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Regional CEOs call for Bulk Fuel Cooperative to drive down fuel prices

9-4-08

Area leaders are proposing a bulk fuel cooperative made up of organizations and businesses affected by recent price increases. The cooperative would coordinate major fuel purchases for village fuel operators, utilities, schools, village corporations, and regional non-profits. These large group purchases would assist in driving down the price of fuel in an effort to protect the communities within the Calista region.
The Chief Executive Officers for the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP), Calista Corporation, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC), and AVCP Regional Housing Authority have spearheaded the AVCP-Calista Region Energy Committee to develop a bulk fuel cooperative as well as a regional energy plan. The regional energy plan will address both short-term and long-term energy solutions including alternative energy possibilities as well as state and federal legislative priorities.
“Our collective need will become our collective strength,” said Gene Peltola, President/CEO of YKHC.
The four CEOs provided testimony concerning the energy crisis at a US Senate Energy Committee Hearing on August 28, 2008, in Bethel, sponsored by US Senator Lisa Murkowski.
“It is extremely important that we unify our efforts,” concluded Ron Hoffman, President of AVCP Regional Housing Authority. “Together we can address our energy crisis.”

Reminder for Kuskokwim Moose Hunters: The Lower Kuskokwim Moose Moratorium in portions of Unit 18 remains in effect

Hunters in the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta are reminded that portions of Unit 18 remain closed to moose hunting as part of the Lower Kuskokwim Moose Moratorium, which is intended to increase moose numbers in these areas.
A recent press release suggested that all of Unit 18 was open to hunting. However, the Lower Kuskokwim moratorium area remains closed to the taking of moose by all users. The two areas that remain closed under Federal regulations are the Lower Kuskokwim River drainage and the area south of and including the Kanektok River drainage to the Goodnews River drainage. For a detailed description of the closed area as well as maps and harvest limits please consult the 2008-2010 edition of the Federal Subsistence Harvest of Wildlife regulations book.

K300 Logo Contest 2009

The Kuskokwim 300 Sled Dog Race is celebrating 30 years of racing!!! The winner of the contest will receive $100.00 cash prize plus a complimentary T-shirt with the new logo! All entries due by Monday, September 8th, 2008. All Ages May Enter!!!
Things to consider in your design:
•30 years of racing!!!
•Keep it simple
•Make it easy to read / decipher
In addition to the logo contest: You may draw, paint, etc. your logo into a picture to enter into a “Silent Auction” that will be held at the K300 Fundraiser Banquet to be held close to race time in January 2009. It will be a 50/50 auction so the highest bidder will purchase the artwork; the artist earns 50 % and 50% to K300.
How to enter: Logo idea submitted by September 8th, 2008. Size should be apx. 7.5” X 11” paper.
Mail your entry to:
Kuskokwim 300 Race Committee
P.O. Box 3001
Bethel, Alaska 99559
Or Email as an attachment to Suzi Israelsson: suziorange@mac.com.
The K300 board will announce the winner of the contest and post the winning logo on our web site. Note: Please include your name and contact info with your entry. THX for supporting K300, Alaska’s Premier Mid Distance Sled Dog Race!

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Spruce Needle Rust

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Alaska Territorial Guard Members honored in Eek

8-6-08

Three Alaska Territorial Guard members were honored in Eek on July 21, 2008, with Brig. Gen. Thomas Katkus of the Alaska Army National Guard and Jerry Beale, State Veterans Affairs Administrator presenting each with their official discharge papers at a ceremony celebration in their home community. From left are James Henry, Fritz Beebe, and Adam Petluska Sr., three of 43 Eek residents who served in the Alaska Territorial Guard from 1942-1947.

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AVCP RHA
Weatherization Program

7-23-08

A new project called the Lyman Weatherization Program is taking effect in the Bethel area. Lyman Hoffman, the prime sponsor of this bill, presented it to the legislature due to rising costs of fuel and energy. This bill was passed this year and is taking its first steps to servicing the Yukon-Kuskokwim region. The bill appropriation totaled 300 million; 100 million for the Energy Rebate Program and 200 million for the Weatherization Program. AVCP RHA was appropriated a little over 3 million to provide weatherization services to its tribes.
There is a shortage of energy raters in our area and in the state, so AVCP RHA along with Alaska Works, AHFC, AVCP Inc. and Yuut Elitnaurviat are working to meet the demand. Classes are being offered to prepare future Energy Raters. Classes started in June with 12 participants, whom are in the Alaska Works Building Maintenance and Repairer Program. They will have extensive training in order to attain their energy rater certificates and will be employed by AVCP RHA. There are approximately seven steps to complete energy rater certification. Once their training is complete, they will travel to the villages to assess each home, determine the needs, order materials and do needed repairs and weatherization work. A pre and post test is required for all homes that are worked on.
AVCP RHA plans to provide services to privately owned homes, solicit for a certified contractor to renovate privately owned homes, and find ways to expand the program to serve, not just the homes built under NAHASDA, but all dwelling units.
John Agibinik is the Weatherization Program Coordinator and Nicholas Horras is the Residential Energy Coordinator. They can be reached at our AVCP RHA offices; (800) 478-4687 or (907) 543-3121.

Tuluksak health aides
recognized for June 2008

The Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation’s Community Health Aide Program recognizes Marlene and Justina Phillip of Tuluksak as the June 2008 Health Aides of the Month.
Marlene Phillip is a Community Health Aide Practitioner and has worked for YKHC for five years. She exhibits exceptional customer service and works closely with physicians to diagnose and treat health care needs. Recently Marlene completed a Well Child exam on a two-year old who she discovered had abnormal height and weight, which led to further examination by a Pediatrician.
“Her attention to detail and diligent work, make her an excellent provider,” said Martha Attie, Supervisor Instructor. “Marlene is a lead Health Aide and is motivated, energetic, and a hard worker. Keep up the excellent work!”
Justina Phillip was hired in November 2006 as a Community Health Aide and is currently trained as a Level 3. Her compassion for the sick coupled with her love of meeting new people has allowed her to become a stand out Health Aide.
“She has complete Patient Encounter Forms and uses her Community Health Aide Manual and training guides regularly,” Attie continued. “Justina performs well under pressure and will work on difficult skills until she masters them. Congratulations on all of your hard work Justina!”
Both Health Aides will be honored in an upcoming luncheon at the Tuluksak clinic.
The Health Aide workforce represents the sustainability of health care in the YK Delta. Each month, YKHC awards special recognition to an outstanding Health Aide; this is the second award presented this year. If you would like to recognize a particular Health Aide, contact the Field Supervision Instructor by calling 543-6160.

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Industry representatives tour Kasigluk’s Wind-Diesel Facility

7-16-08

by Amy Murphy

On April 26, 2008 a group of about 30 people from 12 different countries toured AVEC’s wind-diesel power generation facility in Kasigluk in conjunction with an International Wind-Diesel Workshop held in Girdwood, Alaska.
These engineers and officials, some of whom hold high-level positions, represent various national and international organizations and large utilities and are all involved in testing, evaluating or building wind generation systems to operate in conjunction with isolated diesel generating systems.
Everybody was extraordinarily impressed with our facilities and amazed we have extremely high-tech facilities in such remote areas with challenging logistical and environmental conditions.
“Kasigluk is one of the best, smoothest wind operations I have seen,” said David Connelly, Principal of Ile Royale Enterprises of Northwest Territories Canada. “The system is highly competent and having the spare energy dumped as heat into the community hall is excellent.”
Up until conference time this tour was estimated to have maybe eight or nine people attend. However, AVEC staff at the conference learned that last minute interest in AVEC efforts was strong and that a surprising 40 people might participate.
Norman Miller, an AVEC employee on duty in Kasigluk, had been delegated the task of being chauffeur and host and expressed genuine concern. He, Brent Petrie, Mark Bryan and sponsors from Northern Power and STG, Inc. worked on logistical arrangements, including chartering airplanes. One issue was how to get all the visitors from the airport to the power plant facilities with one snowmobile, one ATV and one hand-made sled as cold temperatures and alternating patches of snow, mud and water made walking difficult.
Victor Keene, one of the local plant operators, and Moses White, a local resident trained in wind turbine maintenance and repair and an employee of STG, Inc., provided assistance chauffeuring the guests and answered numerous questions about the wind-diesel system.
“Victor and Troy White (the other power plant operator) take pride in doing their jobs well,” said Norman Miller. “They understand the generating system and keep the power plant facilities really tidy and well organized. During the tour the floors were so clean you could almost eat off of them. That helped make a good impression on the visitors.”
“I like to always keep the power plant clean,” said Victor. “Spending time with the visitors was interesting. Some of them were from Russia and Denmark and they asked lots of questions, including where I received my training. I answered their questions the best I could. They were impressed that a small, remote village like Kasigluk had such a high-tech power plant.”
Victor attended both the basic and advanced power plant operator training at AVTEC plus he has received a lot of on-the-job training on the automated control panels and engine-generator sets in the new power plant. Victor’s knowledge and understanding of the advanced system was apparent during the tour. Moses received Wind Turbine Certification from Northern Power’s manufacturing facility in Vermont and was also able to answer many questions about the turbines and their operation.
“I listened to engineers and men with PhDs ask technical questions and Victor and Moses were competent at responding,” said David Connelly. “Although they used words with smaller syllables, concepts were clearly exchanged and they clearly understand what they are doing.”
AVEC won the 2007 Wind Cooperative of the Year Award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Powering America Program and the visitors to Kasigluk have a clearer understanding of why AVEC deserved to win this prestigious award. AVEC’s staff pioneered the integration of wind into our isolated village diesel systems and it has been a major learning experience. The foremost benefit is the reduction in diesel fuel consumption, which reduces fuel costs for rural Alaskans hit by escalating price increases.
“The trip to Kasigluk was the highlight of the wind-diesel meeting,” said Larry Flowers, of National Renewable Energy Lab, one of the workshop organizers. “Seeing the three turbines spinning and knowing they’re saving 30- to 40,000 gallons of fuel each year and the associated cost was inspiring. AVEC is leading the way to a more sustainable village power future.”
Kasigluk’s diesel power plant, the bulk fuel storage and the wind turbines were all erected in 2006 by STG, Inc. AVEC personnel did the final interior installation and electrical work to get the power plant modules connected and up and running and also did the distribution system upgrades.
Kasigluk has three Northwind 100 100-KW wind turbines with a generating capacity of 300 kW. Total wind-diesel generating capacity is 1,624 kW. Power is also provided to nearby Nunapitchuk through a distribution intertie.
Since commissioning in July 2006 through April 2008 Kasigluk’s wind turbines provided about 23% of all the electricity used in Kasigluk and Nunapitchuk, which has displaced nearly 65,400 gallons of diesel fuel. In 2007 alone diesel worth $72,000 was displaced by wind and at 2008 fuel prices would equal about $150,000.
Installing the wind turbines involved a lot of teamwork from many different organizations, especially our funding partners that provided the initial financial resources necessary to build these projects. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of our talented, determined staff and partners, we have overcome substantial challenges, including building tower foundations in changing permafrost conditions.
AVEC’s members should be proud of the advances their cooperative has made towards installing renewable energy in some of our communities and increasing village self-sustainability. We are becoming known as a role model for other remote villages.
“The village residents are very proud of feeling like they are getting back some of their self-sustainability and reducing diesel fuel consumption,” said David Connelly, who took time to randomly speak with some elders. “They are also proud their local plant operators are competent and capable of operating the advanced wind-diesel generating system.”
AVEC would like to thank the following people for making the tour a success: Ian Baring-Gould of NREL, who was in charge of organizing the tour; Dave Myers and Jim St. George of STG, Inc. provided amazing last-minute help with tour logistics; Brett Pingree of Northern Power provided lunch and a substantial financial donation towards the air charter; Norman Miller of AVEC;, Moses White and Victor Keene of Kasigluk; Martina Dabo and James Jensen of Alaska Energy Authority; and Chris Rose and Hannah Manser of Renewable Energy Alaska Project.
“The Kasigluk field trip was a smashing success,” said Brett Pingree, a Vice-President of Northern Power, the company that sells the Northwind turbines. “Everything went without a hitch. The tip of the iceberg is just showing the great work we are doing as a team here in Alaska; there are more successful projects on the way.”
Victor Keene summed up the eventful tour this way: “I had fun. Send more visitors! We would be more than happy to answer more questions and show our power plant and wind turbines to other interested people.”
Quyana caqnek to Kasigluk’s residents for welcoming the visitors to their village. The Russian visitors were impressed with the Russian Orthodox Church and were pleasantly surprised to be there during the Easter celebration.

