and butter out here,” he said. “It (fishing for kings) is a way to get cash that can then be used to buy food, clothing and supplies for the next year. If that is gone, it’s going to affect everyone.”
That – in addition to providing fish for the villages’ needy – is what the fishermen that slipped into the boats onto the river last Friday night wanted to highlight.
“According to the state, that was a crime,” said Andrew, the 46-year-old executive director of the Marshall-based Ohogamiut Traditional Council. “There were a lot of them that went out to make a statement, to get a message to the (Gov. Sarah ) Palin Administration that we need to feed our families, our people and those who can’t provide for themselves.”
“We have to eat and survive,” he added. “It wasn’t, in my opinion, an act of civil disobedience. It was an act of desperation.”
The Marshall protest comes on the heels of an Alakanuk elder who was ticketed by U.S. Fish & Wildlife troopers for subsistence fishing.
On June 12, 2009, John Chikigak, 65, was given a ticket for $275 for fishing during the closure of subsistence fishing on the Yukon River.
“I was just trying to feed my family,” said Chikigak. “My wife is 75-years-old, and I am 65. We support three of our grandkids, and we don’t have jobs. We need our dried fish,” he said. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, I just want to feed my wife and grandkids,” he said.
Jim Valcarce, a Bethel lawyer, has taken up Chikigak’s case and had vowed to help anyone – at no cost –who has been ticketed for subsistence fishing.
“We all know that any problems with a lack of fish on the Yukon is not due to locals trying to feed their family,” said Valcarce.
“It’s a basic, fundamental right to eat, and I’m proud to represent Mr. Chikigak, who I consider a true hero.”
Chikigak’s ticketing and the Marshall’s protest have brought light to a tough situation for residents of the Yukon River. Many residents say the subsistence fishing closure for kings could have a dramatic impact in the future in a region of the state where there are few jobs, and money is often scarce.
A fact made even worse by the economical difficulties in the United States.
“It’s really hard for everyone,” said Karen Thompson, the assistant administrator of the Pitka’s Point Traditional Council. “Some families are just making ends meet.”
In Marshall, one of the tiny village of 400’s main employers, a fish processing plant closed two years ago due to state regulations on the number of salmon that can be harvested. The plant employed 15-20 people per shift and gave residents an avenue to purchase food items from the local store.
“That was a big loss to the community,” said Tim Andrew, the Association of Village Council Presidents’ Director of Natural Resources. “There are limited employment opportunities in the villages. Most of the villages are cash-strapped, so the ramifications of the salmon closure are even tougher. People have less money for fuel and heating oil, plus they become delinquent of their financial obligations. A times, there are some who have to choose between food or heating their homes.”
Adding to the cost is the high price of fuel in the villages. Gasoline, which is used to power the outboard motors on the fishing boats, sells for approximately $6.29 per gallon in the villages.
To buy gas to fish for food, choices have to be made, Andrew said.
The situation is similar in many of the other villages in the Lower Yukon Delta.
“Here, we kind of have our hands tied behind our back,” said Thompson. “Even if the council told us to do something, we don’t have any money to do anything. It’s been really hard, and now this.”
Area residents have been stepping up their catches of chum salmon as a way to meet their winter needs. Chum is a less desirable salmon that is often used for dog food by many villagers.
“We have been catching more chum to make sure we at least have something,” said Jack George. “But the kings are what we depend on. They have been what we have depended on for hundreds of years.”
Marshall’s protest did raise the ire of the Alaska Department of Fish & Game, which banned subsistence fishing due to poor return predictions. ADF&G officials said they were investigating the situation in Marshall.
“If in fact a protest fisher did occur, I am very disappointed,” said Colonel Gary Folger, the director of the wildlife troopers. “We will conduct an investigation and if it discloses criminal behavior occurred, we will present our findings to the district attorney’s office for review.”
The penalty for civil disobedience would be a misdemeanor which can carry a fine as high as $5,000 and/or one year in jail. The state could also seize equipment used in the fishing effort.
Despite the action, Marshall’s decision to fish generated a positive response from other villages on the Yukon. In fact, many supported the effort, including the AVCP, which represents 56 villages in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.
“Other villages that need king salmon should do the same thing,” AVCP President Myron Naneng was quoted as saying.
“The people are not upset,” said Thompson. “They are surprised they did it. Some of the people have called them brave.”
“They shouldn’t be condemned for what they did,” said William Riley, Jr. “I’ve been tempted to do it. They did what they had to do for their people, their families.”
What has raised the concern of fisherman up and down the Yukon is the federal government’s role in a salmon treaty with Canada, and the pollock fishing industry that is granted large by-catch numbers in the Bering Sea.
“The point I understand is the state says these fish belong to the Canadians, and the pollock trawlers can catch so many of them, but we don’t get any,” said Riley, who has harvested kings with his wife, Betty, for more than 30 years. “I don’t understand how our government can say they should get them when we don’t have any.”
“We’re getting double jeopardy,” he said. “We’re caught in the middle of the Canadians and the trawlers It’s like we’re back to living in a Third World country again.”
The Bering Sea pollock fleet catches thousands of king salmon a year as a by-product of their fishing operations. These fish – which can be as many at 120,000 in 2007 – are waste.
In April, the North Pacific Management Council implemented an unprecedented cap on the number of salmon the fleet can waste. That council also voted to create a first-ever cap on wasted salmon in 2011.
As for Canada’s claim to the kings, the state is required to deliver 45,000 Chinook through the Yukon via a treaty that was signed in 2001.
By limiting subsistence fishing on the Yukon, ADF&G officials hoped to make it possible for the first pulse of kings to safely make their way up the river. By doing that, state officials said, the escapement goals for the state and the fish bound for Canada would be met. Reports from ADF&G states that there are over 79,000 kings that have passed the sonar at Pilot Station.
The state has fallen short of the 45,000 goal for Canada in each of the past two years – a fact that played a key role in the state’s decision to halt commercial and limit subsistence fishing.
Riley said normally he and his wife catch approximately 180 kings a season for subsistence needs. This year, the two have put up less than 70 – for two families.
Riley said the two families – 14 people – who share his fish rack this year have harvested mostly chum.
“We’re doing it because we have no other choice,” he said. “I guess we’re going to get used to eating chum this winter.”
“We are struggling out here to get ready for winter,” said Emmonak Tribal Council President Marvin Kelly, noting many in the Emmonak were still struggling to overcome flooding. “People are crying for help.”
Andrew said it is a cry the state is missing.
“There is something wrong with this society when the law enforcement officials cite and confiscate the harvest of salmon from a 65-year-old man from Alakanuk trying to prepare to feed his family for the winter. Additionally, the six boats that participated in a tribally authorized and sanctioned fisher for the benefit of elders, windows and the less fortunate are under the scrutiny for possible legal action,” Andrew wrote while sending an AVCP-backed request that the state to open unrestricted mesh size subsistence Chinook fishing opportunities. “Meanwhile, the continued waste of precious Chinook salmon is occurring in the Bering Sea Pollock Trawl Fishery without citations or force of law.”
According to state figures, the pollock fleet wasted 437,157 Chinook from 2001 to 2007.
The situation on the Yukon River have led to claims that the state and federal governments have not done enough to help the residents of the Lower Yukon, and are actually placing the people, and the future of the villages in the area, in danger.
We have to eat,” said Marshall fisherman Andy Boots. “It’s not something we cannot do. We have to catch fish to eat, and we have to teach the next generation how to catch them. It’s Mother Nature that has taken care of us for centuries, not the Alaska Department of Fish & Game.”
“It’s hard right now,” said commercial fisherman Dewayne Cooper. “The restrictions make it more difficult to get the fish we need. We’re being regulated by the ADF&G state troopers who say we can’t fish. It’s like living in Anchorage and going to Carrs and having a state trooper tell you that you can’t go in and get food for your family.”
“That is where we are at,” he added.
Some in the state have called for the state and federal government to halt pollock operations in the Bering Sea as a way to ensure the Chinook stocks recover. The number of salmon not killed as bycatch would greatly help the salmon returns in the Lower Y-K and Norton Sound regions.
“I believe the state should close the commercial pollock industry,” said Cooper. “They have closed it before because of the sea lion. Now it’s endangering our lifestyle. Surely we are as important to the government as the sea lion?”
“I hope the light comes on pretty quickly,” he added.

