Speak Your Mind

Minority Rights in the Regional Tribal Government

by Ulric Aloysius The Regional Tribal Government (RTG) is desperately needed after decades of fractionalized power and division in the Yukon-Kuskokwim (Y-K) Delta. It is obvious tribal members are frustrated with their tribal council’s red […]

Speak Your Mind

Climate change is melting glaciers and creating new salmon habitat in the Taku, Stikine and Unuk rivers — but being staked for gold mining

by Mary Catharine Martin An abandoned mine on the banks of the Tulsequah River, BC, Canada. Photo by Chris Miller Sockeye salmon jumping up waterfalls in the Taku River watershed, BC, Canada. Beneath the glaciers […]

Speak Your Mind

Alaska Native, fishing, and conservation groups support Western Alaska Tribes’ lawsuit, call for changes to federal fisheries management

Alaska Native and fisheries conservation organizations have filed an amicus curiae “friend of the court” brief supporting the lawsuit brought by the Association of Village Council Presidents, Tanana Chiefs Conference, and City of Bethel against […]

Speak Your Mind

The duality of me

by Staff Sgt. Sharon Queenie Alaska Air National Guard surveillance technician proud of Native heritage, military service. Waqaa, wiinga Nunakuata, Tan’gauqcuguluk! Hello, I am Nunakuata, Tan’gauqcuguluk! My maurluq (grandmother) would always call for me when […]

Speak Your Mind

STELLA, WHERE ARE YOU?

by Anna L. Goemer I worked for the Bethel Police Department (BPD) from 2008-2010. One unsolved case that still haunts my thoughts is Stella A. Evon, born 2/11/79, disappeared on 9/29/1996, a Sunday with temperatures between […]

Speak Your Mind

Women Veterans Day

Alaska Governor Dunleavy announced the following proclamation on November 9th, 2023 to recognize and honor the servicewomen and their families of our country who served our State and nation to uphold our freedoms. WHEREAS, women […]

Speak Your Mind

Partnerships result in successful backhaul project from fish camps in the Middle Kuskokwim River in 2023

by Dan Gillikin Discussions around backhauling hazardous materials and refuse from fish camps along the Kuskokwim River have been ongoing for several years between interested parties. This summer, through financial support from Donlin Gold and […]

Speak Your Mind

Strengthening ties and standing against discrimination: The Case for Alaska’s Adoption of the Israel Anti-Discrimination Act (House Bill 2)

by Rep. Sarah Vance An Israeli family of five, including twin 6–year–old girls and their 4-year-old brother, were murdered by Hamas over the weekend. Tamar Kedem-Siman Tov and her husband Yonatan rushed into the bunker […]

Speak Your Mind

Efforts to reduce trespass

by Doyon Corporation Staff T he Doyon Lands and Resources Department works collaboratively with village corporations and villages to address trespass. Doyon and village corporation lands are private property, and we have the right to […]

Speak Your Mind

Response to NOAA survey on bycatch

by Nels Anderson Jr. To the NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration): Aug 26, 2023 My experience tells me that a lot of the info that you folks present is based on incomplete data regarding […]

Speak Your Mind

Timing is everything

by Dave Kutcher We’ve all heard the old adage before, “Timing is Everything”. This statement couldn’t be more true when it comes to making sure you don’t outlive your money during your golden years. People […]

Speak Your Mind

The Wild Hope of Sockeye

by Melanie Brown When wild salmon reach the point in their ocean lives where they recognize that it is time to return home to spawn, they begin to group up and travel together en masse. […]

Speak Your Mind

2023 AFN Convention Update

The Dena’ina Civic & Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska will host the Annual AFN Convention from October 19-21, 2023. The keynote speakers include Sophie Minich, President/ Chief Executive Officer of Cook Inlet Region, Inc., and […]

Speak Your Mind

Crooked Creek’s untold story of Donlin Gold

by Crooked Creek Tribal Council As the Tribal leaders of Crooked Creek, a small Kuskokwim River village dependent on the subsistence way of life, we pay close attention to any threats to our sovereignty, culture, […]

Speak Your Mind

We appreciate the life of our friend

by Alice Crow At the direction of our mother, and in memory of our own late father who was Martin Moore’s Kusquqvak friend, I extend the Crow family’s appreciation for the life of our friend […]

Speak Your Mind

Our Survival on the Line

by Serena Fitka, Jennifer Hooper, Mellisa Maktuayaq Johnson, Kevin Whitworth, and Dr. Michael Williams Sr. If we were a school of chum salmon heading home to Western Alaska to spawn this summer, we would be […]

Speak Your Mind

Challenges at the Northernmost Border: A Focus on Getting the Right Priorities Resourced

by Vivian Korthuis Critical Infrastructure, Communications, Technology, Climate Change, and Energy. The following is the testimony provided to the Panel: Critical Alaska Native Concerns on Economic Security, Energy Security and Food Security by Vivian Korthuis, […]

Speak Your Mind

2023 First Lady Volunteer Awards

by Rose Dunleavy Serving as Alaska’s First Lady has given me the opportunity to meet many truly inspiring Alaskans. Reflecting on this time, I feel a deep sense of gratitude to call Alaska home and […]

Speak Your Mind

Empty Freezers

by Vivian Korthuis Our communities in rural Alaska have a Way of Life. It is so much bigger than just subsistence. It goes to the essence of our whole existence as people who live in […]