AVEC Members
receive Wind Turbine Training

by Amy Murphy

Imagine having to climb up a 108’ ladder inside an eight foot-wide, enclosed tower in order to get to your “office.” That is exactly what trained technicians do to perform routine maintenance and make repairs to AVEC’s wind turbines when they quit working.
In conjunction with AVEC’s wind power program, the following eight men recently received training to become certified technicians and learn to climb these towers: Charles Green Sr. of Tununak; Norman Abraham George John of Toksook Bay; Lawrence Lake and Julius Douglas Bell of Hooper Bay; Francis Bell Jr. and Elias Friday of Chevak; David Akeye of Savoonga; and Bryant Koonooka of Gambell.
“I used to be afraid of heights,” said Charles Green Sr. of Tununak. “But I overcame that fear during some hands-on training in Toksook Bay when I climbed up the towers to do some maintenance and repair work. It was a dirty job but it was fun!”
The all-expense paid, week-long training took place in Barre, Vermont at the Northern Power manufacturing facility, which supplies the Northwind 100 turbines AVEC primarily uses.
“The trainees learned how to service and troubleshoot the turbines and they all did really well during the final hands-on exam,” said Chris Haraldsen of Northern Power. Norman from Toksook Bay was automatically put to the test when he returned home and one of their three turbines quit working. “Norman discovered that a PLC card failed and by exchanging e-mail messages and phone calls we figured out which parts were needed. They were shipped out and the turbine got running again.”
Having local technicians trained to work on these turbines provides a source of local income and saves a tremendous amount of time and money by not having to fly trained technicians in from far-away places. These technicians live in villages that either have wind turbines or have plans to install them in the future.
“This is the second round of training and we now have 16 trained technicians all together,” said Dave Myers of STG Inc. “This very valuable training program enables community members to take a leading role in the operation and maintenance of the wind turbines installed in their respective communities.”
AVEC appreciates the efforts of our many dedicated partners who have made our entire wind program so successful, including the Denali Commission, STG Inc, and Northern Power, which provided exemplary training and went above and beyond the call of duty by entertaining the trainees during the evenings.
The Alaskans returned the favor and did some entertaining as well. One evening while eating at a local restaurant, Charles and Francis got up and sang some Native songs and performed traditional dances. Everybody in the restaurant thoroughly enjoyed the spontaneous performance.
“This training was really beneficial,” said Charles Green Sr. “Thanks to AVEC for giving me this opportunity to learn new skills and a new career.” Tununak’s runway was down, but Charles was so determined to receive this training he rode over to Toksook Bay by snowmachine to catch a flight from there.
AVEC would also like to thank everybody involved in this training program, including the participants who took the time to attend training.

AVEC crews work towards greater independence from diesel fuel

While many of us celebrated the July 4th Independence Day spending time with friends and family, two Alaska Village Electric Cooperative (AVEC) crews worked towards another type of independence day to reduce future dependence on diesel fuel to generate electric power.
This photo shows three wind turbines under construction at Hooper Bay over the 4th of July weekend. High winds slowed work down, but by July 7th two sets of blades were installed on the turbines. The control systems for these turbines are scheduled to be completely operational in 2009.
Another crew worked through the weekend installing piles for two wind turbines at Savoonga on St. Lawrence Island. AVEC has equipment on order or underway for two more wind turbine projects at Gambell and Chevak. Projects in other villages are also under study and development.
While there is a continuing need to utilize the reliable diesel generators for a majority of electric generation, AVEC hopes to use wind power to displace 25% to 40% of the diesel fuel presently consumed at those locations and eventually achieve some independence from the ever-increasing cost of diesel fuel.
Alaska Village Electric Cooperative, celebrating its 40th anniversary, is a member-owned, non-profit cooperative that provides electric power to more than 7,200 meters in 53 Alaskan villages.

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Bishop visits Emmonak

6-24-08

by Patrick Tam

On May 1, 2008 Bishop Don Kettler of the Catholic Diocese of Fairbanks made a short but important visit to Emmonak and participated in what one parishioner called “a historic event.”
For the first time, the people used their traditional Yup’ik dance (yuraq) within the celebration of a Catholic Mass. This event came after several months of prayer, reflection, and intensive discussions within the parish but for years, many parishoners have been hoping and dreaming of a day when Yup’ik and Catholic ways of prayer would come together.
Emmonak Sacred Heart parish is one of twenty-four parishes within the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region of the diocese. The region’s vision statement includes an effort “to strengthen inculturation and keep alive intercultural dialogue for continuing respect of culture and tradition.”
On March 6, 2008, Bishop Don celebrated a Mass of the Oils in Bethel at which he spoke about the need for healing and reconciliation, especially between the culture and the church. The bishop again apologized for the mistakes of some missionaries in the past, especially their negative attitudes towards Yup’ik and Cup’ik cultural practices. But he also realized that positive efforts to welcome appropriate cultural practices into Catholic worship, such as the Mass in Emmonak, are a way of moving forward.
Bishop Don arrived in Emmonak in the afternoon and began his visit by going to bless the sick in their homes. Reflecting Christ’s compassion for the weak is at the heart of the bishop’s role as the “chief shepherd” of the diocese. After a quick dinner at Deacon Ray Waska’s house, he prepared for mass. At the beginning of the liturgy, the words of the Opening Song set the tone: Come drum and dance before the Lord. Praise him with voices raised on high. Offer your songs with joyful hearts. Come sing and dance unto the Lord.
In his homily, the bishop spoke of how the Jewish people used their musical instruments, including drums and cymbals, and their dances in praising God. Christians later continued this tradition. But then for several centuries, Catholics forgot the importance of cultural diversity in worship as liturgy became more “Romanized.” Then in 1962-65, Pope John XXIII, inspired by the Holy Spirit, called together all the bishops of the world for an ecumenical council to “update” the life of the church. The Second Vatican council, far from breaking away from tradition, was actually a return to church tradition. The people were encouraged to “full, active and conscious” participation in worship. This meant that the people need to bring their whole selves into prayer, with all their cultural gifts, languages, and traditions. In North America, for example, guitars and other instruments were introduced into church music while in Africa, drums and dances were incorporated into Catholic worship.
Bishop Don explained that we are trying to put into practice the insights of the Second Vatican Council. He said, “When we pray with our culture, our songs, our dance, [our prayer] is more powerful…We don’t want to separate our religion from our life and our culture.” The bishop encouraged the people to “use what we know best to worship God.”
To symbolize the church’s desire to welcome the Yup’ik culture, Bishop Don invited the people to bring forward the drums for a special blessing. A small group of elders, representing the community, stepped forward and presented two drums (cauyak), several pairs of dance fans (tegumiat), and a dance baton (apallircuun). In his blessing, the bishop prayed, “Bless these drums and dance fans and bless all those who use them. May their songs be a source of joy, strength and healing for the Yup’ik people. May their drums echo the heartbeat of creation.” In a spirit of gratitude for the community, the bishop followed up with a blessing of graduates (high school and headstart) and a blessing of all those who will fish this summer.
Before giving his final blessing at the end of mass, Bishop Don invited the people to offer a prayer in the form of yuraq. Fred Joseph, a parish member, invited the people to join in singing and dancing a Nelson Island song of purification “Tarvagnaamken.” He began drumming and singing and soon other voices throughout the church could be heard joining in the song. About ten women slowly stood up, signaling and encouraging one another with nods. As though stepping carefully onto new ice, they bravely stood in front of the people and slowly entered the song. Their hesitation soon gave way to a prayerful and graceful expression of joy and gratitude.
Afterward, Lala Hunt, a parish musician, called the Mass “a historic event.” Martha Trader, an elder and wife of Deacon William Trader, said, “I thought of the old ways of our ancestors and I was glad they are coming back again.” She called the drum and dance “a gift from God which should be an offering to God.” And Billy Charles, who had been appointed by the parish pastoral council to help the effort in inculturation, said that he was happy to see so many young people at this Mass. He hoped that they would begin to see a connection between respect for the qasgiq and Eskimo dances and respect for the church.

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GCI completes purchase of
communications subsidiaries of United Companies, Inc.

6-18-08

GCI (NASDAQ:GNCMA) announced last week the completion of its acquisition of the communication subsidiaries of United Companies, Inc., a holding company owned by Sea Lion Corporation and Togiak Natives Limited, the Alaska Native village corporations for Hooper Bay and Togiak. The acquisition was completed on June 3, 2008.
Under terms of the acquisition, GCI paid approximately $42 million in cash (including certain transaction costs) for the stock of:
•United Utilities, Inc. (UUI), which together with its subsidiary, United-KUC, provides local telephone service to 60 rural Alaska communities.
• Unicom, which operates DeltaNet, a long-haul broadband microwave network ringing the 30,000-square-mile Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (Y-K Delta) in southwest Alaska. By the end of this year, DeltaNet will link more than 40 villages to the regional center of Bethel.
As of the completion date, the acquired companies had combined net debt of approximately $35 million.
“The acquisition of UUI and Unicom marks another step forward in GCI’s plan to become the first full-service, statewide provider of communications services in Alaska,” said Ron Duncan, GCI president. “The acquisition will accelerate our rural wireless deployment, which will bring mobile voice/broadband wireless services to 200 rural towns and villages over the next three years. GCI is proud to welcome all of the employees of UUI and Unicom to the GCI family.”
GCI’s Managed Broadband Services division will use DeltaNet to immediately expand healthcare and educational opportunities for all residents of the Y-K Delta. GCI ConnectMD, a medical network that reaches from the Arctic Alaska to the Pacific Northwest, will now become a fully statewide network as will GCI SchoolAccess, which delivers enhanced Internet access and distance learning services to schools.
“With the guidance and support of Sea Lion Corporation and Togiak Natives Limited over the past thirty years, UCI has built a first-rate local telephone company that serves thousands of rural Alaskans,” Duncan noted. “With the deployment of DeltaNet, UCI also has changed the ground rules for delivering advanced telecommunications services in rural Alaska. For example, the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, a pioneer in advanced-technology telemedicine and telepsychiatry solutions, is taking advantage of DeltaNet’s high-bandwidth and low latency by installing high-definition medical video conferencing units in 40 villages.
“Completing this transaction is a milestone for Sea Lion,” stated Myron Naneng, Sea Lion president. “Building UCI was more than an investment for us – it was a way to bring essential communications services to villages in our region. Despite the doubts of some at the time we founded the company, we were successful on both fronts. We thank the employees of UUI and Unicom, who have contributed so much to this success.”
GCI is Alaska’s largest telecommunications company. The company operates Alaska’s most extensive terrestrial/subsea fiber optic network, extending from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope through Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, and the lower 48 states. GCI’s satellite network provides communications services to small towns and villages throughout rural Alaska. The company is in the process of constructing a statewide mobile wireless network to seamlessly link urban and rural Alaska for the first time. GCI is also the leading provider of communications services to enterprise customers, particularly large business customers with complex data networking needs. More information about the company can be found at www.gci.com.

