Village Telegraph

by Bjorn Dihle Hunting Guide Tia Shoemaker is fighting tooth and nail to ensure future generations will have the opportunity to experience the wilderness of Bristol Bay and the Alaska Peninsula. “We have something incredible […]

Caden Joseph Smith, age 11, filled up his berry bucket with tasty ripe tumaglit from the tundra near his hometown of Quinhagak on a very nice day the first week of September.

The Department of Public Safety has published the Crime in Alaska 2019 report, noting a decrease in Alaska’s overall crime rate by nearly 10%. The number of reported offenses is the second lowest level in […]

by Mary Catharine Martin Alaskans who have fished for salmon consistently over the years know it: Alaska’s salmon, especially king salmon, are getting smaller. Now, a new study, published August 19 in the journal Nature […]

The Ounalashka Corporation and Chena Power signed a 30-year power purchase agreement, (PPA), with the City of Unalaska on August 31, 2020 for 30MW of geothermal produced electrical energy. In 2019, Ounalashka Corporation and Chena […]

Warren Nicolai of Bethel (at right) successfully harvested this young bull moose last week on Tuesday. His younger brother Judah helped during the hunt.

Santa Fe, New Mexico: August 4, 2020 – The Institute of American Indian Arts is pleased to announce the graduation of Golga Oscar (Yup’ik Nation) with a BFA in Studio Arts. He received his degree […]

by Alaska Division of Forestry Three Alaska Division of Forestry managed Type 2 Emergency Firefighting (EFF) crews from rural Alaska mobilized to Colorado today, Aug. 28 to help with the busy fire season. These crews […]

by Harry Alexie This summer we went on a weeklong camping trip to Heart Lake to trap for arctic ground squirrels, also known as parka squirrels. Not many go up to the mountains to trap […]

by M. Samson Seniors 2020: Milton Charles, Nicholas Charles, Acacia Chingliak, Shannon Ekamrak, Charisse George, Justin Jackson, Ryneal Nose, Danielle Pasitnak, Autumn Phillip, and Schenia Wassilie graduated on August 14, 2020, at 2:30 on the […]

by AVCP Staff For the safety of our communities, the Association of Village Council Presidents (AVCP) 2020 Annual Convention will be held virtually, in light of the COVID pandemic. Our 56th Annual Convention will be […]

On August 11, Grant Aviation was informed that an employee who works at the Bethel station tested positive for COVID-19. The employee and Grant Aviation are working with the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Public Health Nursing […]

by Calista Education and Culture, Inc. Calista Education and Culture, Inc. (CECI) says the safety of students and staff is CECI’s primary concern. Due to COVID-19, travel for all Take Wing “Tengluni” [D-NG-loo-nee] students and […]

On June 25, in consultation with the Alaska Section of Epidemiology, the Napaskiak Tribal Council, City of Napaskiak, and YKHC issued a joint statement about the strong likelihood of sporadic community spread of COVID-19 in […]

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) intends to negotiate with the University of Alaska’s Museum of the North as the likely repository of the well-known historic “Bus 142,” removed from the Stampede Trail last month. […]

The Calista (cha-LIS-ta) Corporation Board of Directors elected officers following the successful virtual 2020 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Robert Beans was reelected as Board Chair, Margaret Pohjola (poi-YO-la) as Vice Chair, Johnnie Evan (ee-VAN) as […]

Danica Matthias of Kotlik went on her first berry picking trip on July 18th, 2020 inside the Kotlik River. She is 17 months old. Photo by Theresa Matthias

On May 28, 2020, about 1600 Alaska daylight time, an Aero Commander 500S airplane, N909AK sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Aniak, Alaska. The airline transport pilot and three passengers […]

by Bjorn Dihle When Jeffery and Christine Smith were shown the David B, an ancient Bristol Bay tug, known as a monkey boat, it appeared that every cormorant in Washington State had been pooping on […]

Baby’s berry. Eight month old Sienna Andrews of Emmonak enjoys a taste of the tundra at Fish Village, which is halfway between Emmonak and Mountain Village on the Yukon River. Photo by Monalisa Andrews

Regina Therchik of Anchorage and Toksook Bay, Alaska, daughter of Ray and Florence Therchik, is a candidate to graduate from the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota. Therchik is graduating with a Bachelor […]

by Calista Staff Calista (cha-LIS-ta) Corporation Shareholders chose to reelect Margaret Pohjola, Willie Kasayulie, Earl D. Samuelson, Sr., and Nick P. Andrew, Jr. for the 2020 Annual Meeting. Nearly 11,000 Shareholders voted with over 6-in-10 […]

This press release was issued on June 29th, 2020 by the Napaskiak Tribal Council. On June 16, 2020 YKHC came to Napaskiak to conduct a community wide testing for COVID-19. The results from the tests […]

by Calista Staff Calista (cha-LIS-ta) Corporation appreciates the U.S. District Court’s recent decision to uphold the Alaska Native Regional and Village Corporations’ eligibility for much-needed funding from Title V of the CARES Act. No funding […]