CITGO Funds now
available for distribution

6-24-09

by Gloria Simeon

The Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC) ready to begin distribution of fuel vouchers for the fuel oil assistance grant from the Citizens Programs Corporation in partnership with CITGO Petroleum Corporation to the eligible households of Bethel.
Harry Faulkner Jr., Top Fuel, Bob Hoffman, Hoffman Fuel, Mike Riley, North Star and Mike Shantz, Southwest Fuel, met with Bob Angaiak, ONC Tribal Housing Director on Monday, 6/15/09 to finalize details on the quantity of heating fuel and price of delivery. Each eligible household in Bethel will receive a voucher for $450.00 to provide for the purchase and delivery of 90 gallons of home heating fuel.
Distribution of fuel vouchers to Elders began at 9:00 am, Wednesday, 6/17/09 until 5:00 pm on Friday, 6/19/09 at the ONC Office Complex located at 117 Alex Hately Drive. The rest of the public will be able to pick up their fuel vouchers beginning Monday, June 22. Eligible households will have until July 31st, 2009 to pick of their fuel vouchers.
The Citizens Programs Corporation had made this fuel oil assistance grant available to eligible households in Bethel for three years. Because this year’s distribution came late in the spring and the need was not as urgent as if it had come in winter, the ONC determined that there was time to wait for the arrival of the first fuel barge before making the fuel vouchers available. By choosing this course, an additional 16 gallons of heating fuel is available to all receiving this assistance.
We are very quyaq to the Citizens Programs Corporation and CITGO for this much needed assistance to residents of rural Alaska especially because of the soaring energy and other associated costs we all must pay to live the way and where we choose to live.
Gloria Simeon is the Executive Director of the Orutsaramiut Native Council.

School damaged
in Lower Kalskag

On June 9 at 11:50pm, and on June 10 at 5:30pm, it was reported to the Aniak State Troopers that a juvenile in the village of Lower Kalskag had damaged 2 airplanes at the Kalskag Airport, a school bus, and the Sakar Levi Elementary school building along with contents of the school.
Damage estimates total approximately $10,000.00 but may go higher.
Kuspuk School District employees from Aniak and Kalskag, have traveled to the school to begin cleaning the damage, and repairing the school.
Both aircraft, a Cessna 170 and a Cessna 172, have been rendered unsafe and will need repairs before they can be flown. The school bus had 21 (twenty one) windows broken out of it.
The juvenile was found sleeping at a relations home and was arrested. The juvenile was transported to Bethel and remanded at BYF. Investigation continues.

