Speak Your Mind

by Karen Nanouk Hello out there, I originally started writing this in April. I happened to be in Nome for medical reasons. When I go there I will try to go check on some Elders […]

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski, Dan Sullivan, and Congressman Don Young, all R-Alaska, today (June 28th, 2019) welcomed the Department of Justice’s Announcement that Attorney General Barr will declare a law enforcement emergency in rural Alaska […]

by Native Peoples Action, Inc. Twenty tribes sign letter stating Tribal concerns, ask BLM to collaborate with Tribes, provide balance and protections for Tribal watershed nominations. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is currently […]

by Amber Jones This letter was written to the Bethel City Council to protest the proposed liquor license transfer from Kusko Liquor to the A.C. Co. To whom it may concern, I am writing this […]

by Ned Rozell Bogoslof Island is the gray tip of a mountain that pokes from the choppy surface of the Bering Sea. The volcano stands alone just north of the Aleutians, far south of the […]

by Amy Gulick [Excerpted with permission from The Salmon Way: An Alaska State of Mind (Braided River, May 2019) by Amy Gulick. (pp 92-77)] We leave the smokehouse and walk next door to Shelly’s house […]

by Ulric Q. Aloysius Perhaps you’ve heard of tribal governments. In May 2013, Edward Parks – a member of the Stevens Village tribe – assaulted his girlfriend who laid nearly dead from three broken ribs […]

by Ivan M. Ivan This is a letter, dated May 14th, 2019 to Charlene Erik, Chairperson of the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission. Akiak Native Community is writing to propose 2019 Kuskokwim Chinook management actions. […]

by Dave Cannon As I’m writing this I’m thinking ahead a week or two, and back to just over a year ago. It won’t be long and the smelt will enter the mouth of the […]

Leading into Nurses Week, May 6-12, the Alaska Nurses Association is highlighting an important issue. New survey results from the organization have been released, showing the high rates of workplace violence workers face in the […]

by the Association of Village Council Presidents AVCP recognizes the Governor’s proposed budget is intended to be a catalyst for discussion. Let’s have part of that discussion in the Yukon Kuskokwim (YK) Delta. Here is […]

by Ned Rozell Following the warmest March Alaskans have ever felt, forecasters are predicting a mellow transition from ice to water for most big rivers in the state. Things don’t always go that way during […]

by the Akiak Native Community The following is a letter to Federal Subsistence Board Chairman Anthony Christianson from the Akiak Native Community, dated April 16th, 2019. We are writing to amend and clarify Temporary Special […]

by Ned Rozell The mushers were gone, and so were the 640 dogs that pulled them out of town. A few days earlier, the volunteers who gave life to Iditarod had climbed into their single-engine […]

The Warrior Weekly is the reliable news source for Bethel Regional High School, and it provides the weekly reports to the students, staff, and parents. The Warrior Weekly staff goes through a lengthy process in […]

by Dr. Lisa Skiles Parady, Norm Wooten, and Sarah Sledge During a time of fiscal uncertainty, our organizations would like to highlight an investment Alaska can make that has a projected 7-10% per year return […]

by Akiak Native Community The Akiak Native Community sent the following letter to the Federal Subsistence Board and Chairman, dated March 1st, 2019. Akiak Native Community herein submits a Temporary Special Action Request (SAR) requesting […]

by Senator Dan Sullivan Sullivan Honors Alaskan of the Week: Iditarod Winner Pete Kaiser U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke yesterday (March 15th, 2019) on the Senate floor to recognize Pete Kaiser, of Bethel, who […]

by Charles Moses Yup’k and Cup’ik (Y/Cup’ik) Tribes make up the largest Indigenous or Native Group in Alaska. Their territory covers most of Southwestern Alaska from Bristol Bay along the Bering Sea Coast to Norton […]

by Jacob Sipary Imagine thousands upon thousands of little native boys and girls being ripped from their homes in order to become “civilized”. Those poor, innocent, and scared little children were forced to completely abandon […]

by Vicki Turner Malone  District 38 Democrats met Wednesday evening, Feb 20, 2019, at KuC to discuss Governor Dunleavy’s proposed 2020 budget. Representative Tiffany Zulkosky made time at the beginning of the meeting via teleconference […]

by Bethany Marcum It’s time for a reality check. Since Alaska expanded Medicaid to able-bodied adults in 2015, our state has experienced cost overruns, unexpected—but predictable—over-enrollment, and is facing a dependency crisis. Some—local lawmakers and […]