As the Native Village of Kongiganak’s COVID-19 Guidelines began lifting, the Environmental Department staff and the community jolted towards a cleaner environment. Cloth face masks were provided in the 3 day event which consisted of […]

Emmalynn Hunter, age 3, helps cut salmon for dry fish on June 16th at her family’s fish camp in Quinhagak. This is Emmalynn first king salmon that she cut. Photo by Susan Johnson.

by YKHC In consultation with the Alaska Section of Epidemiology on June 25, YKHC believes there is a strong likelihood that sporadic community spread of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, is occurring in the YK […]

by Calista Corporation Staff Independent Group Mailing Upsetting Families Who Experienced Loss. Calista (cha-LIS-ta) Corporation has been made aware of marketing efforts to our Shareholders that are not from nor supported by Calista. One is […]

by AK Fire Info June 17th, 2020: Smokejumpers, aided by aircraft, are working to contain three new lightning-caused fires near St. Michael and Kotlik. These fires were located by BLM Alaska Fire Service personnel using […]

by Alaska Division of Forestry Firefighters from the Alaska Division of Forestry’s McGrath station and BLM Alaska Fire Service responded to a structure fire that burned down a lodge and multiple cabins on the Aniak […]

by Calista Corporation Staff E ight Calista (cha-LIS-tah) Corporation Shareholders are winners in the first round of Early Bird proxy prizes for the 46th Annual Meeting of Shareholders. About 6,000 Shareholders who cast their proxy […]

Hooper Bay, Alaska – The Native Village of Hooper Bay and Rural Alaska Community Action Program, Inc. (RurAL CAP) will host a grand opening of Bay Haven, a domestic violence and sexual assault (DVSA) shelter […]

Nayivkuk Tessamarie Amik, age 4 of Nunakauyaq Toksook Bay, is learning to fillet herring for drying. She was watching her family working on fish and she wanted to help. This photo was taken on May […]

by Alaska Division of Forestry Smoke from a cluster of four wildfires burning in southwest Alaska is impacting some Yukon-Kuskokwim communities in the area around Bethel and Dillingham. Residents in Togiak and Goodnews Bay reported […]

Veronika Gregory, age 13, is from Kalskag. Her love of fishing shows while she is dipnetting for some smelts. She is holding one of her catch for some good luck. Photo by Cecelia L. Aloysius […]

Christian Kozevnikoff (at left), DeSean Peterson (who is holding the fish), and Erin Kozevnikoff went for a ride to check the setnet in Cinik Slough across from Russian Mission. They caught this monster pike last […]

by Kwethluk Joint Group The Kwethluk Joint Group passed Resolution 20-01 on May 15th, 2020 urging the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to cease dumping of raw sewage to the Kuskokwim River at Kalskag, Alaska. […]

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game has opened registration for a resident permit hunt for muskoxen stranded on unnamed islands south of Nunivak Island in Unit 18. The opening is by Emergency Order by […]

by the Organized Village of Kwethluk In a letter dated April 21, 2020 to Anthony Christianson, Chairman of the Federal Subsistence Board and to the Office of Subsistence Management Subsistence Policy Coordinator the Organized Village […]

by Cheryl Heitman Q & A with Joshua Branstetter & his daughter, Ellie…who likes to mention that she touched 500 year old dog poop This is a conversation about filming Alaska documentary, Children of the […]

Elizabeth Jones, who is two years old, holds the big egg with her little hands that she found on the tundra. This is the first egg that she found for 2020 near her village of […]

On May 15, YKHC confirmed a second positive COVID-19 case of an individual who opted for testing at the Bethel airport, upon arriving from Anchorage and before continuing on to an outlying village. As part […]

by Akiak Native Community April 30th, 2020: The Akiak Native Community Tribal Council is issuing a current updated policy regarding the Coronavirus pandemic after the special meeting on April 30th, 2020 including flood preparations in […]

The Office of Subsistence Management has selected the winners of the 2020-21 Student Art Contest: Genevieve Muldoon, age 10, from Eagle won in the wildlife category, and Senkanne Alexie, age 17, from Tuluksak won in […]

May 6, 2020 — The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today announced one new death and one new travel-related case of COVID-19 in Tok, which is the first known case for this […]

by MEHS Staff Mt. Edgecumbe High School will host its 2020 graduation ceremony online due to the ongoing pandemic. Ninety-four seniors will graduate from MEHS this year and the virtual ceremony will take place at […]

Leyton Alexie who is four years old plucked her first goose last Friday, May 1st. She was happy to help her mom Mary pluck geese near their village of Eek. photo by Mary Alexie

Flood WatchNational Weather Service Anchorage AK359 PM AKDT Fri May 1 2020 Kuskokwim Delta-Including the cities of Bethel, Hooper Bay, and Nunivak Island359 PM AKDT Fri May 1 2020 …FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH […]