Bethel business burglarized

On June 11, 2008, the Bethel Police Department received a call from Unicom reporting their business had been burglarized between June 10, 2008 and June 11, 2008. If you have any information regarding this incident, please contact the Bethel Police Department.
In addition, the Bethel Police Department encourages citizens to report suspicious people, activity, and noise around businesses, especially during unusual hours. Businesses are also encouraged to secure large sums of unattended money after hours since recent burglaries have included safes and tills being pried open and entered when the businesses have been closed.

Bethel woman deceased

On June 11, 2008 at approximately 2:05pm, Bethel Police Officers and Emergency Medical Technicians responded to a residence on Akakeek Street for a report of a woman not breathing. Upon arrival, Julia Pavil age 37 of Bethel, was not breathing.
Medics started performing CPR and transported Julia to YKHC’s Emergency Room where she was pronounced deceased.
The cause of death has not been determined. The State Medical Examiners Office was notified and Julia’s remains were flown to Anchorage for further examination. Next of kin has been notified.

Boater found deceased

Billy Nicholi, a 49 year old male of Atmautluak, was found deceased on 6-8-08. Nicholi was found below the village of Napaskiak near the mouth of the Johnson river in the Kuskokwim River. He was wearing a life jacket. Nicholi’s family has been notified of his passing. Nicholi’s body was released to the family.

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Aircraft accident
fatality near Quinhagak

6-11-08

On June 6, 2008, at approximately 7:30pm, The Alaska State Troopers in Bethel received information that a Piper Super Cub airplane had crashed approximately 17.3 miles south of the Village of Quinhagak near Jack Smiths Bay.
Alaska State Troopers responded to the scene of the accident via State Aircraft and private helicopter. Alaska State Troopers arrived at the scene at approximately 10:00pm, and confirmed that the pilot of the downed aircraft was deceased.
The victim of the crash is identified as Shaun Lunt, 33, of Loma Linda, Calif. Lunt was flying one of two Piper Super Cubs traveling together at the time of the crash. The other pilot of the Super Cub, identified as Lon “Loni” Habersetzer of Washington, had successfully landed in the area at the time the crash was reported, but then left the area for unknown reasons. The two did not file a flight plan, but had bought fuel in Dillingham before flying north to where the crash occurred. Their intended destination remains unknown.
Representatives from the NTSB and FAA are scheduled to arrive in Bethel last Saturday before traveling to the crash site to investigate the cause of the crash.

TWC First Catch Feed

by Joe Green

On March 28th, 2008 three girls from the Teens Acting Against Violence (TAAV) group, and one TWC female staff were honored with a Potluck for their first catch of Caribou.
The families of the first catch and Elders gathered together to a full house at the Senior Center in Bethel to celebrate with Lena Morgan, Nikki Worm, Angel Sharp from TAAV and Sirena Soots of TWC. Pictures of the girls circulated the Center moving from Elder to Elder with the girls each sharing their hunting experiences.
The menu included the sliced Caribou the girls caught. During the noon potluck Thelma Kaganak, Director of the Senior Center reminded the Elders why the sharing of foods was put on. All the girls received a huge applause from the Elders.
From my observations this boosted the girls’ morale. I could see their smiles and knew just how proud and grateful they felt from my own experience as a young boy catching my first game. I have fond childhood memories of my Grandma catching muskrats with one shot using her single shot 22 rifle. This just confirmed to me that girls and women hunt too.
The celebration and the Cultural/Traditional values are still put into practice today by all communities. This practice draws people of all ages together in life. Quyana Cakneq to the Elders, Senior Center, Parents, BCSF and TWC for making this an unforgettable once in a lifetime event that the girls won’t forget.

Searchers
look for missing man on
Johnson River

On June 7, 2008 at about 12:10am an unoccupied red 18’ Lund boat run aground with the motor running and in forward gear was found on the Kuskokwim River bank near the mouth of the Johnson River by a resident of Nunapitchuk.
The empty boat was reported to Bethel troopers at about 12:20am on June 7, 2008. Investigation found the boat belonged to Billy Nicholi (no confirmed age) of Atmautlauk.
Nicholi was last seen at a fish camp just south of Oscarville on June 6, 2008 at about 11:00pm. Nicholi was reported to have been very intoxicated. Nicholi was wearing a life vest when he left the fish camp in his boat. Nicholi said he was going home to Atmautlauk when he left the fish camp.
On June 7, 2008 at about 2:00pm Search and Rescue Hasty teams were sent to the area of the boat and several fish camps including Nicholi’s fish camp. State aircraft flew the area of the boat and 20 miles down river over both banks. A trooper landed near the boat and searched the area on foot. At about 7:30pm on June 7th, several Search and Rescue boat teams were sent out to drag the river near were the boat was found and search the bank on foot.

NAC nominated for Employer Support Freedom Award

Northern Air Cargo is proud to announce its nomination for the prestigious Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award. The Freedom Award is the Nation’s highest recognition given to American employers of National Guard or Reserve members for their exceptional support above the requirements of federal law.
The 2008 recipients will be announced midsummer and honored in Washington, D.C. at the 13th annual ceremony on September 18, 2008. For more information please visit www.esgr.mil. This nomination originated with a Northern Air Cargo employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve. NAC is proud of all their employees who serve in the Guard or Reserve and we are thankful to them and to their families for their service.

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Akiak Native Community 2008 Green Up Clean Up Akiak Style

6-4-08

by Nettie Beatty

Akiak hosted their 2008 Green Up Clean Up on April 20-24, 2008. The 4 day backbreaking garbage picking was the biggest and most successful event that ever happened in Akiak History.
This year we had a different tactic on how to pick up garbage. Since we had so many adult volunteers and children we picked up trash as groups and concentrated on the main roads.
The adult volunteers and the older kids picked up garbage on the roadside to the landfill and at the landfill. We picked plastic bags that decorated our trees along the roadside. Our road to the landfill is the cleanest it’s ever been.
Each household cleaned around their own property and put their garbage on the roadside. We hired Cherilee Pete-Supervisor, Eddie Pete-Youth, and Dennis Pete-Youth who went around Akiak and collected the garbage and delivered the separated trash to the landfill. We ended our huge success with a picnic and fun outdoor games.
Nettie Beatty: Coordinator; Stephanie Ivan: Assistant. The Adult Volunteers were: Ruby Williams, Olinka Jones, Debbie Jackson, Katherine Williams (Kay Kay), Gert Lake, Lena Foss, Janet Egoak, Delilah Nicolai, Tammy Evan, and Donna Evan. Ruby Williams won the grill.
Green Up Clean Up Participants: Wesley Phillip, Ferdinand Napoka, Kalil Sigler, Robert Sigler, Tuyurkiaq Sigler, Sharla Parker, Ian Jasper, Agatha Andrews, Dillan Parka, Kristian Charles, Arthur Phillip, Alisha Jones, Sabrina Jones, Krystin George, Miranda Demientieff, Sam Lake Jr, Alfred Lake, Kody Andrews, Jasmine Andrews, Jonathan Evan, Micah Albrite, Bertha Lake, Angel Evan, Sean Jackson, Isaiah Demientieff, Jeremy Williams, Jessica Ivan, Mark Ivan, Ray Egoak, Peter Charles, Waylon Charles, Cheyanne Williams, Jeremy Beatty, Kayden Gilila, Shiana Williams, Christine Williams, Lee Ann Suskuk, Jessica Ivan, Theresa Ivan, Mark Ivan, Ray Egoak, and Sean Jackson.
We had 6 bikes, which were all donated. The winners of the bikes were the following: Wesley Phillip, Robert Sigler, Tuyurkiaq Sigler, Sharla Parker, Jeremy Williams and Sabrina Jones.
I would like to thank Robert Ivan for donating $100.00, Kokarmiut Corporation, City of Akiak, Akiak Water & Sewer, Akiak Clinic, Akiak Native Community, Akiak Schools, Akiak Early Headstart, Alberta Demantle for the 3 CD players, and ALPAR for the $250.00. All of you made the children of Akiak very proud.
I would like to thank each and every one of you that are listed above who took time away from your family and chores to help make Akiak such a beautiful place to live. Because of you Akiak is so much cleaner and we are on our way to a healthier and safer environment. Again thank you very much!
Nettie Beatty is the EPA/IGAP Coordinator for Akiak, AK.

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Short-term energy relief

5-28-08

by Rep. Mary Nelson

It was great to be home with family and friends in Bethel for a little while last week. Congratulations again to all of this year’s graduates. I would also like to thank Tundra Women’s Coalition for the lovely award at the Yukegtaaq event. I am now back in Juneau preparing for the upcoming special session and looking forward to again having the chance to work on developing a natural gas pipeline project and solving the energy crisis in Alaska.
The Governor’s Short-Term Energy Relief Package
On May 15th the Governor unveiled her short-term energy plan to provide temporary relief for Alaskans suffering from high energy prices.
The Governor’s press release explains the basic points of the plan:
“The package includes two parts – returning surplus funds through a grant to all electric utilities to reduce ratepayer bills and an Energy Debit Card for the next 12 months.
Returning surplus funds through grants to electric utilities will result in a 60 percent reduction for all ratepayers. The benefit will flow to homeowners, renters, schools, governments and businesses. A review by the Department of Law has indicated that there should be no federal income tax consequence since the grants act to offset the revenue collected by the utilities themselves.”
The Governor goes on to offer some details about her Energy Debit Card idea (playfully dubbed the “Sarah Card” by some). The debit cards will allocate $100 per month to every qualifying Permanent Fund Dividend applicants to spend on energy purchases such as heating oil, electricity and gasoline. Money for children’s benefits will be added to the card of the sponsor on their PFD application (usually a parent). Money unused one month will carry over to the next. Benefits received will be considered income by the IRS.
The total cost of the plan would be $475 million for the grants to electric utilities and $729 million for the Energy Debit Cards for a total of $1.2 billion. The Governor proposes the energy relief plan last one year.
The energy relief plan is by no means finalized. The plan must be approved by the Legislature, probably during the latter part (possibly starting June 20th) of the upcoming special session which starts June 3rd – there are bound to be changes made. I will keep an open mind and carefully consider any new ideas; but regardless you can bet I will be fighting for the final plan to include some relief as soon as possible for the people of the Y-K Delta. Once again (just as I did after Rep. Thomas’s $500 energy rebate was first proposed back in January) I would caution everyone to not assume anything before this plan is finalized. That said, I am still confident some form of energy relief will emerge from the special session.
Energy Conservation Suggestions
I am sure most of us in rural Alaska are already taking drastic energy conservation measures, but to be certain we are not missing anything I encourage people to check out this website: www.alaskaconservationsolutions.com/acs/conservation.html. Feeling for the first time an energy crisis like the folks in the Y-K Delta have been dealing with for years, our friends in Juneau have recently cut their energy consumption by as much as 40% after an avalanche took out their hydro power lines in April.
Alaska Airlines Discount for Special Session Travel to Juneau
Anyone planning to travel to Juneau for the special session (starting June 3rd) should try to take advantage of this offer:
Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Committee have again teamed up to offer Alaska residents discounted round-trip airfare to Alaska’s capital during the summer 2008 special legislative session.
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members should have received an email with a unique discount code offering 40% off three-day advance purchase fares on travel to Juneau when purchased through alaskaairlines.com (Mileage Plan members who have not received an email can call 800.654.5669 to get their code.) Just go to alaskaair.com, enter your code in the Discount Code cell and click on the question mark for a full explanation. Discounts are valid for travel May 31 through July 7, 2008.