This is from 136 YK Region Women who are shareholders of Calista Corporation who signed this open letter to Calista CEO Andrew Guy and Board Chair Robert Beans in hopes our voices will be heard. […]

by Peter Evon With the onslaught of state permits issued and proposed in recent weeks, it bears repeating that the Donlin project is not nearly as benign as incoming DNR Commissioner Corri Feige would have […]

by Dr. Kendra Zamzow On January 26th, the Feijao tailings dam in Brazil released 85 percent of the 13 million m3 of iron-ore tailings behind it. At least 84 people died, and the final death […]

by Dave Cannon By now you might have heard about the recent mine tailings dam collapse in Brazil that killed 58 people with hundreds still missing. You may, or may not, be aware of the […]

by the Bethel Family Clinic Board of Directors A letter dated January 11, 2019 to the Honored Members of the City of Bethel Council. Respected Members, As the Board of Directors for the Bethel Family […]

by Corri A. Feige As Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Natural Resources (DNR), it is my responsibility to carry out the department’s mission to “develop, conserve and maximize the use of Alaska’s natural resources […]

by Delta Discovery Staff Don’t you love the look, feel, and warmth of homemade knitted mittens? They are so cozy and nice, and the fact that they are homemade gives them that special sentimental significance […]

by Deborah L. White I know many of us love and deeply care for the furry additions we bring into our homes. We nurture and care for them. Recently, my ‘Freckles’ passed away. She was […]

by Senator Lisa Murkowski 12.05.18 Senator Sullivan and I just returned to Washington after an almost surreal 24-hour period up in the state. We went up on Sunday night, Monday morning. We hadn’t anticipated being […]

by Sarah Jasper I come in a lot of names, Budweiser, vodka, wine and others. No matter what the name, as long as it has alcohol, I’m it. I’m found in liquor stores, bars and […]

by Senator Murkowski Staff A report prepared by the Seattle-based Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) and released today (Nov. 14th,2018) by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) indicates the epidemic of violence against Missing and Murdered […]

by Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky Public service is not for the faint of heart. When I was considering putting my name forward to represent my home region, House District 38 in the YK Delta, something Lt. […]

by Stand for Salmon Today (November 6th, 2018), tens of thousands of Alaskans raised their voices to protect wild salmon and the rivers they call home. While Ballot Measure 1 did not garner enough votes […]

by Fred Smith I’m an Alaska Native from Noorvik in Northwest Alaska, though, I’ve lived many years in the Y-K region. I have three children, now adults, who are eligible for Calista scholarships and employment […]

by Adeline Peter Raboff I cannot sit by and watch and listen to the massive propaganda campaign about Ballot Measure 1 without comment. It’s Big government and Big corporations at their most hell-bent destructive ways. […]

by Dave Cannon There is a lot of misinformation going around about the Ballot Measure #1, both from outside the Kuskokwim and from within; sadly, much of it is intentional. Election Day is less than […]

by Elena Aluskak Our children are honorable and lovable … can any one of us disagree with this? No – not one individual will attest to contradict this statement of honor and value and love […]

by Andy Cole and Andrew Guy Truth is important, especially when the stakes are as high as they are with Ballot Measure 1, the salmon-habitat initiative. Donlin Gold, located in the Yukon Kuskokwim region, is […]

by Governor Bill Walker Previous governors waited for someone else to bring our vast amounts of natural gas to market. We are done waiting. We took charge, and in four years have brought the gasline […]

by Carmen Lowry and Dr. Tracey Wiese On September 6, a little girl, Ashley Johnson-Barr, played at her local park in Kotzebue. She will never return to play there again. Her body was found on […]

by Grant Fairbanks Alaska is the last great producer of wild Pacific salmon. We became a state due to the mismanagement of this salmon resource by the federal government in the1900s. In 1952, 85 of […]

by Sharon Chakuchin This is true freedom, to have the streets and playgrounds, walkways and most neighborhoods free from those who have drunk too much and have found themselves either making fools of themselves or […]

by Bob Shavelson In the lead-up to the Labor Day holiday weekend, when Alaskans were distracted with camping and hunting and fishing plans, our State government quietly issued two decisions which show exactly why we […]

by Louie Andrew There was a notice of sorts some years back in the local newspaper (Tundra Drums) in spring concerning dogs having rabies or the possibility of rabies within the Bethel city limits. Rabies […]

by Casey Campbell and Mike Wells When the Good Friday earthquake shook Alaska in 1964, the damage wasn’t confined to buildings and homes. In some coastal areas, the land and ocean floor were uplifted dramatically […]

by Daniel B. Ausdahl Jr. My name is Daniel B. Ausdahl Jr. from Kalskag, Alaska. I am 39 years old. I am a Heavy Equipment Operator for Knik Construction, Captain and Owner of T Bird […]

by Robert Okitkun I would like to see more emphasis on the history of the people that have resided in this area during the past millennium. I would like students to know that the Russian […]

by Rosie Barr As a NANA shareholder, former NANA vice president of Lands and now vice president of Lands and Natural Resources for Calista Corporation, I know how a mine and an indigenous people can […]

