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What is the state doing to address bycatch?

by Doug Vincent-Lang There has been much discussion and debate about bycatch in marine fisheries off Alaska’s coasts recently, including several recent opinion pieces. All are chastising a perceived inaction to address bycatch, especially in […]

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A call for “Police in Every Community”

Dozens of Alaska villages have no police at all. Dozens of Alaska communities still have no police to protect their residents. “Every community deserves public safety. Letting a criminal assault community members, with no protection […]

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It is Time to Save the Port

by Mayor Dave Bronson When I came into office, resolving the homelessness crisis in Anchorage was my number one priority. However, as my team and I assessed the dire situation at the Port of Alaska […]

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Court blocks OSHA Vaccine Requirement

by the Alaska Department of Law The U.S. Supreme Court today (January 13th, 2022) blocked a Biden Administration regulation that would force 84 million American workers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 or face weekly testing. […]

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We must remain vigilant

by Dr. Elizabeth Bates As this year comes to a close, I’d like to take an opportunity to reflect on the impact of COVID-19 in our region and emphasize the need for people to get […]

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Dunleavy Administration fights federal government to uphold Freedom, Liberty, and Privacy Rights of Alaskans

by Governor Mike Dunleavy As Governor, there exists no greater responsibility than to protect and defend the rights of Alaskans and the rights we hold in common as a state. President Ronald Reagan once said, […]

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Tribal Citizens voice strong opposition to Donlin Gold in recent Orutsararmiut Native Council Survey

Orutsararmiut Native Council (ONC) Tribal Members and other Yukon-Kuskokwim region residents are opposed to the proposed Donlin mine by a wide margin, according to a survey conducted this summer by ONC: 76% opposed the project, […]

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Suspension of Courts

by Ina Pavila To my understanding and to my observation of trials and courts they have been suspended due to high volumes of covid cases in Bethel, Alaska. To my understanding also, there also are […]

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Alaska Fishermen ask Governor Dunleavy and North Pacific Fishery Management Council to Change Course on Fisheries Management

by the Salmon Habitat Information Program Commercial fishermen and others from throughout Alaska are calling for a sea change in Alaska’s fisheries management. Today (October 6th, 2021), fishermen delivered a letter signed by over 300 […]

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Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Tribes fight Donlin Pipeline Permit

by Orutsararmiut Native Council, Native Village of Eek, Native Village of Kwigillingok, and Chevak Native Village AKDNR improperly approved Right-of-Way for Natural Gas Pipeline to fuel mining operation. Orutsararmiut Native Council, Native Village of Eek, […]

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Shelters can mean the difference between a Native woman going missing and/or being murdered

by Mike Williams, Akiak Native Community The following is the oral testimony given during the Virtual Family Violence Prevention & Services Act (FVPSA) Government-to-Government Consultation meeting which took place on Sept. 8-9, 2021. My name […]

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Suicide is a National tragedy

by Verdie Bowen September is Suicide Awareness Month and we can all play a role in preventing suicide. However, many people don’t know what they can do to support their local Veterans, Active Duty, Guard […]

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Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta Tribal Broadband Consortium seeks to bring affordable broadband interent to member tribes

Akiak, Alaska – August 25, 2021 – The Yukon-Kuskokwim (YKD) Tribal Broadband Consortium, a 501(c)3 nonprofit Tribal Organization, is submitting a large NTIA Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grant application to bring affordable broadband internet […]

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A New Hope For Young Alaska Families

by Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson This month, in-person school is about to start back up throughout Alaska for the first time in a year and a half. Many families face tough decisions about returning to work […]

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Youth Voices speak for Environmental Awareness

by Katya Carl, Madison Alirkar, Christianna Cedillo, and Aqualena Carl These are letters to the Community of Bethel from the ONC Environmental Youth Litter Patrol Participants: Katya Carl, Madison Alirkar, Christianna Cedillo, and Aqualena Carl. […]

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Still Fighting for Alaskan Families

by Governor Mike Dunleavy Last week, I signed a budget that narrowly avoided a government shutdown. It’s a budget that significantly reduces spending by just over $200 million, but ultimately threatens no jobs or programs. […]

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A Tribute to Lydia Jacoby

by Senator Dan Sullivan On the floor of the U.S. Senate on Thursday (June 24th, 2021), Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) recognized Lydia Jacoby, of Seward, a young Alaskan swimmer who will be representing the United […]

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I am my River

by Gloria Simeon The following is the testimony of Gloria Simeon provided to the Salmon People event as part of the Red Road to D.C. Journey. I speak as a citizen of the Orutsararmiut Traditional […]

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OneWeb broadband is coming to the Last Frontier, and it’s beaming down from the Final Frontier

by Shawn Williams Nicknames aside, the exciting fact is that true broadband internet connectivity–a difficult struggle to achieve in many rural Alaska communities–is finally close to reality. OneWeb is currently the only LEO middle mile […]