O’Boyle selected as LKSD Teacher of the Year

The Lower Kuskokwim School District is pleased to announce the selection Ms. Amanda O’Boyle as 2007-2008 LKSD Teacher of the Year.
Ms. O’Boyle is currently a Special Education Teacher at Bethel Regional High School. She began her teaching career at BRHS in 2005 after graduating with a Bachelors Degree in Special Education from Saginaw Valley State University in Michigan. She was nominated for this honor by the entire BRHS faculty.
In her 3 years at Bethel Regional High School, Ms. O’Boyle has won tremendous respect from the students and staff. Her positive attitude, dedication and hard work were cited by staff members as qualities that have lead to her success with students. This year, when recruiting efforts failed to fill two Special Education positions, Amanda was asked to take on an unusually large work load. In the face of this difficult teaching assignment she did a remarkable job, and still maintained her infectious positive attitude.
Ms. O’Boyle was also cited for volunteering her time to tutor students, help with extra curricular activities, and serve on committees.
As 2007-2008 teacher of the year, Ms. O’Boyle will be the LKSD nominee for Alaska Teacher of the year next year, should she choose to apply.
Also, nominated for the LKSD Teacher of the year were Sally Samson, a teacher at Ayaprun Elitnaurvik in Bethel, and Carey Steele, a teacher from Anna Tobeluk Memorial School in Nunapitchuk. All three candidates had very strong qualities which made the committees selection difficult.
Previous LKSD Teacher’s of the Year are:
1994-1995 Carrie Longpre’
1995-1996 Amy Iutzi-Mitchell
1996-1997 Loddie Jones
1997-1998 Lois Gantner
1999-2000 Marta Russell
2000-2001 Maureen Carlson
2001-2002 Hugh Dyment
2002-2003 Anna Angaiak Bond
2004-2005 Victoria Garber
2005-2006 Tad Lindley
2006- 2007 Carrie Dahl

Search & Rescue in Goodnews Bay

On 5/24/2008, Adolph Roberts (63 yoa), Tommy Ayojiak (24 yoa), Daniel Smith (21 yoa), and Issac Lupie (44 yoa) of Goodnews Bay were reported to be stranded on the tundra near Carter Spit. The river the hunters crossed washed out and subsequently stranded the hunters. AST was unable to get in contact with the stranded hunters due to high winds and bad weather. An AST pilot was dispatched to locate the stranded hunters and passed GPS coordinates to the near by Alaska Army National Guard Black Hawk Helicopter that was dispatched in the area for another Search and Rescue. No injuries were reported.

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2008 Kuskokwim Area and Cape Romanzof District Herring Outlook

5-20-08

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) does not anticipate a commercial herring fishery in the Kuskokwim Area and Cape Romanzof herring districts in 2008 because of weak commercial herring sac roe markets and lack of processor interest. This news release is to inform fishers and processors of the strategies employed by ADF&G to monitor the herring fishery in the five Kuskokwim Area districts (Figure 1) and Cape Romanzof District (Figure 2), and to outline management of the commercial herring fishery if there is any change in market status and processor interest. A review of the status of the fisheries and herring stocks, and potential processor/buyer requirements is included. Table 1 shows a summary of total biomass estimates and guideline harvests levels by district for 2008. The total guideline harvest level for the Kuskokwim Area is expected to be approximately 3,284 tons. The guideline harvest level for the Cape Romanzof District is 774 tons.

Table 1. Projected herring spawning biomass and harvest in the Kuskokwim Area and Cape Romanzof commercial herring districts, 2008. a
District Estimated Guideline Threshold b Exploitation
Biomass (st) Harvest (st) Rate (%)
Security Cove 6,442 1,288 1,200 20
Goodnews Bay 3,259 652 1,200 20
Cape Avinof 806 121 500 15
Nelson Island 3,424 485 3,000 14 c
Nunivak Island 3,688 738 1,500 20
Cape Romanzof 3,871 774 1,500 20
Total 21,490 4,058
a) Projection may be adjusted based on inseason biomass estimates. b) Threshold biomass needed to allow commercial fishery (5 AAC 27.060) c) Nelson Island exploitation rate is 20% of projected biomass minus 200 st for subsistence harvest.
Although unlikely, if commercial interest in the Kuskokwim Area and Cape Romanzof herring fisheries changes, buyers must register their company for the district they intend to participate in prior to taking their first delivery. Registration can be coordinated through the Bethel ADF&G office. If fishers or buyers have any questions they should contact ADF&G at Bethel.
Management Overview
Projections from postseason escapement estimates suggest that the 2008 spawning biomass for Kuskokwim Bay Area and Cape Romanzof herring stocks will be 17,619 and 3,871 tons respectively, with a total guideline harvest level of 4,058 tons for the combined districts (Table 1). Variability in the quality of aerial survey assessments of biomass and deviation from the assumed survival or recruitment rates may result in the observed biomass being either above or below these preseason projections. Aerial survey and monitoring efforts will be focused on the southern Kuskokwim Bay districts. ADF&G will conduct aerial surveys as regularly as possible and will monitor catch statistics inseason. Guideline harvest levels may be increased or decreased accordingly based on inseason aerial survey observations. If aerial surveys are not adequate because of weather or water clarity conditions, stock abundance will be assessed using information from the projected biomass, test catches, and spawn deposition observations.
Any commercial herring fishery would open by emergency order in each district. Fishing periods would be coordinated through ADF&G’s Bethel office. In the event that a commercial fishery was to occur, ADF&G will open the herring fishery by district and allow the buyer to direct the fleet once they have determined the herring are of marketable quality. The commercial fishery may be opened when observed herring biomass exceeds the district’s threshold. Any buyers would be required to report their deliveries on a daily schedule.
Because of declining herring markets ADF&G will downsize field camp operations in 2008. ADF&G plans to operate a test fish project at Goodnews Bay, however, no field camps will be operated at Toksook Bay or Cape Romanzof. Unless an upturn in the herring market is observed over the next year, it is expected that this will be the last season ADF&G will have a test fishing crew at Goodnews Bay.
ADF&G’s fishery managers can be reached by calling John Linderman at (907) 543-2709, Kevin Clark at (907) 543-1678 or Doug Bue at (907) 543-2931 in the Bethel office. Current fishery information will be available by calling the telephone recorder in Bethel at (907) 543-2598. Recordings will be updated regularly throughout the season as information becomes available. Fishery updates will also be available at the Commercial Fisheries website: http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/.

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Doyon, Limited
May 2008 7(i) Distribution

Shareholders with Class B shares will receive a 7(i) distribution on May 22, 2008 in the amount of $11.71 per share, or $1,171 per 100 shares.
Shareholders owning Class B shares will receive a check based on section 7(i) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA). This section requires each regional corporations share with the other regional corporations 70 percent of the net profits derived from subsurface resources. Shareholders owning Class B shares and village corporations receive the 7(i) distribution based on a formula in ANCSA.

RurAL CAP’s announces
Head Start Graduates

The Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) is pleased to announce Head Start staff who graduated with degrees and credentials. The commencement ceremony took place on Friday, May 2 at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel, Alaska.
Diana Therchik, Regional Manager in Toksook Bay, receives a Bachelor of Arts Child Development and Family Studies degree; Marcella Ulroan, On Site Coordinator in Chevak, receives an Associate of Applied Science Early Childhood Education degree; Janet Egoak, Teacher in Akiak, receives an Associate of Applied Science Early Childhood Education degree; Julia Kashatok, Program Supervisor in Akiak, receives an Associate of Applied Science Early Childhood Education degree; Barbara Phillip, Teacher in Kwethluk, receives a certificate in Early Childhood Education; Mary Brink, Teacher in Nunapitchuk, receives a certificate in Early Childhood Education; Christine Stone, On Site Coordinator, receives a certificate in Early Childhood Education; Sharon Williams, Teacher Director in Napaskiak, receives a certificate in Early Childhood Education; Maria Bell, Teacher in Hooper Bay, receives a certificate in Early Childhood Education.
In addition, Stephanie Nanok, Teacher Aide in Chevak, recently received a Child Development Associate degree. Shena Marcil, Head Start Training Coordinator in Anchorage, says, “Our sincere congratulations to these staff for their hard work and dedication and for their many sacrifices to meet their personal goals and to ensure the continuation of Head Start programs in their communities!”

NATIVE PRIDE

by Janet Waska

“Come on Janet! We need to take off, because we have a long journey!” said Lula, one of the chaperones. High school students Jarin, Scott, Theo, Zack, and I adventured on a caribou hunting trip with our chaperones Allen, Chuck, Connor, Gerald, Lula, Paul, Victor, and Woody out of Marshall at 11:00 a.m. on January 16, 2008 to Akiachak.
By noon, all eight riders were riding on the compact snow on the Yukon River. We stopped occasionally to take pictures and enjoy the wonderful, wildlife wonders. As we crossed the white blanket of snow covered tundra between the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers, the right ski of Allen Afcan son’s homemade sled broke. We loaded the gear and grub to the other sleds. As night crept upon us, we were nowhere near our destination of Akiachak.
The pitch black dark of the night was as black as ink with sparkling glitter in the sky and below, our guide Chuck Teganlakla, accidentally drove his snow machine off a riverbank that was over 15 feet high. The students rushed over like a stampede of elephants to assist him while the adults found a safe way to get down. When we found out he was okay, we took off again. We decided to camp near a riverbank with a spectacular view of a bank on the other side, old wet trees, a river bend and Bethel’s lights showing a pretty pink in the cloudy sky. We started a tiny fire, put up the tents on the cool snow, settled in, and told stories.
Zack said, “Bommo.”
“What?” Gerald Tikiun asked.
“In front of my porch there is some dry wood,” Zack said as he glanced at him. He continued saying, “You should go get it,” and motioned where it was to his house 50 miles away in the endless dark. Everyone laughed and we talked for a while longer.
Eventually, people began to drift to their tents to doze off. We slept as hard as a baby in its crib. Scott and Jarin decided to sleep in the empty sleds under the open twilight and cloudy sky. In the middle of the night, Woody scouted around to poke all the students to make sure they were OK during the 10ºF night. We woke up before the sun and packed up the tents, while Lula Teganlakla made breakfast. After getting our bearings together, we took off toward Akiachak making our own trail. It was a breathtaking scenery as we traveled.
At 2:15 pm we reached Akiachak. We located the store, the gas station, and a bathroom. While getting ready to leave Akiachak to find caribou, we luckily met Daniel George and his friend from the Akiachak Search and Rescue crew. They led us 45 miles southeast of Akiachak to a place they both agreed we should see a herd of caribou. In the lovely view of the strange outdoors of wild trees, open tundra, and similar mountains to the Yukon, we traveled.
At 5:15 pm, we pitched camp by a forest of fresh spruce trees. It had trees coming out on the sides, a wide tundra view, and mountains that looked like chalky layers. We built a better fire pit that looked like a white bowl of flames. We got comfortable, ate a hot meal to keep us toasty, and dried our winter gear. We barely slept that night in anticipation of the next day’s hunt.
The eager group woke early, ate steaming, warm mush and filled our stomachs. We were ready for an adventure on that chilly, beautiful day. Our hunting party split up. Chuck and Allen went to scout for caribou, while we stayed in a remote area by the evergreens. We kept our ears on sharp call for a gunshot all day but only heard the whisper of the gentle wind upon the tips of the evergreens. It was getting late. We waited for the other two who were scouting and thought it was best that the students be put to bed. We left Bommo and Victor behind to tell Chuck and Allen our location.
Disappointed, we slowly headed back to camp. At dusk, our luck changed. As Paul Buster led us back, he stopped in the middle of the trail, and pointed to the right of our line of snow machines. We saw a herd of caribou. We all hurried with the unloaded guns on the soft tissue-like tundra. We were in range to shoot the caribou. Boom, boom, boom! It was if as fireworks exploded as the men shot at the herd. Excitement and laughter filled the area as if it were a carnival. We watched as the caribou fell to the ground, then began to work on the tiny, tasty, tender caribou. Between our hunting party and the other hunting party, we caught our limit. By nightfall, we headed back to camp with half of the caribou skinned and cut into quarters. Over a happy fire, we finally tasted the fresh and tender caribou heart meat.
The next day was warm and slushy, as if someone put snow in a tube filled with water, and then rained on it. Half of the group loaded the caribou onto one sled to go back to Akiachak. The others went back out to field dress the remainder of the caribou. In Akiachak, the principal Allen Stockton, allowed us to sleep in the school for one night because of the wet, slushy, and potentially hypothermic conditions.
While gassing up, we saw the K300 dog race. Finally, at 10:32 pm, the other group of people came back safely with the remainder of the caribou. They were all soaking wet, as if someone dipped their winter gear into a bucket of water. Happy to have hot stew and a cozy place to stay, we dried our clothes in the dryer and warmed our bones. Our stay in the school was an overwhelming relief after camping for four days on the tundra.
The next day, the high school boys went home by plane with half of the caribou meat and their personal belongings. The eight chaperones and one student, Janet Waska, headed back to Marshall. Janet wanted to go home the way she went to Akiachak. As we stormed out of Akiachak at 7:30 pm, the sun began to set along the tree line. On our journey back to Marshall, the glowing moon was our light. We followed the trail markers back to Marshall with the other half of the caribou meat. At 6:30 am, we caught a glimpse of the village lights of Marshall. Joy struck our hearts, for we were cold and tired, but excited to share our catch and our stories with our fellow students and community.
End Note: The next day after arriving home and resting, the Jr. High and High school students who were unable to travel participated in cutting up the caribou meat into stew pieces. Some of the staff, including Gloria Fitka, Gail Fitka, Martha Duny, Tanya Andrew, and Clara Shorty helped finish up cutting the meat and cleaning up.
The meat was frozen until our spring potlatch on March 7th & 8th. Marshall School made four huge pots of stew and gave a presentation to community members and people from surrounding villages about the caribou hunt and activities that support the LYSD Shared Vision. It was a great success and everyone was fed.
My special thanks goes out to the students, volunteers, and fellow teachers who made this a successful place-based educational activity. Thanks to our principal, Mr. Grant Guy, for having the foresight and cultural awareness to see the benefit of this process. And thanks to all the community members from Marshall to Akiachak that helped make this one of the most exciting school sponsored events that I have ever participated in.
-Wayne “Woody” Woodgate