by Gloria Simeon As fall approaches, I am filled with gratitude that once again, we were able to harvest from our land and rivers and reap the blessings we have been granted. At the same […]

by Helvi Sandvik Four hundred miles north of Bethel is the Red Dog Mine, a living testament to how one mine can be transformative for an indigenous population who primarily lives a subsistence way of […]

by R.B. Slats A Proposed Open Pit Mine: will be 2.2 miles long, 1 mile wide; 1/3 of a mile (deep) into the earth. The Open Pit Mine is dubbed Donlin Gold. The operation will […]

by Homer Hunter The following article is a short research assignment that I wrote and when I studied Introduction to Tourism as part of my financial aid requirements during this past spring. I found a […]

by Elena Aluskak Waqaa! I remember when my quiet moments were gently filled with what I thought then as “lecture”. On-going repeated lecture. Sometimes, persuasively but never harsh, other times just seem to flow with […]

by Ryan Schryver, Campaign Director for Stand for Salmon It’s no secret that an Alaska without salmon would be an Alaska with a hole in its heart. Unthinkable, actually, for anyone who’s connected to our […]

by Tuluksak Native Community Village Council The Tuluksak Village Council passed Resolution No. 18-17-01: A RESOLUTION OF THE TULUKSAK NATIVE COMMUNITY, TULUKSAK VILLAGE COUNCIL AGAINST THE DONLIN GOLD MINE PROJECT, INCLUDING LAYOUT OF THE PROPOSED […]

by Gloria Simeon To whom it may concern, The proposal to deal with the waste water resulting from mining operations of the proposed Donlin mine is doomed to fail. First of all, the State of […]

by Sue Keller Alaska salmon fishermen have a significantly higher rate of health problems than the general population, according to a new study conducted by the University of Washington School of Public Health in partnership […]

by Danielle Craven Here on the Kuskokwim, we are thankful for the first opening this past week where many of our families enjoyed the sharing of the first catch, fresh boiled fish, and began the […]

by Margaret Pohjola, Treasurer, Board of Directors The Calista Corporation’s (Calista) Board and Executive Staff wake up every day thinking about how to create a stronger, more effective organization. Every choice our Alaska Native Corporation […]

by Frederick Olsen Jr. When I think of salmon, I think of summer days that have lasted my whole life. I pray they never end. Most often it starts on a dusky dawn in June. […]

by Akiak Native Community This is a letter to the Office of Subsistence Management Subsistence Policy Coordinator sent by the Akiak Native Community, dated May 23rd, 2018. Akiak Native Community submits a Request for Reconsideration […]

by Representative Bryce Edgmon Dear Friends & Neighbors, For many years I have been grateful to work for House District 37 as your representative, and for the past two years it has been my honor […]

by Jon Cochrane Children want to feel included. It starts on the playground and grows as their social circles widen. A way adults can help foster financial inclusion is by helping them develop an understanding […]

by R.B. Slats Donlin Gold LLC (Donlin) is a subsidiary of a Southwest Regional Corporation, Calista. Donlin has proposed an open pit, hard rock gold mine, ten miles north of Crooked Creek, Alaska. The mine […]

by Senator Dan Sullivan U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) honored Bethel resident John Active, legendary Yup’ik storyteller and decades long voice of KYUK public media, as part of his “Alaskan of the Week” series on […]

by Dave Cannon Back in January of 2013, when the Army Corps of Engineers held their initial “scoping meeting” in Aniak as part of the Donlin Gold Project Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, I and […]

by Walter Jim The Orutsararmiut Native Council for the Native Village of Bethel protests the possible Liquor License renewal for Alaska Commercial Store. Since the Liquor Store opened many lives have changed, mostly negative. The […]

by Elena Aluskak I remember my childhood; many sweet, happy memories. Memories where I am expressing happy schooldays, fun outdoor activities as well as moments where my mentality was put down by peers or other, […]

by Grant Fairbanks The Donlin Gold Final Environmental Impact Statement issued by the United States Corp of Engineers is being readied for print and any day we will have answers to many many questions. Everyone […]

by Ina Pavila Our minds can be a powerful tool, if used correctly. I like to look at it as an agent where information is recorded and is processed. This information that we hear, we […]

by Brad Cole It was evening while walking to a local trail that a young boy ran up to me and asked to follow. The sunlight had just dimmed behind a passing cloud and soft […]

by Andrew Guy March 15, 2018 In response to the February 14th, and March 7th, 2018 opinion letters written by Mr. Grant Fairbanks, I wish to offer some points of clarification. The Calista Corporation owns […]

by Ina Pavila I am reminiscing about coming in from the cold, with my skates on, to a warm, clean home and the smell of food cooking on the stove. My mother and father in the […]

by Grant Fairbanks Donlin is not ready or capable to build a safe mine at this time. Their proposed gold mine would be the largest of this type in the world. After reading over 5000 […]