Honoring our ATG

by Rep. Bob Herron

The Fourth of July celebrates our Nation’s birthday. It’s a time to take off work, spend time with family, and think about the things that make our country great.
It’s also a time to acknowledge the sacrifices made by many Alaskans, past and present, to keep our state and nation safe. Without the people who serve or have served in our armed forces, the freedoms we all enjoy would not exist. In Alaska we are fortunate to have more veterans per capita than any other state, an estimated 100,000 statewide.
ALASKA TERRITORIAL GUARD
On April 14th, I was privileged to present legislative citations to a few surviving members of the Alaska Territorial Guard in Juneau. I enjoyed meeting and personally delivering citations to former ATG members in Quinhagak on May 21st and in Kwethluk on June 3rd. At time of writing, I am scheduled to enjoy this same privilege in Akiachak on June 22nd. Please join in me honoring ATG veterans in these villages and all ATG veterans in our area.
QUINHAGAK
Recognized at the ceremony:
Beebe, Paul; Friendly, Oscar; Hunter, David; Matthew, Henry; Pleasant, John.
Other former ATG members from Quinhagak (Nearly all of the following are deceased):
Atseriak, Adam; Bavilla, Joshua; Bavilla, Lively J; Bavillis, Longhair; Big John, Peter; Britton, Wassilie; Carter, John; Carter, Sam; Cleveland, Kenneth; Crow, John B.; Crow, Moses; Donegohok, Ivan; Donegohok, Robert; Evans, Carl; Foster, Adolph; Fox, Christopher; Fox, James; Fox, Nicholi; Fox, Sam; Friendly, John; Friendly, Otto; Friendly, Sam; Fullmoon, Charles; Fullmoon, Sam; Henry, Mark; Hill, Willie; Hunter, Henry; Hunter, Joseph; Johnson, Adolph; Jones, Louie; Jones, Moses; Jones, Paul L.; Jones, Paul W.; Jones, Walter; Kuku, Dan; Kuku, George; Kuku, Moses; Mark, Christopher; Mark, Dan; Mark, George; Mark, John; Mark, John Sr.; Mark, Oldman; Moore, Esau; Moore, John; Moore, Sixty; Nicolai, Alfred; Oldfriend, Peter; Pleasant, Charlie; Pleasant, Ferdinand; Pleasant, Frank; Pleasant, Willie; Roberts, Henry; Sharp, Andy; Sharp, Carl; Sharp, Daniel; Small, Christian; Small, Frank; Small, George; Thomas, William E.; Well, Lott; Williams, Walter.
KWETHLUK
Recognized at the Ceremony:
Epchook, Nick N. (Nick was unable to attend the ceremony do to his health; he passed away on June 10th. I extend my respectful condolences to all the friends and family of Nick N. Epchook).
Nick, Peter; Jackson, Sam
Other Former ATG Members from Kwethluk (Nearly all of the following are deceased):
Andrew, Adam; Angilon, Phillip; Ayapan, Evan; Changsak, Seraphim W.; Evan, Michael; Evan, Nick A.; Guy, Daniel; Guy, James Sr.; Guy, Wassily; Harrison, Phillip; Jackson, David; Jackson, Harry; Jackson, Jacob Y.; Kopuk, Evan; Long, John; Michael, Nicolai O.; Nicolai, David; Nicolai, Evan; Nicolai, Paul D.; Nicolai, William; Olick, Albert; Olick, Evan; Olick, William; Paghralrio, Michael aka Nicolai; Robinette, Ernest O.; Yohok, Nick.
AKIACHAK
Recognized at the Ceremony:
Nelson, Jacob (from Kwigillingok); Peter, James Sr.; Lomack, Joseph.
Other former ATG members from Akiachak (Nearly all of the following are deceased): Cyril, Mike; Ekamrak, John; Forrest, Earle M.; Herman, Fred (Fredrick) Sr.; Fritz, Eddie; George, Joseph; George, Roy; George, Walter; Henry, David; Henry, Moses; Henry, Wassillie T.; Jerry, Phillip; Joseph, Abraham; Joseph, John; Lomack, Charley aka Charles; Lomack, Louis; Lomack, William; Lott, George; Manutoli, Robert; Moses, George; Moses, John; Nick, John; Nick, Joseph; Nick, Moses; Nick, Willie; Noah, William; Nose, Noah; Pasitnak, Mathew; Peter, Edward; Peter, Kenneth; Phillip, Joshua; Steven, John; Stevens, David; Stevens, Paul A.; Wassaly, Fred; Wassilie, Carl; Wassillie, George; Wassilie, John K; Wassilie, Joseph; Wassilie, Moses.
But, of course, former ATG members are not our only veterans. Many villages have young people that have returned from Afghanistan and Iraq. Veterans from other foreign wars also live in our area. It’s vital to ensure all veterans have access to medical care, housing and job opportunities.
VETERANS’ CAUCUS
On February 14th, I was proud to join the Joint Alaska State Legislative Veterans’ Caucus as one of 14 inaugural members. The purpose of the caucus is to sustain legislative efforts on military and veterans issues and to help organize and unite efforts on behalf of military personnel and veterans across Alaska. As part of the Caucus I will be travelling to Anchorage July 30th for a Veterans’ Summit to discuss and prioritize veterans’ issues for next legislative Session.
The caucus helped secure passage of five pieces of veteran legislation last session:
•Senate Bill (SB) 89 ensures no interruption to the retirement benefits to the ATG veterans whose pensions were recently reduced by the federal government.
•SB 45 gives the Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs the authority to establish veterans’ cemeteries and provides for their maintenance.
•SB 77 ensures that the legislature continues to play a vital role in military issues affecting Alaska by making permanent the House-Senate Joint Armed Services Committee.
•Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 5 urges the Department of Defense to provide full benefits to ATG veterans.
•SJR 17 designates 2009 as “The Year of the Noncommissioned Officer Corps of the United States Army,” encouraging people all over the country to observe this year with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
VETO OVERRIDE FOR ENERGY STIMULUS DOLLARS
I share in the disappointment of many with the governor’s decision to reject $28.65 million in federal energy stimulus funds. In doing so, Alaska became the only state to reject these funds. This decision is incomprehensible in a state which faces energy challenges greater than anywhere else in the country.
The great majority of my colleagues in the legislature share the view that the decision to reject the funds was erroneous; we have begun to explore our options to override the governor’s veto. A legislative override of the governor’s veto requires a three-fourths vote in joint session; in other words, 45 of the 60 legislators.
I believe that it may be in the best interests of the citizens of Alaska to hold a special session this interim to override this veto. This is an important issue, and the Legislature should not waste any time in expressing the will of the people. However, it seems most likely that the vote to override the veto will be held off until the beginning of next session. We are currently waiting to hear back from U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, to ascertain whether the state will still qualify for the funds if we wait until next session to override the veto.