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AVCP RHA building
model project in Hooper Bay

5-6-08

The Housing Authority will build new homes and modernize in over 20 villages this year
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) awarded AVCP Regional Housing Authority’s funding requests for a multi-family housing project in Hooper Bay. These Low Income Townhouse style apartments will be the first of their kind in the YK Delta. Designed to withstand the harsh coastal winters the units boast high speed internet, playground, Laundromat, private storage; dish TV, basketball court and addresses handicapped ADA and UFAS requirements – the rooms are spacious and well planned. In addition the buildings will adorn local original Native artwork and sculpture.
“For the last two years, AVCP Housing planned a multi-family development in Hooper Bay providing units for residents who need them the most,” said Ron Hoffman, President and CEO of AVCP Regional Housing Authority. Mr. Hoffman further discerns “...pursuing grants and various funding sources we’ve put it together and it will become a reality, with dwindling resources and ever higher energy costs we must become aggressive and creative for the people of our region providing them quality affordable housing.”
AHFC’s awards add up $6.6 Million with other sources totaling over $1.9 million from Home Investment Partnership Act Program; HUD Rural Housing Economic Development and Native American Housing and Self Determination Act bringing our multiple funding to approximately 8.5 million dollars. The project is expected to commence this year with foundation piling, modularly assembled over the winter - construction starting spring 2009.
“The AHFC awards were the final portion needed by the housing authority to begin bidding activities this summer,” Hoffman said. This project is in addition to the new homes, triplexes and modernization planned for this 2008 construction season. In addition, with the passage of Senator Lyman Hoffman’s Weatherization budget we can expect an influx of another 30 million dollars over the next 5 years to weatherize and make more efficient all homes in all villages – this will be accomplished partnering with Rural Cap. We also plan to finish homes started but never completed in Chevak after they left the TDHE AVCP-RHA, we are happy to have them rejoin us.”
Chefornak, 4 homes; Marshall, 4 homes; Tununak, 3 homes; Crooked Creek, 1 home; Chevak, 4 homes ; Kipnuk, 1 triplex; Napakiak, 1 triplex; Hooper Bay, 19 units
Modernization work will occur in the following villages: Aniak, Chuathbaluk, Emmonak, Kongiganak, Kwethluk, Marshall, Mekoryuk, Napakiak, Nunam Iqua, Pilot Station, Russian Mission, Sleetmute, Stony River, Bethel properties.
Weatherization will initiate in all the villages the Housing Authority is working this year. All construction is accomplished by Force Account, a method of construction utilizing local labor with the inclusion of our Apprenticeship Program, Alaska Works Partnership. It is expected these projects will pump into the Delta over 7 million dollars in wages, per diems; travel costs; purchases at local stores; fuel and rentals over this next construction season and provide lifetime training for the young people looking for a career and a way to make a decent living.
Governor Sarah Palin commended the AHFC announcement, which included other awards to developers across Alaska, recognizing the teamwork and partnership of the government agencies, businesses, non-profits and communities.
“The challenges of providing affordable housing in Alaska can be formidable – yet programs like these help meet those challenges, working to lower housing costs and assist those most in need,” Palin said. “These groups are working together to help Alaskans across the state find a safe place to call home.”
The planning of the Hooper Bay multi-family housing project began in the spring of 2006, just before a devastating fire consumed a large section of the village several months later.
The fire destroyed 13 residential homes along with their food caches, steam baths, storage sheds, ATV’s, snow machines and other equipment used for subsistence activities. The fire also destroyed the school campus including an elementary school, high school, satellite classrooms and buildings, six teacher houses and a grocery store.
“Needless to say, the massive fire worsened the housing need in Hooper Bay,” Hoffman said.
Before 2006, AVCP Housing realized a large number of people in villages were failing to qualify for homeownership units due to the families failing to meet the minimum income requirements. “To successfully participate in the homeownership program applicants need adequate income to pay for the house payment, the usual monthly expenses related to utility bills and the occasional home repair or maintenance,” Hoffman said.
AVCP Housing then decided to embark on a new housing program, in addition to its standard housing fare, one that would provide another housing opportunity for family’s in the low income bracket in the form of multi-family housing projects. The first project was planned for Hooper Bay, the village in the Y-K Delta having the largest number of low-income families.
“I want to thank AVCP Housing Authority on behalf of Hooper Bay residents in getting AHFC funding for multi-unit housing at Hooper Bay, despite tons of paperwork and a very competitive process,” said Raphael Murran, City Administrator for the City of Hooper Bay. “Again, thanks for a job well done.”
Mr. Ron Hoffman, CEO for The Association of Village Council Presidents Regional Housing Authority further extends his appreciation and thankfulness to the funding partners, AHFC Supplemental Grant; NAHASDA Grant Recipients; HOME Investment Partnership; HUD Rural Housing Economic Development and AHFC Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program for funding this very important and very exciting project for the residents of Hooper Bay.
For more information, contact Mark Charlie, Vice President of Operations (907) 543-3121.

2008-2009 Alaska Tier II and spring hunt permits

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game spring Tier II and drawing hunt permit application period is now open from May 1st thru May 31st, 2008.
There are 2 hunt areas within Unit 19A for Tier II. The first area, TM684, is in the Lime Village Management Area. This includes the portion drained by the Stony River from the mouth of the Stink River, including the Stink River drainage, upstream to, but not including the Can Creek drainage. Fourteen permits will be given out with each permit allowing 2 bulls to be taken.
The second hunt area in Unit 19A, TM680, is the portion of the Kuskokwim River drainage downstream from, and including the George River drainage, and downstream of, and excluding the Downey Creek Drainage. 230 permits will be given out each permit allowing 1 antlered bull to be taken. There is a limit of one permit per household. The number of applications received for the 2007 TM680 hunt was 309 with 74% of those applications being awarded permits.
Only Alaska residents 10 years of age or older may apply for the Tier II permits. The point scoring for Tier II permits is based on 5 questions; and a total of up to 140 points is possible. To improve your chance for a Tier II permit please make sure your application is completely filled out with correct hunt numbers, harvest information, and signatures.
Muskox hunts on Nunivak Island in Unit 18 will be available through the Alaska spring drawing permits. Ten bull permits will be given for hunt DX001 with the season dates Sept.1-Sept. 30, 2008. Forty bull permits will be given for hunt DX003 with the season dates Feb. 1-March 15, 2008. Alaska residents and non-residents may apply for either of these Muskox hunts.
Supplements and applications can be picked up at the Bethel ADF&G office or online at www.wildlife.alaska.gov. Questions concerning Unit 19A hunts can be directed towards the McGrath ADF&G office (907) 524-3323. Questions for the Unit 18 hunts can be directed towards the Bethel office 1-800-425-2979.

Fire fatality in Alakanuk

On April 28, 2008 at approximately 8:00pm, Alaska State Troopers received a report from the Alakanuk Police Department that a house fire had occurred in Alakanuk.
The Alakanuk Police Department further advised that Charles Clyde Smith, 64 years of age of Alakanuk was deceased within the remains of the house.
AST and the State Fire Marshal’s office responded to Alakanuk on the morning of 04/29/08. Investigation confirmed that Charles Clyde Smith was deceased within the residence and that the house fire contributed to his death. The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental. No foul play suspected. The body was released to the family.

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New booklet shows nutritional value
of traditional foods for
Alaska Native cancer survivors

4-30-08

For the first time, Alaska Native cancer survivors have an easy-to-read compilation of nutritional information about Alaska wild food – the Traditional Food Guide for Alaska Native Cancer Survivors. Cancer is the leading cause of death for Alaska Natives, and this booklet will encourage cancer patients to maintain a healthy diet during and after treatment.
For Alaska Natives who live a subsistence lifestyle, the nutritional value of familiar traditional foods is not widely known. Care providers might not encourage them to continue to eat traditional foods during and after cancer treatment. This booklet shows Alaska Native cancer survivors that it is healthy as well as comforting to enjoy traditional foods during their cancer journey.
Published by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium cancer program, this full-color, 142 page guide includes innovative ways to understand nutrition information. It addresses food safety, nutritional needs of cancer patients during and after treatment, and the nutritional value of Alaska’s wild foods.
More than 70 foods from the land and sea, and 30 recipes are included. Each food item has: A photo; Common Alaska Native names; History of use; Preparation techniques; Personal stories from different Alaska Native cultures; Three different ways to understand a food’s nutritional value.
With Christine DeCourtney, Desiree Simeon, and Karen M. Mitchell as the primary authors, the work is a collaborative effort of many people. It represents more than two years of work to gather, compile, and edit the information.
While primarily written for Alaska Native cancer survivors, the guide is a valuable resource for all people who include Alaska’s wild animals, plants, and seafood as part of their diet. The booklet is primarily funded by a community grant from the Lance Armstrong Foundation with additional funding from local and national healthcare organizations.