Speak Your Mind

Parents are key to curbing underage drinking

by the Fairbanks Native Association Fairbanks Native Association will start a campaign to encourage parents in understanding the risks of underage drinking, especially if they are providing alcohol. FNA’s Strategic Prevention Framework program is using […]

Speak Your Mind

AVCP Chairman testifies on Salmon Crisis

Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) Chairman Thaddeus Tikiun Jr. provided a testimony on November 15, 2022, to honorable Governor Dunleavy regarding possible solutions to the Salmon Crisis we are experiencing in our region. Testimony […]

Speak Your Mind

What Alaskans need to know about RSV

by Dr. Mishelle Nace and Dr. Matthew Hirschfeld Many viruses are making Alaskans sick this winter, but the virus primarily responsible for filling up our clinics, emergency departments, and pediatric hospital beds this season is […]

Speak Your Mind

Goodbye not goodbye

by Diane Kaplan Exciting new beginnings — they always come with sad farewells. It was nearly 30 years ago that Ed Rasmuson recruited me to be his partner in the creation of what is now […]

Speak Your Mind

First Alaskans Institute urges a No Vote on Ballot Measure No. 1 – The Constitutional Convention Question

by First Alaskans Institute First Alaskans Institute (FAI), a statewide Alaska Native advocacy nonprofit, takes a rare position to encourage Alaskan voters to vote no on the Constitutional Convention ballot measure. Alaska’s constitution requires that […]

Speak Your Mind

Accommodating Caretakers

by Ina Pavila This thought came into my mind yesterday. I was reflecting on our Calricaraq Training and on the circle activity. Calricaraq translated is wellness and being whole as a person, community, family and […]

Speak Your Mind

Alaska Delegation applauds approval of major disaster declaration for Western Alaska

U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan (both R-Alaska), and Representative Mary Sattler Peltola (D-Alaska) today (September 23, 2022) welcomed an announcement that President Joe Biden just approved Alaska Governor Michael Dunleavy’s (R-Alaska) request for […]

Speak Your Mind

Regional Tribal Government

by Willie Kasayulie Akiachak Native Community hosted a Pinariuq Conference during the first week of July 1984 with Tuluksak Native Community and Akiak Native Community tribal council members participating. This gathering officially started the discussion […]

Speak Your Mind

Western Alaskan’s appeal to Governor Dunleavy

by the Bering Sea Fishermen’s Association and the Yukon River Drainage Fisheries Association Thirty residents from the Bristol Bay, Norton Sound, Yukon and Kuskokwim (BBAYK) regions of Alaska met with Governor Dunleavy and the Commissioner […]

Speak Your Mind

Constitutional Convention

by Willy Keppel Should you vote for a constitutional convention? Yes, absolutely! Alaska is ranked as the corruptest legislature in America. We’re the only State that hasn’t outlawed the use of the binding caucus. The […]

Speak Your Mind

Alaska Peninsula – ADFG Area M commercial Fisheries closure for 3 weeks during passage of chums Alaska Peninsula – ADFG Area M commercial Fisheries closure for 3 weeks during passage of chums

by Steven M. Alexie, Kuskokwim river subsistence User A letter to Michael Dunleavey, Honorable Governor of the Great State of Alaska. Honorable Governor Dunleavey, I wrote to you this past spring/summer with regards to closure […]

Speak Your Mind

If God Made Marijuana…

by Tad Lindley As a younger man, I sported uncut hair for many years. It seemed to attract people who wanted to talk to me about marijuana. Over the years there were those who described […]

Speak Your Mind

Public parks and playgrounds are essential

by the Bethel ALPAR Youth Litter Patrol Team Our ALPAR Youth Litter Patrol’s mission is to help keep our community clean throughout the summer months and environmentally educated, increase community awareness along with ONC’s Environmental […]

Speak Your Mind

Tribes from Alaska’s Kuskokwim region file superior court appeal to protect salmon streams from massive gold mine

Orutsararmiut Native Council and the Native Village of Eek, Sovereign Tribal Governments from the Kuskokwim Region of Alaska, Challenge State’s Decision to Grant 12 Permanent Water Rights to World’s Largest Open Pit Gold Mine Project. […]

Speak Your Mind

Why are we restricted from taking a single salmon, while factory trawlers are allowed to kill tens of thousands?

by Melanie Bahnke, Vivian Korthuis, Brian Ridley, Fred Phillip, Kevin Whitworth and Brooke Woods This was written by a coalition of Tribal Organizations that collectively represent over 100 federally recognized Tribes in Western and Interior […]

Speak Your Mind

Honoring the Fallen – and Caring for Veterans

by U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) penned the following opinion-editorial, honoring members of the U.S. military who have given the ultimate sacrifice and highlighting ways we can honor the fallen—including by […]

Speak Your Mind

The Effectiveness of Read by 9 Reforms

by Debra Van Dyke Reading scores for Alaska’s public-school students are unsatisfactory. In fact, Alaskan fourth-grade reading scores across all incomes rank our students dead last in the nation. Considering the importance of being able […]

Speak Your Mind

Senate Bill 9

by Tiffany Hall Last week a report came out showing alcohol-related deaths increased over 25% in the U.S., and in Alaska they increased 31%. Each year, alcohol misuse costs Alaska $2.4 billion, equivalent to $3,272 […]

Speak Your Mind

Donlin, Too Risky for Salmon

by Beverly Hoffman, Protecting our Land and River Advocate I am one of many concerned shareholders of Calista and believe the Donlin Mine puts our already stressed ecosystem, our fish and our way of life […]