Goodnews Bay Regional
Salmon Plant – Opening in June
Pollock Provides

6-17-09

by the Coastal Villages Region Fund

Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) is proud to announce the opening of the brand new Goodnews Bay Regional Salmon Plant in Platinum, Alaska! The plant will begin buying salmon in mid-June, and the grand-opening ceremony will be held on July 23 in Platinum. This $35 million facility will provide 125 new positions for residents wanting to work and earn money while staying closer to home. The dormitories and cafeteria are very nice by seafood industry standards, and CVS will be paying its processors an unprecedented entry wage of $9.00 per hour to work at the new plant, as well as at the seven other existing CVS plants in the region. This hourly wage is about 25% higher than the average starting wage in Dutch Harbor!
It is important to note that the new plant – as well as the seven existing CVS plants – were paid for with CVRF’s earnings in the Bering Sea Pollock fishery. Without pollock, we would have no plants, no tenders, and no market for our fishermen or processing jobs for our residents. Pollock has been covering not only the constructions costs, but the annual operating costs (losses) that we have been incurring in trying to build a sustainable salmon and halibut industry for our region. The new plant will cause a result in CVRF to becoming one of the very largest employers in our region, providing more than 400 jobs for our residents and providing more than 600 fishing permit holders with a lasting market for their salmon and halibut. Pollock Provides!
2009 Tender Fleet Upgrade – In addition to the new processing facility, CVS is expanding its tender fleet operations in 2009 and will be providing a total of eight salmon and halibut tenders throughout the region. The tenders will provide better convenience to our fishermen, ensure better quality of the fish, and provide an ample volume of salmon to the new plant in Platinum. The halibut fishery will continue to be served by the Leo, but the Leo will be assisted in 2009 by new shuttle tender that is intended to improve both fish quality and service to the fleet. Salmon fishermen will be served this year by the Kelly Mae, Flying D and Elsie M in the Kuskokwim River; by the Camai, and a shuttle tender in Kuskokwim Bay, and by the Eider in Goodnews Bay. CVS’ tender capacity in 2009 will be nearly triple the capacity from 2008. We expect the volume and quality of fish products to rise, and we hope the fleet is pleased with the improved service.
More Money to Fishermen – With the new processing plant and upgraded tender fleet, it is the hope of the CVRF Board to eliminate limits on salmon deliveries – which means more deliveries to CVS and more money earned by fishermen. As we begin to handle more chum salmon, we also need to work together to improve the market for chum. This will be made easier if our fleet and processors continue to be diligent in maintaining the quality of the fish. CVS will be paying $0.15/pound for chum to start the 2009 season, triple the price we were able to pay for chum in 2008. It is our hope to pay even more in the years ahead, but at present our chum and other salmon and halibut operations must continue to be subsidized by our earnings in the Bering Sea Pollock fishery.
Notices and announcements will be made for fishermen for fishing schedules this season.
Making Coastal Villages Seafoods Sustainable – It has been estimated that CVRF will become the largest private sector employer in the region in 2009. This accomplishment could not have been reached, and cannot be sustained without substantial financial support from the Bering Sea pollock fishery, which provides roughly 85% of CVRF’s revenue stream.
The CVRF goal is to make CVS self-sustaining in the years ahead. Once we have achieved this, we will be able to pass along further improvements in CVS financial operations to our fishermen and processors in the form of better prices and wages. For our region, we will then also be able to devote earnings from the pollock fisheries to new economic development projects, rather than to the continued subsidization of CVS’s salmon and halibut operations. A primary purpose stated in the federal CDQ statute is to “achieve sustainable and diversified local economies.” We are well on our way with CVS and excited about the positive developments that are coming to fruition in 2009.
High Quality Fish – CVS would like to remind the dedicated fishermen of the region that the icing and bleeding of salmon in 2009 is mandatory so that we may maintain the highest quality and so that we can sell our fish as a premium product and get the highest possible price. Together, we are already building a niche in the market for our salmon by emphasizing to buyers the quality resulting from the icing and bleeding practices of our fleet. We must continue to adhere to this practice, as even a single poorly-handled fish can harm all of us!

AVCP Housing conveys deeds to homes in Kalskag

by AVCP Housing staff

On June 2, 2009, Ron Hoffman, President/CEO of AVCP Regional Housing Authority, and his staff traveled to Kalskag to hand out deeds to 13 families who recently paid off their homes. There was a brief ceremony with door prizes, snacks, cake, and beverages for the proud homebuyers, their families and friends that attended.
Turnout was great and homebuyers who paid off their homes were happy to receive their deeds. Some of the elders and homebuyers in attendance knew Hoffman since he was a little boy.
“It was a privilege for me to be involved in the actual planning of the housing projects over 25 years ago and a tremendous honor to finally present the deeds to them,” Hoffman said. “Helping people realize their dream home is a satisfying accomplishment.”
Over the last year and a half, AVCP Regional Housing Authority has conveyed 32 homes to homebuyers in Upper and Lower Kalskag.
When a homebuyer pays off their home and become homeowners, they become fully responsible for their homes. If there is a loss due to fire or flood without insurance, the cost to repair or replace the home is borne by the homebuyers alone. Therefore, AVCP Housing strongly recommends they obtain fire and flood insurance.
AVCP RHA has been in existence for nearly 35 years. Over this period of time AVCP RHA has built 1,630 units in nearly all of the Y-K Delta villages, and currently has 1,080 homes and 77 rental units under management.
In 2009, AVCP RHA is building multi-family projects in several villages: in Hooper Bay, a 19-home project; in Chevak, a 12-home project; and in Alakanuk, a 9-home project. AVCP RHA is also building 17 single-family homes in 7 villages.
AVCP RHA is also weatherizing around 200 homes and renovating another 145 units in 11 villages this year. AVCP RHA employs hundreds of people during the peak building season.

AVCP discusses request for lower Yukon state fishing disaster
Fish & Game officials say Canadian salmon must be allowed to pass by