Jimmie Tulik, Lifesaver Extraordinaire

by Michael Thomas

On Wednesday, April 23, I witnessed a heroic event. I was standing next to Jimmie Tulik, a teacher’s aide at Nightmute School, when he saved the life of a student.
Brandi Dull is a sixth grade student at Nightmute School. She was enjoying some delicious vegetable beef soup when she began choking on a piece of meat. She got up from the table, walked over, and tapped Mr. Tulik on the shoulder. He immediately realized what was happening and performed the Heimlich Maneuver on her. He did it with adequate force to dislodge the obstruction but gentle enough to ensure that she did not get hurt. She spit out the meat and suffered no injury.
Mr. Tulik recently completed a pediatric CPR and first aid training through YKHC and KuC. On a daily basis our students benefit from his presence. He is an excellent employee and an asset to the Nightmute School team. Quyana, Jimmie!
Michael Thomas is the Site Administrator at Nightmute School.

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Calista Corporation announces first dividend since 1985

4-22-08

Calista Corporation shareholders will be receiving a dividend.
The Calista Corporation Board of Directors authorized $1.50 per share distribution to shareholders of record on April 17, 2008. An average shareholder with 100 shares will be receiving $150.00 after April 22, 2008.
“In accordance to criteria set under the Akilista (permanent) Fund for future dividends or distributions we are pleased to announce the declaration of our first cash distribution since 1985, which we believe reflects our confidence in the Company’s long term financial strength” said Arthur Heckman, Sr., Chairman of the Board of Calista Corporation.
Last year, Calista made significant achievements in all operating areas including:
•Revenues grew by 47% to $138 million
•Pretax net income of $30 million
•Net Income after federal taxes of $18.5 million
•14th consecutive profitable year
•Assets grew by 42% to $118 million
•Shareholders equity grew to $84.9 million
Contact Dixie Retherford, EVP, CFO for additional questions at 907-279-5516.

Questions about Ribbon Seals
and the Endangered Species Act

by Brian J. McCaffery, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge

The April 16 issue of The Delta Discovery included an article stating that ribbon seals were being considered for protection under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The article also mentioned that status reviews would be prepared for three other species of “ice seals” as well—bearded, spotted, and ringed. Some local village leaders have expressed concern about these developments. Therefore, in this article, I will try to answer some of the questions that might arise.
1) Are ribbon seals, or any of the other ice seals, protected by the Endangered Species Act now?
No.
2) If the ribbon seal is listed as a threatened or endangered species, does that mean it will automatically become illegal for Alaskan Natives to hunt them?
No, it doesn’t. Both the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) and the Endangered Species Act have exemptions for Alaska Native subsistence hunters. In other words, even when a marine mammal is protected by either of those acts, Native Alaskan subsistence hunters can continue to harvest them as long as a) the harvest is not conducted in a wasteful manner, and b) the harvest does not “materially and negatively affect” the listed species.
For example, both Steller’s sea lions and the Southwest Alaska population of sea otters are currently listed as either threatened or endangered. Because the subsistence harvest of these populations has not been shown to negatively affect them, there are no federal regulations currently restricting the Native subsistence harvest of these marine mammals in Alaska.
Additional information on these topics can be found at the following websites:
http://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/protectedresources/stellers/default.htm
http://alaska.fws.gov/fisheries/mmm/seaotters/otters.htm
3) What is the NOAA Fisheries Service?
NOAA is the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. One of their agencies is the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). NMFS is also known as the NOAA Fisheries Service. NMFS is one of two Federal agencies that implement the Endangered Species Act; the other is the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
4) Does the NOAA Fisheries Service oversee all marine mammal issues in Alaska?
No, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for managing polar bears, walrus, and sea otters. NOAA Fisheries Service is responsible for all other marine mammals in Alaska, including seals.
5) Why is NOAA considering the ribbon seal for Endangered Species Act protection?
The Endangered Species Act allows private citizens and groups to propose species for ESA protection. These proposals are called “petitions.” Within 90 days of receiving a petition, NOAA (or USFWS) must determine whether or not it has merit (in other words, is there substantial evidence supporting the petition?). In the case of the ribbon seal, the Center for Biological Diversity submitted a petition to NOAA on 20 December 2007 to list the seal as threatened or endangered under the ESA. On 28 March 2008, NOAA published their 90-day finding. They “accepted” the petition, which means that they will now start a formal status review “to determine if listing [the ribbon seal] under the ESA is warranted.” By the end of 2008, NOAA should determine whether or not to list the ribbon seal under the ESA.
6) Why did the Center for Biological Diversity petition that the ribbon seal be listed?
They believe that the ribbon seal faces global extinction in the wild. They identified four potential threats to the ribbon seal population: 1) predicted changes in sea ice due to global climate change, 2) the high harvest of seals in Russia, 3) the potential impacts of oil and gas development and production in both the U.S. and Russia, and 4) the potential impacts of commercial fisheries and climate change on ribbon seal food sources.
The petition can be seen on their website at:
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/species/mammals/ribbon_seal/index.html
7) The Delta Discovery article mentioned status reviews for the other ice seals—bearded, spotted, and ringed. Why is NOAA planning status reviews for those species now?
The ribbon seal is the third marine mammal to be proposed for ESA protection in recent years due to the effects of global climate change. The other two are polar bear and walrus. Because of observed and predicted reductions in the amount of ice in the Bering Sea and Arctic Ocean, other species of marine mammals, including the other ice seals, may also be affected. Therefore, NOAA plans status reviews for bearded, spotted, and ringed seals. These reviews will be completed some time after the completion of the status review for ribbon seals, as agency resources allow.
8) How do I learn more about these issues?
Perhaps the best place to start is NOAA’s Alaska web-site. The following link will take you to NOAA’s web-page for the ice seals. It includes lots of information about the seals, in addition to the information about the listing petition:
http://www.fakr.noaa.gov/protectedresources/seals/ice.htm
9) My community has some questions and concerns about the potential listing of the ribbon seal. Who should I contact about them?
Before making any decisions, NOAA wants to receive comments from the public about these issues. You can submit comments, information, or data about the ribbon seal petition, as well as the ice seal status reviews, directly to NOAA via electronic submissions, regular mail, or fax. If you do submit comments, be sure to include the Regulation Identifying Number (RIN), 0648-AV36, on all correspondence. That will help NOAA to keep track of your comments and include them with other public comments about the ribbon seal listing petition and the ice seal status reviews.
Electronic submissions must go through the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http//www.regulations.gov. Comments can be made via regular mail by sending them to: Assistant Regional Administrator, Protected Resources Division, NMFS, Alaska Regional Office, P. O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802. Comments can be faxed to 907-586-7012.
For more information, you can call the following NMFS employees: James Wilder (907-271-6620), Kaja Brix (907-586-7235), or Marta Nammack (301-713-1401).
In addition, NOAA has entered into several different marine mammal co-management agreements with Alaska Native Organizations. One of these Native organizations is the Ice Seal Committee, which represents ice seal subsistence hunters from five Alaska Native regions, including the AVCP region. The agreement between the Ice Seal Committee and NMFS was formally signed on 25 October 2006. According to the signed agreement, AVCP provided a resolution authorizing the Ice Seal Committee to enter into the agreement on their behalf. If you have concerns about the petition to list the ribbon seal under the ESA, you might want to contact AVCP about it. They may be able to forward your concerns to the proper government authorities. You could also directly contact Charles Johnson, Executive Director, Ice Seal Committee, P.O. Box 946, Nome, Alaska 99762.

Palin Family welcomes fifth child

Governor Sarah Palin and her husband Todd welcomed the arrival of their fifth child on April 18, 2008 this morning. The Palins were thankful that the Governor’s labor began yesterday while she was in Texas at the Governor’s Energy Conference where she gave the keynote luncheon address, but let up enough for her to travel on Alaska Airlines back to Alaska in time to deliver her second son.
Trig Paxson Van Palin was born at 6:30 a.m. and weighs six pounds, two ounces. The Governor and Trig are both doing well and resting comfortably.
The family released the following statement: “Trig is beautiful and already adored by us. We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed.”
The Palins have four other children including Track, 18, Bristol, 17, Willow, 13 and Piper, 7.

Lead shot banned in taking of small game

In November of 2007, the Alaska Board of Game passed the following regulation banning the use of lead shot in Game Management Unit 18 for the taking of furbearers and small game animals.
“For Game Management Unit 18, taking small game, furbearers, fur animals, unclassified game, and deleterious exotic wildlife under either a hunting or trapping license with any lead shot size T or .20 or smaller, or while in the possession of lead shot, is prohibited.”
The ban on use of lead shot for taking small game and furbearers will go into affect starting July 1 after being published in the 2007-2008 Alaska Hunting Regulations booklets. The use or possession of lead shot of any size continues to be illegal while hunting waterfowl.
The goal of this regulatory change is to eliminate the deposition of lead shot in habitats used by waterfowl and other wildlife. Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge and the State of Alaska recognize the importance of removing the toxic hazards of lead shot in all Delta wildlife habitats and supported this action. You have a chance to help protect wildlife from ingesting toxic lead shot and to help ensure that you and your grandchildren have healthy populations of waterfowl for subsistence hunting.
The Refuge also recognizes that replacing lead shot with steel shot could have an economic impact on YK Delta subsistence waterfowl and small game hunters. To get the word out about the importance of converting to steel shot, and to reduce the economic effects of the lead shot ban on local subsistence users, the Refuge has begun an educational outreach program and a “steel for lead shot” exchange program. Refuge staff will be visiting villages throughout the Delta this summer and will offer to swap steel shot for lead shot with subsistence hunters. The Refuge will also continue to host steel shot clinics in several villages on the Delta this year. Your participation in this process is appreciated and essential.
For additional information, please contact Hollis Twitchell at (907) 543-1004 or Robert Sundown at (907) 543-1007.

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Western AK tobacco use highest in nation

4-15-08

by K.J. Lincoln

Of all the adults in western Alaska, 52% use spit tobacco, or iqmik. That is more than half the population of the region. 42% smoke. Compare that to the statewide average of 6% for spit tobacco and 27% for smoking.
“This area has the highest number of smokeless tobacco users than the rest of Alaska and the rest of the country. They are both high. Over half of our population are users,” said Carrie Enoch, the Coordinator/Nicotine Dependence Counselor for the Yukon Health Kuskokwim Corporation.
Iqmik is a mixture of tobacco leaves, willow ash, or punk ash fungus, known as araq. The araq acts as a conductor to channel the nicotine from the tobacco leaves straight into the body at a pulsing rate of 99-100%.
In the past, most people did not know that using tobacco was harmful to our health, said Enoch. “But for us, today, we now know,” she said.
Enoch was one of the presenters at the recent YKHC Tribal Unity Gathering held on April 1-2, 2008. Iqmik use is unique to western Alaska, according to her report, and the spit tobacco use in this area has reached epidemic proportions.
Even the user rate among pregnant women in western Alaska is high – 57%. Effects of tobacco use while pregnant include a higher risk of respiratory infections such as bronchitis, pneumonia, coughing, wheezing, and excess phlegm. Other effects include smaller rates of lung function and an increased risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, or SIDS.
The work done at YKHC’s Nicotine Control focuses on prevention and counseling to helping users quit and become tobacco-free. All YKHC patients are asked about tobacco use at every visit and are encouraged to quit.
There have been many success stories. Former users can testify that after quitting they experienced not tiring out so easily and overall better health. There are also past users who quit “cold turkey” when ordered by their doctors to give up their habit.
For smokers who quit, they enjoy the benefits of improved health, less chance of having a heart attack, a decrease in coughing, and risk of cancer drops.
Enoch and the rest of the staff at Nicotine Control are available to give presentations at schools and organizations on tobacco use, its harmful effects, and prevention.