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Despite Administrative Law Judge’s concerns about dangerous mercury exposure, Alaska Commissioner rubber-stamps Donlin Gold Mine Water Quality Certification

by the Orutsaramiut Native Council Decision follows administrative law judge ruling that mine will result in violations of water quality standards and certificate should not have been issued. May 27th, 2021: Today Commissioner Jason Brune […]

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Fishing for the Future

by the Kuskokwim River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge Do you remember the last time king (Chinook) salmon runs were strong on the Kuskokwim river? Since at least 2010, we have […]

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In Response to Judgment Tax

by Beverly Hoffman April 29, 2021 Dear Editor, Bethel City Council and YK Delta Folks, During the last two April City of Bethel Council meetings I listened to council members and community members kind of […]

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Judgment Tax

by Gloria Simeon Our City Council, as it is, as it has been, does not truly represent the demographic of our village. It represents mostly outsiders. With the exception of one, these are people who […]

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Questions about our tribal laws

by Alice Crow  March 26, 2021  An open letter to ONC citizens: I am sending in the written statement I read during our Tribe’s last regular council meeting on March 3, 2021, under the agenda […]

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The End is in Sight

by Governor Mike Dunleavy Tuesday night, I announced that COVID-19 vaccines are now available to any Alaskan who wants one.  While seniors and our most vulnerable will continue to be prioritized, our vaccination infrastructure has […]

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Umyuaqanka qanruyutenka … I remember my counsel

by Elena Aluskak Umyuaqaqa aanama inerqulallra cenirtaaresqevkenii – I remember my mom’s admonishment on “going house to house” known today as “visiting” (notice how the latter seems to make it very ok). She would talk […]

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Alaska Native Vietnam veterans hardest hit by sweeping order revoking land allotments to Alaska

House Republicans reacted with dismay today (Jan. 26th, 2021) – to the news that the Biden Administration’s Department of the Interior has suspended land transfers to Alaska – including land transfers long promised to Alaska […]

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A Hunker Down Winter

by Brad Cole For months now in Tuluksak everyone has been staying home so much. I live alone in a small house listening to the radio, reading books of history, writing and doing some art […]

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New Year Tragedy & the Whale Tail

by Bethel Search and Rescue 1.5.21 BSAR Kuskokwim Aerial Survey—Report 2021-01* Summary: 2021 has gotten off to a tragic start with the loss of two Bethel snow machine travelers following the wrong trail at night […]

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We urge you to ensure that our state’s vaccination plan recognizes and responds to the unique challenges we face in Rural Alaska

by Eric Deakin This is a letter to the Alaska COVID-19 Vaccine Task Force dated December 7th, 2020 from Coastal Villages Region Fund (CVRF) who is taking a stand to fight for the health and […]

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Proposal to improve public health through veterinary care, an essential service in regards to the pandemic

by the Yukon Kuskokwim Canine Health Association This would be a project in partnership with the tribes to protect from Covid-19 and enhance the overall health of the communities by increasing veterinary care and improving […]

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United We Are Strong

by Willie Kasayulie Through our ancestors, we still live in our own homelands today. Most of us are related, especially in our villages. If you really think about it, we are related throughout the YK […]

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Mortality and the Afterlife

by Cynthia Ivan Life and death, and the metaphysical theology disseminated, propelling the human consciousness. Is there life after death? When we die, is there another life beyond the world we know, is there life […]

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I just love dry fish…

by Elena Aluskak The dry fish that were first introduced to my taste buds were of course my mother’s. And as a young child, I did not have any other thoughts as I savored them. […]

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Tribes Push Back on Donlin Pipeline

Bethel – In response to a new public notice from the Department of Natural Resources for the proposed 315-mile long Donlin natural gas pipeline, Alaska Native Tribes today (Sept. 16th, 2020) called on the Dunleavy […]

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Keeping Alaska’s Economy Healthy

by Governor Mike Dunleavy, Julie Anderson, and Alan Weitzner Recently, our administration presented Alaska’s Legislature with a plan to extend hundreds of millions of dollars to hurting small businesses currently ineligible for AK CARES grants. […]

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Nukalpiaq and the Bear Cub

by Elena Aluskak Nukalpiaq – (great male hunter) and the bear cub Once upon a time there was a Nukalpiaq, who decided his little girl should have a bear cub as a pet. A bear […]

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AFN applauds CARES Decision

by AFN Staff The Alaska Federation of Natives applauds the decision issued earlier today (June 26th, 2020) by D.C. District Court Ahmit Mehta, ruling Alaska Native for-profit regional and village corporations (ANCs) established under the […]

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The many truths in our lives

by Elena Aluskak I love this photo… I love it because it is a great tool to expound on and understand many truths in our lives. I am wondering the photographer had no significant purpose […]

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To the Alaskan Commercial Fishing Fleets

by Matt Alward Our industry and communities are facing an unprecedented challenge in the COVID-19 pandemic. With the 2020 salmon season nearly here, we must all take extra precautions to ensure the health and safety […]

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Courage

by Cody Arnapagaq Ferguson. When you have depression, you dwell on past experiences that negatively impacted your well-being. When you have anxiety, you dread over future possibilities that have yet to be manifested. When you […]