6-5-09

by K.J. Lincoln

The Alaska Commissioner of Fish & Game Denby Lloyd and John Moller, Rural Advisor to Governor Palin stopped in Bethel last week for a brief meeting with Myron Naneng, the President of the Association of Village Council Presidents to discuss the upcoming salmon fisheries on the lower Yukon. Also attending was AVCP Natural Resources Director Tim Andrew, AYK Research Supervisor Dana Evenson, and John Linderman, Kuskokwim Area Biologist for ADF&G.
Naneng’s opening comments centered around the hardships the people of the YK region had faced this past winter with the high cost of fuel and food. He stated that the lower Yukon commercial fishery, which was once thriving, has now gone down to only seeing 1 fish buyer. He also had been seeking a state fishing disaster declaration, but nothing has transpired.
“I have only heard excuses from the State of Alaska not willing to declare a disaster for lower Yukon. Is the State of Alaska going to declare one for this coming summer if the runs don’t show as predicted, or are they looking for an excuse not to before it happens?” wrote Naneng in an email to Moller earlier this week. “Our Yup’ik people on the Lower Yukon are going to be the most restricted fisheries for this coming season.”
Naneng explained that the residents of the lower Yukon are not looking forward to the upcoming fishing windows.
“From our perspective, the burden of conservation has been placed on the people of the lower Yukon,” he said. “The windows are causing more hardships.”
The ADF&G recently released the 2009 Yukon River Salmon Fisheries Outlook. The upcoming Chinook salmon run is projected to be below average to poor and subsistence conservation measures are required to share the anticipated available subsistence harvest and meet escapement goals.
The U.S./Canada Yukon River Panel have agreed to a treaty with an escapement goal of 45,000 Chinook for Canada.
“Half of the Chinook in the Yukon are returning to Canadian tributaries. We saw a 30% decline in 2007 and 2008 and the escapement goals have not been achieved,” said John Linderman, ADF&G biologist. “There was a very poor return of Canadian fish and we wanted to provide for more escapement for Canada.”
Tim Andrew questioned the late openings for subsistence fishing since fishers like to catch their fish early to take advantage of the optimal drying weather.
“We are in dire straits if we are not allowed to fish,” he said.
“If we let them fish on Canadian fish, then we don’t get our escapement. It is our obligation to let those Canadian fish go through,” said Linderman. “Any chipping away at the first pulse of Chinook will reduce getting enough fish across the border.”
According to Naneng, there are 700+ commercial fishermen in the lower Yukon. If they are not allowed to fish, especially for subsistence, he wanted to know what the possibility was of paying them not to fish - as a compromise.
“If our people are going to be asked not to fish, they will need something,” he said. “We don’t want a repeat of last winter.”
Nunam Iqua had to close their fuel station because they could not afford to buy any more fuel. They eventually had to dip into their tribal allocations in order to make a fuel purchase, said Naneng.
Commissioner Lloyd said that he would bring that recommendation back to Juneau with him.
Discussion shifted to the in-season assessment methods and how Canadian salmon are identified from Alaskan stocks. Samples from test fishing are immediately sent to the lab in Anchorage where scientists drop whatever they are doing to work on the high priority Yukon samples. The facility is the “best fish genetics lab in the country” as Commission Lloyd explained, which has a turnaround time of 24-48 hrs, instead of a staggering 2 weeks.
By the time the Canadian-bound salmon reach the border at the Eagle sonar station, 30 days have passed since they first entered the river. There are no other sonar stations between Pilot Station and Eagle.
Again discussion shifted, this time to the Pollock bycatch issue. Commission Lloyd has a voting seat on the 11-member North Pacific Management Council – a federal entity which has primary responsibility for groundfish management in the Gulf of Alaska, the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, including cod, pollock, flatfish, mackerel, sablefish, and rockfish species harvested mainly by trawlers, hook and line longliners and pot fishermen.
According to Lloyd, most of the bycatch caught by the Pollock fishery occurs around the Horseshoe area by inshore trawlers within 3 miles. The trawlers usually go to Akutan or Dutch Harbor.
“60% of the bycatch is headed to western Alaska and 1/4th of the total were bound for the Yukon,” said Lloyd.
The NPMC voted to set the Chinook bycatch at 60,000 for the Pollock fishery, and the incentive program goes as far as the individual vessels. If the industry’s salmon bycatch routinely exceeds recent averages, the cap would drop down to about 47,600 salmon, under the motion approved by the board. Fishing vessels or companies that refused to take part in incentive programs would face much lower bycatch limits.
“They will let their skippers know,” he said. “It will make a difference for them to fish like that. They have to stay below 47,000.”
However, Pollock fisherman have said that they “can’t get away from Chinook” said Lloyd. And there will be a 4 year delay until any benefits show.
Still, Naneng expressed that a state disaster declaration should be declared to help support the fishermen that did not get an opportunity to fish. But Moller said that the law has been changed.
“If there was any way, we would…but the Governor’s hands are tied – she has to follow the laws,” said Moller. “An economic disaster does not qualify according to the state legislature,” he added.
“Fuel is paid for by commercial fishing money,” said Naneng. “That is the reason for their inability to pay. What is the state’s position on this? Is the state really looking out for the interest of the people?”
AVCP went through $5-$6 million for low-income assistance, he said. One village even had 20 children in OCS, Office of Children’s Services – and 50 the next year.
“I know the in-river program calls for quite a bit of sacrifice,” said Lloyd. “We are trying to make those sacrifices as small as possible.”
What about the traditional subsistence users of Chinook salmon on the Canadian side?
“The aboriginal fisheries for The First Nations People, which is what they call it, are taking less than half for their needs,” said Evenson. “We need to make a concerted effort to conserve those fish.”
The group was heading out to several lower Yukon villages the next morning on Friday to meet with village leaders and commercial fishermen. (See page 6 for Nick Tucker Sr.’s letter to Commissioner Lloyd.)

House Fire in Grayling

On May 19, 2009 it was reported to the Alaska state Troopers, Aniak Post that there had been a house fire in Grayling on May 18, 2009. The house was described as a total loss. The Fire Marshall’s office has been advised. The investigation continues.

Happy to be tobacco free

5-19-09

by Janet Aketachunak

Hello! It has been 6 plus years since I had my last cigarette!
When I was asked by my provider if I was interested in quitting, I was hesitant. I thought, “It won’t happen,” but I said yes and was referred to the Yukon-Kuskowim Health Corporation’s Nicotine Control Program.
The Nicotine Dependence Counselor worked with me and gave me some options on what I needed to get started on my quit attempt. I chose the Zyban and the Nicotine Patch. I started with the Zyban to slow me down and when I cut down to half a cigarette a day, I quit. I put the patch on and never smoked again. It’s not hard, you just have to believe that you want to quit. I do not miss smoking, it stinks. Now I can hardly breathe the secondhand smoke when I’m around it.
I encourage everyone who smokes or chews to quit; it’s healthier. My husband used to call me a walking ashtray. I smelled like one; not any more! The program—it actually works.
Happy to be tobacco free!
Janet Aketachunak is a resident of Emmonak, Alaska.