AVCP Housing holds conference, will try to resolve energy crisis

On March 25 to 27, 2008, AVCP Regional Housing Authority held a three-day conference for its 48-member tribes and other tribes running their own housing programs. AVCP Housing tackles housing issues during these conferences.
This year, however, AVCP Housing’s focus was on development of methods to ease the current energy crisis being experienced in the Y-K Delta. “The cost of fuel and electricity is literally going through the roof,” said Ron Hoffman, AVCP RHA President and CEO.
“Prices of $6 to $7 a gallon of gas or heating fuel in some areas of the Y-K Delta are not uncommon these days,” Hoffman said. “Rural residents in Y-K Delta villages are having a very difficult time paying these prices.”
At the conference, Hoffman called for a regional and statewide energy policy that would address ways to reduce costs of electricity, fuel and oil in rural villages. One example was by encouraging bulk fuel buyers in the Y-K Delta and possibly the whole state in purchasing fuel en masse instead of buying individually.
“This would include buying from refineries and hiring your own transportation to ship the fuel,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman also sought the help of the tribal membership to put together a list of possible short and long-term solutions at resolving the region’s high costs of energy. One by one, tribal members stepped up to the microphone and offered ideas, such as providing energy conservation tips for families, to development of more wind energy projects in the delta and oil refineries in the state.
After the list was completed, Hoffman said many suggestions were viability and that he would begin working on implementing them as soon as possible. “We hope to get some of them underway and in place by the time we meet again next year,” Hoffman said.
Hoffman said he was also pushing for passage of certain bills currently before the Alaska State Legislature that would greatly assist rural residents in dealing with the energy crisis. “I’m in full support of Sen. Lyman Hoffman’s energy rebate program, as well as the weatherization and retrofitting of homes to reduce energy consumption,” he said.
Robert Nick, of Nunapitchuk, Chair of the Board of Commissioners for the housing authority, speaking in Yup’ik, said he was happy that AVCP Housing was taking the lead in looking at various means to reduce the effects of the energy crisis.
“It is one of the greatest challenges we face today in our villages,” Nick said.

Pitka’s Point man breaks in, steals gas

On Sunday, March 30, 2008, the St. Mary’s Alaska State Troopers investigated a reported break-in at the Pitka’s Point water and sewer projects building.
An investigation revealed Gabriel Wasky, 18, of Pitkas Point, forced entry into the building and siphoned 4 gallons of gas from a Honda four-wheeler. Charges have been forwarded to the court district.

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My First Hunting Trip

4-8-08

by Nikki Illugngali Worm

On March 3rd I had an unexpected call from Kristy asking me if I wanted to go on a hunting trip. I was surprised that I was going. I had all my stuff I needed for the trip and waited for the next day. Kristy told me that we were going in the morning to Three Step Mountain located near Kwethluk. Lena Morgan and I both go to this program called Teens Acting Against Violence at TWC so both of us got asked to go. This was a TAAV trip.
The next day I got up late and had to quickly get my stuff together and eat breakfast before Kristy picked me up. We went to go pick up Lena then went to AC to get snacks and went to TWC. Joe Green, who works at TWC and was bringing us, got all our snacks and things we had into the sled. 5 people were going on the trip: 3 snowmachines and 2 sleds. So there was Joe Green, Kristy Newell, Lena Morgan, Carl Aluskak, and me.
We rode to the gas station and started going to Three Step. It took about an hour and couple minutes to get to Kwethluk and about 30 minutes more to Three Step. We stopped to have lunch and started hunting. Lena was the first one to hunt. She caught one and Joe was teaching us how to cut.
Now it was my turn. I was with Joe this time looking for the herd. I was holding the gun while we drove close. I caught one on the spine while it was running. When we went up to it, Joe told me to shoot it in the head. Man, I didn’t want to but I didn’t want it to suffer. I looked away and shot it. It was around 7:15 pm and it was getting dark out. Joe said after cutting it we would go. He just cut out the guts and cut it in half. I took about the same time going home as when we were going to Three Step. We got home around 10:00 pm. So we went home with memories of our “first hunting trip.”
I’ve learned how to cut a caribou, skin it, and HUNT! It’s really fun. Sounds crazy, but it’s fun.

My First Hunting Trip with TAAV

by Angel Nayagaq Sharp

On March 7th, I woke up at 6:35 am to go hunting with TAAV. When Kristy (TAAV Coordinator) picked me up we first went to Fish and Game because we had to get tags so I could get a caribou. Then we got ready to go. There were 5 people going hunting. There was Joe Green, Kristy Newell, Chelsea Gulling, Carl Aluskak, and last but not least me, Angel. When we were ready to go we went to get some gas for the snowgos and then we rode to Eek Lake. We saw some fox, wolf tracks, and frozen berries.
After a while we were headed behind Three Step. It was bumpy and windy but we kept going and going. Then, by Arm Mountain and behind Three Step, which was by the tree line, we stopped there for our lunch break. When we headed out again we saw a porcupine. What I learned about porcupines is that they have a soft head and you can bang them on the head and get good luck! Well, at least I think so.
Then we were heading back behind Three Step and beside Arm Mountain we saw the caribou. I had to then get ready to shoot one. We were waiting and then Joe said, “Aim for the front leg,” and I did. But I shot the caribou in the lung which was a good hit. I shot her once and BANG, she was down. Then Joe and I went to go see her. She was still breathing and Joe told me to shoot her in the ear. It was scary but I killed her.
Joe then began cutting the skin off and the part that you can make dance fans out of. Then Joe opened the belly of the animal and said, “There’s a baby”. We buried him. After a while when we were cutting my caribou Joe gave me some tips for hunting.

My Hunting Story

My caribou hunting trip was an exciting time for me. That was my first time that I got to shoot my own animal and I got to do it with my friends. My experience that day was fun and I learned what you have to do when you go hunting. It was the best thing. At first I felt like I was going to be too tired but when I was out there, it was like getting away from everything just to focus on the hunting.
Lena Arnacungaq Morgan

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Alaska Territorial Guard members receive official discharge

Fifty members of the Alaska Territorial Guard honored in Hooper Bay

4-1-08

Sixty-one years ago more than 6,600 Alaskans volunteered to serve in the Alaska Territorial Guard, and Thursday, 50 of those members were officially recognized and discharged in Hooper Bay, Alaska.
Andrew Brown Sr., Gregory Slat Sr., Pius Hoelscher, and Carl Smith were four of 130 members of the Alaska Territorial Guard who enlisted in April 1942 from Hooper Bay. They received their official discharge paperwork, Thursday, from Maj. Gen. Craig. E. Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard.
“Hooper Bay sets the example for all Americans,” said Campbell during the ceremony. “On behalf of Governor Sarah Palin and the people of Alaska, we thank you and your ancestors for outstanding service during World War II.”
The Alaska Territorial Guard was a component of the U.S. Army organized in 1942 by Alaska Territorial Gov. Ernest Gruening in response to attacks by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor Dec. 7, 1941.
Fearing the Japanese would invade Alaska, Gruening dispatched Maj. Marvin “Muktuk” Marston and Maj. Carl Scheibner to recruit and train volunteers to defend Alaska if the Japanese ever invaded.
Ranging in age from 11 to 80 years old, these brave men and women faithfully guarded their assigned territory, with no pay and little equipment, until the Alaska Territorial Guard was disbanded in 1947.
At the time, Alaska was twelve years away from officially becoming a state, so any time served was not counted as military service.
In 2000, Sen. Ted Stevens introduced legislation that changed law and officially recognized the members of the Alaska Territorial Guard for their service. Since that time, all volunteers who served in the Alaska Territorial Guard earned credit for their time as active federal service members and are now eligible for benefits from the Veterans Administration.
“It was a privilege to present these discharges to the Alaska Territorial Guard members of Hooper Bay today, but we still have 80 members in the Hooper Bay area who haven’t received their official discharge for their time in the Alaska Territorial Guard; we want to see everyone honored this way,” said Jerry Beale, state veterans affairs administrator.
Beale estimates that 5,000 Alaska Territorial Guard members still need to submit paperwork for their service, and they or their family members can do so by filling out an application on the Alaska Territorial Guard website, www.atg.alaska.gov.
In addition to honoring Alaska Territorial Guard members, Campbell also had the privilege of honoring a few of Hooper Bay’s current warriors.
“Ten members of Hooper Bay in the Alaska Army National Guard served in Kuwait and Iraq last year during a year long deployment, and we honor their courage today as they continue to carry the torch of freedom and tradition of patriotism in this community,” Campbell said.
The 10 Soldiers served in Kuwait and Iraq during the state’s largest deployment of troops since World War II, returning October 2007.

New mayor, administrator help Chevak dig out from debt

by Tommy Wells

Three years ago, the residents of Chevak were faced with having their utilities ripped away. There wasn’t enough money to make needed repairs to city facilities, and the Internal Revenue Service was breathing down their neck.
In all, the City of Chevak found itself looking up at more than $650,000 in debt with little way of paying.
That’s when city fathers decided something had to change. First, they brought in an interim city administrator, who began the process of restructuring the city’s infrastructure and financial records. Then, the residents of the village of approximately 800, went a step farther ... they elected a new mayor who promised better days.
Two years later, Ulric J. Ulroan -- and his hand-picked city administrator Dennis Jones -- have delivered on that vow.
Chevak city officials announced earlier this year they had made their final payment to the IRS and several other entities and that now the city that almost lost its utilities, is the City that is financially solvent and looking to grow.
“Three years ago, we had more than $650,000 in debt,” said Ulroan. “As of January, all of our major debts are paid. Instead of looking at ways to pay our debts, we are now looking at ways to improve our community and bring new jobs here.”
Getting the city back on its feet was anything but easy, said Ulroan. In order to put the city back on solid ground, Ulroan and Jones had to recreate city government in Chevak, establishing new infrastructure and policy, and recreating years of financial and accounting systems.
“We had to recreate our financial and accounting systems,” said Ulroan, who also serves as an assistant coach for the Chevak Comets High School girls’ basketball team. “Everyone had dig deep and recreate everything as best as we could, because it (financial and accounting) data was basically non-existent.
“It took Dennis three months to recreate those things. It was a lot of hard work.”
By recreating its financial records, the city has been able to apply -- and receive favorable responses -- from state and federal agencies.
In an effort to retire the hefty debt the city faced, Ulroan, Jones and city leaders earmarked funds from the programs such as the Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILT) programs to reduce its indebtedness. Initially, the city owed the IRS, the Alaska Village Electric Cooperative and Yukon Fuel (now Crowley Marine) more than $100,000 each, plus an assortment of smaller bills that added up to more than half a million in unpaid bills.
PILT is a federal program in which payments are made to local governments to help offset losses in property taxes due to non-taxable Federal lands within their boundaries.
“We didn’t have any way to make money, but we had to pay them,” Ulroan said.
Just paying the bills wasn’t enough, however. Trust and roads to better relations had to be rebuilt. To accomplish that, Ulroan and Jones took their case directly to anyone who would listen, making frequent trips to visit with state, federal and non-profit officials to show they were serious about fixing the city’s problems.
“It wasn’t enough that we had to reorganize,” said Ulroan, who has also battled a mistaken identity crisis for years. “We had to go and convince people that we had reorganized and wanted to get better as a city.”
A 2006 graduate of the University of Alaska Fairbanks, Ulroan is often confused with his first-cousin Ulric A. Ulroan, who has found his way into police reports at times. Both Ulroans live in Chevak.
“He’s a good guy at heart,” said Ulric J. Ulroan, who is known as “Ula” in his village. “Really, he’s a pretty good person at heart. He just makes some mistakes at times.”
Despite the troubles of having people think he is in the police reports and the hours of hard work in helping Chevak regain its financial legs, the work has begun to pay dividends.
Recently, the community was recommended by a group that includes The Rasmuson Foundation, the Denali Commission, and the Alaska Mental Health Trust to receive a Pre-Development Grant for a community project that could have huge ramifications in the city. City leaders are hoping to refurbish the old Chevak school into a multi-use facility that could house a post office, city offices, cultural center, a teen center and, possibly, private business enterprises.
The old school building has sat empty for about four years, Ulroan said. The project would help the community use the facility and take a step toward creating an economic base.
“There are a lot of things we can do in that building that will bring our people together,” he said.
One event the facility could host, Ulroan said, is Chevak’s annual Tundra Fest. Bringing the celebration into the old school would enable local elders a chance to bring the community closer and improve the social binds within the city.
“By coming out of the debt we were in, we are now able to focus on projects like this, and find ways to improve our community and brings more jobs here. We’re ready to move forward for the betterment of this community,” he said.