The City of Bethel council has directed administration to prepare and submit the FY 2021 Bethel Community Service Patrol grant application in the amount of $323,081. The City will also contribute $32,308 of dispatch services […]

April 25, 2020 ANCHORAGE — The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) today announced no new cases COVID-19. There were also no new hospitalizations and no new deaths. This reflects data from 12:00 […]

The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) is distributing 40 rapid testing machines and 2,400 test kits for diagnosing novel coronavirus throughout communities in rural Alaska, including the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation in Bethel, in […]

by Calista Corporation Staff April 17, 2020: The current novel coronavirus pandemic is deeply impacting individuals, communities, non-profits, Tribes and for-profits alike. One of the measures Congress made was passing the CARES Act in late […]

This is a message from Mike Williams Sr., Tribal Chief of the Akiak Native Community: One of our Tribal citizens from Akiak has not arrived from his travel by snow machine from Akiak to Togiak […]

by Kuspuk Staff April 15, 2020 -­‐ The Board of Education for the Kuspuk School District is pleased to announce their unanimous choice for a new Superintendent, Mr. James Anderson, beginning July 1, 2020. The Board […]

by LYSD Staff April 15, 2020: The Board of Education for the Lower Yukon School District is pleased to announce their choice for a new Chief School Administrator, Mr. Gene Stone, beginning July 1st, 2020. […]

Funds are available for YK Delta nonprofits, tribes and community service partners from BCSF’s YK Delta COVID-19 Response Fund. BCSF will grant up to eight awards of $2,000 each. The deadline is Friday, April 17 […]

April 14, 2020: Health Mandate 012 – Intrastate Travel states, “all instate travel between communities, whether resident, worker, or visitor, is prohibited unless travel is to support critical infrastructure, or for critical personal needs.” The purpose of […]

Since beginning to test for COVID-19 in March, YKHC has continued to expand our testing capacity. As of noon on April 8, we have tested over 150 individuals. Of those tests, 103 tests are still […]

The Friend Brothers of Kwigillingok were successful with their wood haul from the Kuskokwim. From left are Harry, David, and Johnny Friend. Their sleds are loaded with logs as they head back to Kwig. Photo […]

April 5, 2020: RavnAir Group today announced that due to the global COVID-19 pandemic and the unprecedented loss of 90% of passenger revenue at all three of its airlines (RavnAir Alaska, PenAir, and RavnAir Connect) […]

by GCI Staff Alaska’s largest telco is finding new ways to safely serve its customers. As Alaskans hunker down and practice social distancing to minimize the spread of COVID-19, Alaska’s largest telecommunications provider is developing […]

by Ann Fienup-Riordan The following is a brief passage featuring elder Albertina Cingyukan Dull of Nightmute talking about the 1918 flu epidemic that she heard about when she was young. “In our work with elders […]

by Calista Corporation Staff Calista (cha-LIS-ta) Corporation’s Board of Directors held an early board meeting and voted to approve a spring distribution at $6.97 million, up from $6.49 million last year. The number of Shareholders […]

March 27, 2020: The Kuspuk Board of Education superintendent search committee is pleased to announce that four individuals have been selected to interview as finalists in the search for a new superintendent. The full Board […]

by Vicki Turner Malone Interview on March 20, 2020 I called my old friend Mike Williams, Sr., to check on him after his near death experience this winter from a serious leg infection. So Mike, […]

by Andrew Guy and Robert Beans Calista (cha-LIS-ta) Corporation appreciates the leadership of elected officials, health experts and many others that have guided Alaska and the nation through the novel coronavirus pandemic. However, many of […]

The Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation is limiting visitors to their primary care facility in Bethel. In an announcement posted yesterday (March 19th, 2020) YKHC is closely monitoring the outbreak of COVID-19. “Preventing the spread of […]

GCI is working with the Lower Kuskokwim School District to help students stay connected so they can continue their education during the current school closure, said LKSD in a news release March 19th, 2020. The […]

Calista (cha-LIS-tuh) Corporation is seeking nominations for its 2020 Shareholder Awards. Calista’s annual awards recognize valuable contributions by Calista Shareholders and Descendants living in and out of the Calista Region. Each award recipient will receive […]

Last week the Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD) held their 2020 Science Fair in Bethel. 55 students from Gladys Jung Elementary, Bethel Regional High School, Ayaprun Elitnaurvik, Atmautluak, Napaskiak, Mertarvik, Platinum, and Toksook Bay participated. […]

After careful consideration and lengthy discussion about the concerns of the coronavirus (COVID-19, a severe and highly contagious respiratory illness), we have decided to postpone the 2020 Cama-i Dance Festival. We will be working with […]

by Rep. Tiffany Zulkosky February 28, 2020 Dear friends + neighbors, I’m not sure about you, but this week has gotten away from me! The halls of the Capitol were again buzzing with numerous legislative […]

by the Food Bank of Alaska When Edna and Jose Estrella moved to Selawik in the Northwest Arctic part of Alaska with their church, they were shocked by the prices in the grocery stores. They […]