Honor your Mother

by Elizabeth Ulak

I am writing this in dedication to my mother Mary Ulak, whom I treasure, honor and love with every heartbeat I am given. She passed away in January of 1998, when I was 15 years old. I see it as a delicate stage in life when life throws fierce storms and trials and your most vulnerable to make a lot of bad decisions or poor choices. Influences, whether good or bad is constantly around you.
You see, I was asked by a wonderful woman to write about how special moms are. It came about when she wished me a Happy Mother’s Day. I hugged her back and wished her one too. I explained to her why I choose not to celebrate mother’s day and it has everything to do with losing mine.
I explained how precious moms are and gave examples through my children about how I constantly tell them to honor and respect me because it is the right thing to do. They only have one mother and no one can ever replace the kind of magical love I have given them so unconditionally.
I recently called my daughter and explained a lot of things to her about relationships and love. The most important thing I told her was that if I didn’t love you, I wouldn’t be telling you this. This is when this wonderful lady said; I wish I could tell my daughter things like that. Would you write an article about this?
I get upset when I see or hear of children disrespecting their mom. It hurts inside to know a mother is hurting, how much her children yell at her, use vulgar language, demand things, expect things, and most of all, take her for granted.
Nakleng! There are children who don’t realize just how precious your mom really is. There are children like me who admire you because your mom is still alive. You need to realize that you have the most precious gift and that is your mother’s love.
In honor of all mothers, I want to share the 3 p’s of a mother’s love for you. Listen dear children, both young and old, if you need to make an effort to reconcile with your mom, or those who love her dearly and even for those who have lost a mother, do it! She does many things for you with no hesitance, only out of love.
First of all, your mother will plead for you. It is her deep love for you that may drive you to Jesus, and she will plead for your mercy. When you nanikuaq or desire an emotional need from mom, she will always be there for you. According to Bill Keller, “something” pulls us to God in our hour of need. Many people, who openly reject God, will cry out in a time of need. Even believers will live apart from Christ, not giving Him much time in their daily life…until the trials come.” Understand this, your mom in her hour of need knows where to plead for help.
Secondly, a mother knows what persistence is because it defines her. Your mom has a God-given talent to get the job done, no matter what or how long it takes. An elder once told me “God may answer prayers now, later or never”. It is in times like this that your mom is persistent and she won’t give up.
The third being if a mother is defined by her persistence then prayer is her greatest weapon. According to Bill Keller, “Moms are prayer warriors. Moms know that it is the prayer that moves the hand of God. Moms know that prayer works because it demonstrates to God that we are powerless in our own strength, and have put our faith in him.”
I believe that Prayer is definitely powerful and prayer is love. Love removes any hatred, anger, sadness, guilt, remorse, and every negative feeling from you. Give it a chance!
I encourage you today to honor your mother. Swallow your pride and make amends or renew your love for her. Let her know how special she is. Afterall, it is God’s commandment that we honor our mom.
For those of you whose mom has passed on, adopt one into your life. Visit the senior center and spend some time with one. Share your spring catch with elders in the villages. I believe any act of kindness, even to strangers are powerful and effective ways to spread love. In return, your mom’s gratitude will bless your life in more ways imaginable.
Quyana and be richly blessed this spring!
Elizabeth Ulak is a Traditional Counselor for SECEL.

Girl Scout Camp

Girl Scout Camp is starting throughout the YK Delta. Girl Scout Camp Staff members Jodie Gates and Heidi Chamberlain will be hosting camps in Hooper Bay May 17-22, Scammon Bay May 22-28, and Chevak May 28-June 3. Girl Scout Camp is free for all girls 5-18. Questions please call Amy at 1-800-478-7448.
At right are Jodie Gates, Heidi Chamberlain, and Regional Girl Scout Coordinator Amy von Diest.

Postal Service prices increase

The Governors of the U.S. Postal Service have approved new prices for mailing services, including a 2-cent increase in the price of a First-Class Mail stamp to 44 cents. Prices for mailing services are reviewed annually and adjusted each May. The new prices will go into effect Monday, May 11.
Customers can continue to mail letters by using the Forever Stamp. Forever Stamps were developed to help consumers ease the transition during price changes. Forever Stamps do not have a denomination and will be honored whenever they are used with no need for additional postage for a one-ounce letter mailing. On May 11 the price of the Forever Stamp increased to 44 cents.
The new prices are available at usps.com/prices.
Rising operational costs make the price adjustments necessary; the increase tracks the 2008 rate of inflation. “The Postal Service is not immune to rising costs which are affecting homes and businesses across America today,” said Postmaster General John Potter. “Even with the increases, the Postal Service continues to offer some of the lowest postage prices in the world.”
For the average household, the First-Class Mail stamp price change will represent an additional $3 over the course of the year. When compared to annual increases in other household expenses, such as groceries, healthcare and utilities, the Postal Service continues to be an economical choice for shipping and mailing during tough economic times. For First-Class Mail, there will be no changes in the current additional ounce price, which remains at 17 cents.

KuC Graduates hailed
and challenged

5-14-09

by Susan Baird

The 35th Commencement exercises for Kuskokwim Campus graduates played to an overflow crowd once again on Friday, May 8th in the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center. Campus Director Mary Ciuniq Pete commended people for attending even as some area villages were being evacuated due to spring river ice break up flooding. From the atmosphere in the cultural center, it was evident that it would take more than a flood to stop most of the participants from completing something they had set out to accomplish.
Dr. John Pingayak, who is the Cultural Heritage Coordinator at the Kashunamuit School District in Chevak and also serves on the KuC Advisory Council, was the first of many speakers to both congratulate and challenge the graduates. Sprinkling his remarks with many Cup’ik and Yup’ik words to emphasize his admonition to value their heritage, Dr. Pingayak urged them not to regard their culture as a second remedy, but a first guide.
Many times he heard the words, “Words will shape a young man as to how he will be in the future.” He was encouraged to help Elders and contribute to society. John did not think he was college-bound, but in 1972 he nevertheless started college with little money and few avenues of support. He never missed a class and now uses that education to teach young people.
Some of the things that have shored up Dr. Pingayak throughout the years are his faith in his Creator, the rules of the ancestors and the conviction that Cup’ik and Yup’ik people can do anything they set their minds to. He says, “Our hope is for the future,” and that future includes shaping good lifestyles, healing our people, being productive members of society, and recruiting people to attend KuC so they can use education to help their communities. “Don’t put your education behind the back door--use it!” was another of his challenges to the students of today.
Dr. Pingayak gave the audience two goals toward which they should strive. Don’t forget your traditional ways of survival and subsistence, and if you want to learn about your culture, go to the source--parents, grandparents and Elders. Switching between humor and firm warnings, he imparted valuable advice to all in attendance.
The Associate of Arts student speaker, Carrie Ayagalria spoke not only for herself but for many of the graduates in thanking their families for the support and sacrifice that helped them achieve the goals they were celebrating today. Roberta Charles, speaking for the Bachelor of Arts students, said she never imagined that she could stay at home, keep her job, and still complete a degree in Rural Development. Both students emphasized the balance of cultures, responsibilities and resources that is necessary to obtain an education.
Kathy Hanson, Regional Director of the Adult Basic Education Program, thanked the many partners who contributed to the success of the 60+ students who earned GEDs this year. She also challenged those students to think of their diploma as just the first step in their future. That sentiment was also echoed by Chester Mark for the Community Health Aide Practitioners as well as by Sharon Vaska for the Early Childhood Education majors.
The audience was also addressed by UA Regent Kirk Wickersham who defined success as consisting of two elements: self esteem and self discipline. Self esteem is the ability to dream and set a goal and self discipline is the ability to achieve that goal. The concluding speaker was University of Alaska President Mark Hamilton. His advice to the graduates was to find at least three people who were instrumental in their success and physically thank them. At least one student took that to heart. As I left the Cultural Center today, a young man turned around, shook my hand and said, “Thank you. You people changed my life.” A perfect way to end another memorable KuC graduation.
Ms. Pete closed the day’s ceremonies with, “Quyana to all of you for helping us to celebrate the most hopeful day at our campus. Congratulations, graduates!”
Susan Baird is the Assistant Director at the UAF Kuskokwim Campus in Bethel, AK.