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2008 VPSO Graduates

3-26-08

The Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO) Program is proud to announce the graduation of five cadets from the Department of Public Safety Training Academy on Friday, 3-14-08.
The ceremony was conducted at the Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi Community House in Sitka at 1:00PM. The five graduating cadets are VPSO Christopher Barnett of St. Mary’s, VPO Sgt. Nathan Joseph of Hooper Bay, VPSO William Peifer of Brevig Mission, VPSO Jim Shavings of Mekoryuk and VPSO John Tobeluk Sr. of Chefornak. Representing agencies are the Alaska Village of Council Presidents located in Bethel, Kawerak Inc. located in Nome, and Hooper Bay Police Department.
VPSO academy classes are conducted only once per year. They consist of ten weeks of intense training consisting of both rigorous physical regimen and heavy academic load. In addition to class attendance, each cadet prepares for weekly inspections while also seeing to their own personal responsibilities, as well as being tested each and every Saturday on classes taught during the previous week.
Specific areas of study include Health & Fitness, Ethics, Use of Force, Rural Patrol, Holding Cell & Guard Hire Procedures, Professional Police Communications, Emotionally Disturbed Persons, Criminal Justice Overview, Community Oriented Policing, Cross Cultural Communication, Cold Water Survival, Oleo Capsicum (OC), Baton, Taser, Defensive Tactics, Report Writing, First Aid, Criminal Code, Driving While Intoxicated / Field Sobriety Tests, Stress Management, Interview & Interrogation, Crime Scene Investigation, Physical Evidence, Search & Rescue, Search & Seizure, Firearm Awareness, Bloodborne Pathogens, Title IV, Juvenile Justice, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault, Officer Survival, Fire Service, Probation & Parole and Alcohol & Drug Interdiction.
The VPSO Program began in the late 1970’s as a means of providing rural Alaskan communities with needed public safety services at the local level. It is designed to train and employ individuals residing within the village as first responders to public safety emergencies such as search and rescue, fire protection, emergency medical assistance, crime prevention, and basic law enforcement. The presence of these officers has had a significant impact upon improving the quality of life in participating villages. As a result, VPSO’s are generally the first to respond to calls for help from members of the community, hence their motto ‘First Responders, Last Frontier’.
Employment opportunities are available within the VPSO Program. To qualify, individuals must be 21 years of age, a U.S. citizen, possess a high school diploma or equivalent and be of good moral character.
For more information please contact the program manager, Sgt. Leonard Wallner, in Anchorage at (907) 245-4524. Program information can be found online at www.dps.state.ak.us/ast/

March 31 deadline for 2008
PFD fast approaching

The deadline to apply for the 2008 PFD is rapidly approaching. The 2008 application period will close at midnight, March 31. Alaskans can save time by filing online at www.pfd.alaska.gov.
PFD Director Deborah Richter encourages applicants to file online, “Applying online is fast and efficient. Applicants immediately receive a confirmation number – proof that the PFD Division has received their application.”
As of mid-day March 19, over 423,723 Alaskans had applied online – 3,127 more applicants than the total of all 2007 online applicants.
Every Alaskan can apply online for their 2008 PFD. Alaskans who register for a myAlaska account can electronically sign their PFD application through the state’s myAlaska program. Visit www.pfd.alaska.gov to learn more about the electronic signature program and to set up a myAlaska account.
Public computers are available in the PFD Offices in Anchorage, Fairbanks and Juneau, and PFD staff can assist applicants with the online application and electronic signature processes. Applicants may email dor.pfd.info@alaska.gov with questions or may call the Division’s toll-free number 1-800-733-8813 for assistance.
Online applications must be received by the PFD Division before midnight, March 31, Alaska Standard Time (AST). The website will shut down at midnight. Applications that are in process when the website shuts down will not be accepted. Online applicants must receive a PFD Confirmation Number before midnight, March 31.
On Monday, March 31, hand delivered applications will be accepted at all Dividend Offices between 10 am and 4:30 pm. Because March 31 is a state holiday, applicants in Juneau will need to access the State Office Building through the Willoughby Street entrance. Mailed applications must be postmarked on or before March 31, 2008.
Eligible applicants that applied online in January and selected and qualified for direct deposit will get paid in the early direct deposit on October 2, 2008. All other eligible applicants who select and qualify for direct deposit will get paid on October 16. The Division will begin mailing checks to all other eligible applicants on November 14. The 2008 application period closes March 31, and the 2008 dividend amount will be announced mid-September, 2008.

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Emmonak student inducted
into National Honor Roll

3-20-08

Angelica Afcan of Emmonak, Alaska was recently inducted into the 2007 National Honor Roll. She is currently a student at the Mt. Edgecumbe High School in Sitka. She received a commendation from Gov. Sarah Palin for her outstanding achievement, hard work, and dedication to her education and activities.
Angelica is the daughter of Joseph and Rose Afcan.
She attended the Lower Yukon school sites in Hooper Bay, Pilot Station (twice), Nunam Iqua, and Emmonak before she enrolled at Mt. Edgecumbe High School. Her brothers Solomon and Brandon also attended Mt. Edgecumbe and graduated.
Angelica will graduate from Mt. Edgecumbe on May 8, 2008 as a 4 year senior.

Napakiak students participate in AK Close Up Program

On February 24th, Amanda Black and Danielle Nelson, both sophomores from Napakiak, traveled to Juneau for the Alaska Close Up Program. The Alaska Close Up Program was a weeklong event in which students from around the state of Alaska travel to Juneau to learn about Alaska State Government.
On Monday, the students learned about the Legislative Branch of Alaska State Government. All of the students toured the Capitol building and then sat in on a session of the Senate and House. The Napakiak students were able to watch the House discuss the bill HB273 Education Funding. The process enthralled the students. The students also spoke with the sponsors of various bills they would be debating in their own mock legislature.
On Tuesday, the students visited the Executive Branch of the Alaska State Government. Although Governor Palin was out of town, the students sat in the Governor’s Conference Room and listened to aides of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. The students were given pens, pins, and a copy of the Alaska State Constitution. They also toured the Governor’s mansion. Amanda Black braved playing the baby grand piano in front of the entire group of students.
Wednesday’s activities included visiting the Tlingit Tribal Court, visiting Lemon Creek Prison, going to Mendenhall Glacier and watching therapeutic court. Also, the students met with John Weise, an aide to Senator Lyman Hoffman.
Thursday was just as busy for the students. They prepared a luncheon for the legislators and also worked on a Legislative Committee Simulation. That afternoon, the students met with Representative Mary Nelson. Representative Nelson was very easy to speak to and she also listened to a possible project the two girls want to accomplish. Amanda and Danielle would like to have a teen center in Napakiak. Representative Nelson gave the students the idea of contacting the girls and boys club to help with getting the teen center. Even though it was a busy day, the students were treated to plenty of fun at Bullwinkle’s pizza and arcade that night.
Friday brought the close of the session. All of the students acted as senators and debated various bills they had been researching and discussing all week. The students enjoyed the process, but enjoyed making the chaperones act like pages and pass notes for them even more.
The trip was a success with the students walking away with a better understanding of state government than they had before. Amanda Black said her favorite activities during the trip were rock climbing at the Rock Dump, visiting KTOO, going out to Mendenhall Glacier, and all of the other after session activities. Danielle Nelson commented that her favorite thing about going was traveling to all of the different places in Juneau (e.g. the Capitol building, Governor’s mansion, and Lemon Creek Prison).

Legislature approves
Community Revenue Sharing bill

by The Delta Discovery staff

On Tuesday, Mar. 11, 2008, the State House approved Senate Bill 72 on a vote of 33 to 2, a measure that would allow Alaska’s communities to begin receiving funds from the state while oil prices remained high.
The Senate, which passed its version in May of 2007, must now decide on whether it agrees with the House changes to the bill. However, Senate Finance Co-chair Lyman Hoffman, D-Bethel, indicated there shouldn’t be a problem.
S.B. 72 establishes a sustainable revenue-sharing program based on an “owner-state concept” because the resources of the state belong to all Alaskans, said Sen. Donny Olson, D-Nome, the bill’s sponsor.
“Cities and boroughs were formed by the state as political subdivisions to provide services to the people,” Olson said. “Without revenue sharing, the entire cost of basic services is borne by local taxpayers.”
Olson said skyrocketing fuel and retirement system costs and inflation, in conjunction with severe cuts in revenue sharing over the past several years have local governments scrambling to continue providing even basic services such as snow removal and road maintenance, public safety, and the education of our children.
“S.B. 72 provides a means for sustainable revenue sharing in order to allow communities to continue providing basic services (and) would allow the legislature to allocate six percent from all mineral lease rentals, royalties, royalty sales proceeds, federal mineral revenue sharing payments, and bonuses to revenue sharing every year,” Olson said.
“Basing revenue sharing on the state’s annual income allows for the flexibility needed to continue the program during lean years, when state revenue is down.”
SB 72 will allow distribution of $60 million annually to local governments for the next three years.
Without consistent, dependable revenue sharing, provision of basic services will continue to decline, Olson added. “Some small communities have already closed their doors,” he said. “SB 72 provides the tool to solve the problem of helping local governments fund basic services.”
Governor Sarah Palin thanked legislators for their efforts in passing SB 72. “As a former mayor and city council member, it is my belief that services are best provided at the most local level possible,” she said.
The bill restores the municipal sharing program, which former Gov. Frank Murkowski got rid of under his administration, causing municipalities to suffer financial hardships and eliminate needed services, such as police departments.
Palin added that she was pleased that Senate members committed to fund municipal revenue sharing for the next three years. “They took our proposal and made it better, and I appreciate them for working together to accomplish this,” she said.
Under municipal revenue sharing, the state distributes funds to the municipalities of Alaska. The local entities have discretionary use of the funds, which can be used for a variety of purposes such as providing larger communities the ability to offer tax relief to its residents and providing smaller communities with funds to help support basic municipal services.

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Tuluksak students participate in Juneau Close-Up

3-13-08

On February 25th-29th two students from Tuluksak participated in the Alaska State Close-Up program. The two students were Leroy Napoka and Nicholai Peter, both juniors at Tuluksak High School. The goal of the Close-Up program is to allow high school students a chance to experience state government in a up close and personal way.
‘While in Juneau students sat in on legislative sessions in both the House and the Senate, had a chance to meet their Representative and Senator, sat in on committee hearings, met with the governor’s staff, and many other things that had to do with state government.
The high-point of the trip was meeting with Representative Mary Nelson. We met with her at her State Capitol office and the students said it was time well spent. Her relaxed manner and openness put us at ease and we listed intently as she told us about life in Juneau. Rep. Nelson also passed on some valuable words of wisdom to our students. She said that you need to remember two things if you want t