by Ina Pavila Parents that live harmoniously with each other will in turn have children that live harmoniously with each other. Parents who show stability within the home will more likely have stable children. If […]

by Linda Curda This year’s Cama-i (Yup’ik for a warm welcoming hello) Dance Festival is almost here and the Bethel Council on the Arts is once again proud to be the sponsor of what promises […]

by Grant Fairbanks I haven’t been sleeping well since I attended the state Department of Environmental Conservation’s meeting here in Bethel on Jan. 23rd. concerning Donlin Gold’s pollutant discharge permit and their Waste management permit. […]

by Ina Pavila The Methamphetamine Suicide Prevention Initiative (MSPI) grant was allotted to Orutsararmiut Traditional Native Council ONC to initiate suicide prevention using the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) model Calricaraq/yuuluaqauciq. CALRICARAQ is our YUUYARAQ; […]

by Chris Agragiiq Apassingok Agragiighuunga. Sivuqaghhmiinguunga. Ataka Takeva. Naaka Aakapak. Sivuqami angliinga whangkunneng katam neqennaqmeng. Ayuumighhaaneng tawatelnguq Sivuqaq. Tamaghhaan neqa tugaaqegkaangat. Aghveq, ayveq, maklak, neghsaq, allanginaq, qawaak allangingaq, iqalluk allanginaq, tepamneg, elqwaaghmeng, nunam nunivagseghaaneng neqekukut, […]

Do you like reading? Well, I like to read books. The books I like are mysteries and sci fi mysteries. I also like to read horror books. I get the books from the school library […]

by Representative Chuck Kopp I was blessed to have parents who were lifelong educators here in Alaska. In 1936, my father was born in Yunan Province, China. He survived the Second Sino-Japanese war, but carried with […]

by Angelica Afcan Imagine not being able to tear off that piece of dried fish you had for lunch. Imagine looking at old school photographs and seeing your toothless smile. Imagine having a lifelong speaking […]

by Governor Bill Walker Alaska now has the necessary alignment for the Alaska gasline LNG project. Mid-June 1970: one of the most important days in my life. It rained, as I waited in-line outside a […]

by Brad Cole It was an old nearly forgotten trail slowly turning back into the forest. I worked on it with an axe and machete to cut the branches, stomped down the grass and using […]

by Max Angaiak The earliest memory I have is having preschool with Kamgu Post. She gave me a toy plane after she asked me what I wanted to be when I grow up. I was […]

by House Speaker Bryce Edgmon Nov. 8, 2017: Following two weeks of debate, public testimony, and consideration of amendments in the Judiciary Committee, the Finance Committee, and on the House Floor, SB 54 passed the […]

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) spoke on the Senate floor this week (Nov. 3rd, 2017) in recognition of Chris Apassingok, a young whaler from Gambell, Alaska who is helping to keep the Alaska Native whaling […]

by Mark Leary She slowly hobbled down the bank cradling a beat-up grease-stained cardboard box. Reaching a small Lund boat she carefully set the box inside and climbed in. Poor woman – she pulled on […]

by Max Angaiak Coffee starts you off with your day. Some people can’t start their day without it. Some get dependent on it, while others go without it. Did you know coffee is a drug […]

by Willie Kasayulie The Yupiaq had a system of education that took into account the universe of the human being, including respect for all renewable and non-renewable resources the Ellam Yua (Creator) created. The building […]

by Brad Cole I was standing with wading boots on in the grassy shallows of the Tuluksak River casting a line out about 20 feet. The cool flowing waters and late afternoon breeze felt refreshing. The […]

by Kaitlynn Active According to Catherine Gewerts, there was a survey given to 467 dropout students from 25 major cities. This survey was given to them to know the reason for their dropping out of […]

by Katlin Lewis Have you ever thought of how many students in High School suffer from traumatic events? The problem is there are so many different traumatic stages that children and the youth go through. […]

by Donna Walker In the aftermath of the violence and hatred on display in Charlottesville this weekend, I found myself in deep reflection. As a child growing up in the South, I knew that life […]

by Harold Napoleon Yup’ik and Athabaskan Tribal leaders, youth and elders, of the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta met on August 1 – 3, 2017 and began the process of unifying the area’s 56 tribes and creating […]

by Kenlynn Slats Have you ever been bullied for being different? Today, throughout the world, students are being harassed for multiple reasons. Whether it’s because of your appearance, race, weight, cultural, or sexual orientation. According […]

by Mark Leary In the fall of 1997, the late Iftikum Evan of Lower Kalskag was checking his net at Whitefish Lake. The water was low and the mud was showing way out from the […]

by Vicki Malone Her last name was Kargas, but I suspect many people in Bethel did not know it. She was simply Maro, as distinctive as her name. She first arrived in Bethel in 1980 […]