Catching Sophie’s killer
Cold Case Investigators Search For More Clues

4-29-09

As the 16th anniversary of Sophe Sergie’s murder nears, Alaska State Troopers investigators hope the public can provide information that will help solve a case the remains a true mystery.
Cold Case Investigator Jim Stogsdill re-invigorated efforts to find her killer when he picked up the case in 2007. Stogsdill, with the help of Lindy Minnick who joined the Cold Case Unit’s Soldotna office in September of 2008, is painstakingly combing through old evidence, cataloging it, re-interviewing people and gathering more information that will hopefully lead investigators to Sophie’s murderer.
Sophie, who was a UAF student from 1990 to 1992, was staying with a friend at the UAF dorm Bartlett Hall while she was in town for a dental appointment. The 20-year old arrived in Fairbanks on Saturday, April 24, 1993 and was scheduled to fly home to Pitka’s Point shortly after her appointment ended on Monday, April 26. She never made it to the appointment. Instead, her body was found by janitors shortly after 2 p.m. on April 26. She had been sexually assaulted, shot and left in a bathtub of a second-story bathroom at Barlett Hall. Indications are that she was killed sometime between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m.
Investigators discovered she was last seen around midnight, smoking a cigarette and talking to people outside in front of Hess Commons, the building that joins Moore, Bartlett and Skarland dormitories. She was wearing navy blue sweatpants and a colorfully striped, hooded Native-style sweater or sweatshirt.
“We have a greater picture now than what they did back then, but we’re still missing a number of people,” Stogsdill said. “We’re especially looking for people who might have been outside, in front of Hess Commons.”
Another new piece of information is the possibility that there may be another crime scene. A crime scene forensic examiner independent from the Department of Public Safety did an extensive analysis of the crime scene evidence and determined Sophie may have been killed somewhere else in the dorm and not in the bathroom where her body was found.
“Although he wasn’t able to say conclusively that she was killed elsewhere and brought there (to the bathroom), he said we should keep our eyes open for her having been killed at another location,” Stogsdill said.
Armed with new information, Stogsdill and Minnick, plus other Cold Case investigators within the Alaska Bureau of Investigation Tim Hunyor, James Gallen, have been trying to track down people who were at Bartlett Hall at the time. It doesn’t matter whether the people were partying, just walking through or watching a movie with friends at the dorm, or whether a person believes they might have something to contribute. The smallest scrap of information could help put together another piece of the puzzle or help investigators narrow the number of leads to follow.
“We’d like everybody who was residing in Bartlett Hall in the spring of 1993, just simply call up and say, ‘Hey, I was there, I was in whatever room number, this is what I heard, this is what I saw, this is what I heard people speak of afterwards,’” Stogsdill said. “We can filter all that out.”
Interviewing people who might have something to add to the timeline leading up to Sophie’s death has been a challenge from the start. Her murder occurred right around finals. Students quickly left for the summer, some of them never to return for another semester at UAF. Investigators have the difficult task of tracking down people, some of whom have moved Outside or joined the military in the almost 16 years since Sophie’s death.
However, investigators are not wiling to give up until Sophie’s killer is behind bars.
Anyone who was in the area of Hess Commons or the Moore, Bartlett and Skarland Halls on April 26, 1993 can contact Stogsdill at (907) 260-2716; Minnick at (907) 260-2710 or lindy.minnick@alaska.gov; Gallen or Hunyor in Anchorage at (907) 269-5611; or UAF Police Investigator Steve Goetz at (907) 474-7721.

Capital Budget Bill passes

4-22-09

by Sen. Lyman Hoffman

Last night, the House passed Senate Bill 75, the FY10 Capital budget bill. Given the current oil prices, reductions were made in the spending plans for both the Operating and Capital budgets. We are committed to maintaining our efforts to provide essential public services while restraining ourselves in areas that can wait. This Capital budget focuses on high-priority projects including major deferred maintenance for 23 schools, village safe water, airport and highway transportation and the continuation of renewable energy projects.
Although SB 75 is leaner than in years past, with the assistance of federal economic stimulus funding, our state will continue to see job opportunities and construction activity.
With the state’s dependence on the volatility of oil prices, we have lived through these twists, turns and downslides before. Last year, we were fortunate to be able to put aside billions into our savings accounts. It is the Legislature’s intent not to draw too heavily from those reserves to preserve them as far into the future as possible until we see the upturn of state revenue.
Below, I have outlined the FY10 Capital projects for both sides of our district. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact my office.

Chinook Salmon Bycatch in Bering Sea Pollock Fishery

4-14-09

by The Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association

Every year, the Bering Sea pollock fleet catches thousands of Chinook salmon as “bycatch.” These Chinook – the most prized species of salmon – are tossed overboard, with a few saved for donation to food banks. In 2007, over 121,000 Chinook salmon were killed by the pollock fishery.
To date, there has been no limit on the number of salmon the pollock fishery can catch. Last week, the North Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) has the opportunity to make a historic decision to reduce bycatch in the pollock fishery and protect our Chinook salmon stocks.
Over 50% of the Chinook salmon caught as bycatch is bound for Western Alaska, including the Yukon and Kuskokwim rivers, Bristol Bay and Norton Sound. In-river fishers in these regions have faced significant reductions in commercial and subsistence harvest in recent years because of low run sizes. “The loss of income from commercial fisheries and food from subsistence fisheries is a key factor in the economic crisis villages throughout Western Alaska this year,” says Myron Naneng Sr, President of AVCP.
While in-river users make enormous sacrifices to allow Chinook salmon to return to their spawning grounds to reproduce, the pollock fishery is currently free to kill any number of these same fish. “We think it’s criminal that we are restricted from fishing to feed our families, while off shore, the pollock fleet is able to take 120,000 Chinook salmon with no repercussion. The Council needs to severely curtail the take of Chinook salmon by the pollock fishery. Rural Alaskans, sports fishermen and others should not have to pay the price for the inability of the pollock fishery to curtail their take of Chinook salmon,” says Loretta Bollard, President, Kawerak, Inc.
While numerous measures have been tried to reduce salmon bycatch, there has never been a real limit on salmon bycatch since the foreign fishing days. At their meeting in Anchorage last week, the Council has the opportunity to address this issue once and for all by choosing a hard cap that would shut the pollock fishery down when the cap has been reached. The Council’s current Preferred Preliminary Alternative, however, includes a hard cap of 68,000, which is higher than the third highest bycatch year in recent history. “It’s time for the Council to take action to actually reduce bycatch. A hard cap of 68,000 would keep the record high bycatch years from occurring, but does nothing to actively reduce bycatch,” says Karen Gillis, Executive Director, Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association. “To comply with our obligations under the Yukon River Salmon Agreement and provide protections to our priceless Chinook salmon stocks the Council should immediately adopt a hard cap of no more than 32,500 Chinook salmon. In these times of climate uncertainty for salmon, and economic crisis for our villages, it is morally repugnant to choose a hard cap that preserves the status quo levels of bycatch. With a limit in place, we are confident that the pollock fishery will adapt to stay under this limit, preserving their profits and Alaska’s Chinook salmon,” says Becca Robbins Gisclair, Policy Director, Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association.

Chevak receives over 3500 pounds of Food Donation in mid March

4-9-09

Almost all of the households in Chevak were given pizzas; canned and dried goods; and other necessities. Food was delivered to Chevak through the efforts of Representative Ramras; Legislative Staff, Dana Strommen; and others who were directly involved: Food Bank of Alaska (Reg Buchanan and Robin Stilwell), Lynden Transport (Reed Stoops) Alaska Airlines (Kim Hutchinson) and Private donations.
The Chevak Traditional Council staff barely found time to read The Delta Discovery, they just wanted to show off their new paper! We would like to give a heartfelt thanks to the aforementioned ‘movers’ with what they did for our community. Special thanks to the T.C staff; Dimi and Corney. God Bless All of You.
-RB Slats, Chevak Native Village.

Going To Ageya Camp!

by Kathleen “Nuka” Daniel

Four out of eight eighth graders from Lewis Angapak Memorial School from Tuntutuliak, AK will be going to Ageya camp on June 16 to July 9th. The four students who are going to this camp are: Logan Gilila, Miranda Lupie, Lawrence Pavila, and Derek David.
It’s a camp for only eighth graders in Alaska! Only eighth graders can apply for this camp. It’s a 24-day camp and they accept 32 girls and 32 boys.
They will be learning about traditional boat building, building a 30-foot umiak, and paddling and exploring the bay in kayaks. They will also be camping for a week.
The Ageya camp has been going on since 1984 for young people and adults.
The students do not have to pay for anything because the camp will be paying for the food, airfare, and everything else. I hope they have a lot of fun while they are over at the Ageya camp! Do you think they will have fun? How many eighth graders do you think will apply for this camp?
Kathleen “Nuka” Daniel is a student in Tuntutuliak, AK.

YKD Regional Winners move on to State Finals of Migratory Bird Calendar Contest

Eighteen students from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region have qualified for the state finals of the 2010 Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar contest. On Monday, March 23, judges in Bethel selected three winners in each of four age classes (kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth, sixth through eighth, and high school) for poster art, and three winners in each of two age classes (third through fifth, and sixth through eighth) for poetry. The theme for the 2010 calendar is “Alaska: North America’s Bird Nursery.” The judges, including Reyne Athanas, Sean Denning-Barnes, and Amy Wald, had a difficult time picking the regional winners from over 500 entries, up 40% from last year’s contest. Across the Delta, 434 students submitted posters and 69 students submitted poems for the competition. In addition to having a focus on local birds, many posters and poems emphasized other subsistence resources such as fish, seals, and berries. The twelve winning posters and six winning poems from our region will be sent to Anchorage, where they will be entered in the state-wide competition to be held in April. Winning artwork and poems from the state finals will appear in the 2010 Alaska Migratory Bird Calendar.
The annual calendar contest began on the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in 1986, and has now expanded to include student entries from throughout much of the state. The contest is sponsored by the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but its success depends on the support of many partners. For example, partners for the 2009 Calendar included the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Audubon Alaska, ConocoPhillips Alaska, and Ducks Unlimited.
Our regional literature winners (with their teachers in parentheses) include:
Grades 3-5: Joseph Paniyak, Chevak School, Chevak (Diane Seitz); Mason Martins, Chevak School, Chevak (Diane Seitz); Daphne Sipary, Nelson Island School, Toksook Bay (Veronica Simons)
Grades 6-8: Kate McWilliams, Kilbuck Elementary, Bethel (Jon LaValle); Winter Kilangak, Emmonak School, Emmonak (Kevin Ley); Alice Yupanik, Emmonak School, Emmonak (Kevin Ley)
Our regional poster art winners include:
Grades K-2: Ethan Lincoln, Nelson Island School, Toksook Bay (Eliza Lincoln); Angelina Asuluk, Nelson Island School, Toksook Bay (Eliza Lincoln); Charles Active, Jr., Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, Bethel (Christine Owens)
Grades 3-5: Daniel Seitz, Chevak School, Chevak (Diane Seitz); Nathaniel Simon, Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, Bethel (Georgiana Starr); Sabrina Crow, Kilbuck Elementary School, Bethel (Erin Arno)
Grades 6-8: Mary Julius, Nelson Island School, Toksook Bay (Veronica Simons); Sarah Alexie, Nelson Island School, Toksook Bay (Veronica Simons); Gorgeous Shangin, Dick Kiunya Memorial School, Kongiganak (Sherman Igkurak)
High School: Rita Andrew, Lewis Angapak Memorial School, Tuntutuliak (Daniel Lesczynski); Marissa Chingliak, Akiachak School, Akiachak (Trevor Snyder); Heather Mael, Chaputnguak School, Chefornak (Sandra McCulloch)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service would like to congratulate the regional winners and their teachers. The Service also thanks all of the other students, teachers, schools and communities that participated in this year’s regional contest for the 2010 calendar.