by Donlin Gold Staff
Donlin Gold and Desert Air are partnering to send water and other resources to the community of Tuluksak after a fire destroyed the village’s only source of clean water.
On Monday, a Desert Air DC-3 delivered multiple 200-gallon water tanks, pumps, hoses, garbage cans, totes, baby wipes and other paper products, along with a supply of drinking water to the village.
“We made a commitment to the people of the Yukon-Kuskokwim region to support communities with resources in their time of need, particularly when it comes to health and safety,” said Kristina Woolston, Donlin Gold’s External Affairs Manager. “We will continue working with Tuluksak’s Tribal Administrator and forming partnerships to provide aid for as long as it takes for a permanent solution to materialize.”
Donlin Gold previously sent 50 cases of water and other basic items to Tuluksak, and shortly afterward, developed a partnership for another shipment of supplies with Desert Air.
“The villages make up the entirety of our business, so when we recognized there was a need in the region, we reached out to Donlin Gold to combine our efforts to help out,” said Joey Benetka, President, Desert Air. “Freight is expensive to send to rural Alaska, so we wanted to offer a flight we know would be well utilized and full to maximum capacity.”
“We, the community of Tuluksak, are very grateful for the enormous support that Donlin Gold and Desert Air have provided,” said Middy Peter, Chair of Native Village of Tuluksak.
In collaboration with Tuluksak’s Tribal Administrator, Donlin Gold will send the following items to Tuluksak as part of its efforts to assist in the water crisis:
• Four to six 200-gallon Greer water tanks that can be filled at the river and transported in a truck bed or behind a four-wheeler or snowmachine to each home to fill the large containers we are providing
• Pumps, hoses and small generators to pump the water from the 200-gallon container to the in-home containers
• Ninety-five 32-gallon garbage cans (larger in-home water containers)
• 50 Rubbermaid totes (for bathing and clothes washing containers)
• 50 Floor brushes (also for clothes washing)
• Baby wipes and paper towels
*Due to the amount and weight of the items, multiple trips are planned to complete the delivery.
About Donlin Gold LLC
Donlin Gold LLC is an Alaska company that is owned by NOVAGOLD Resources Alaska Inc., a subsidiary of NOVAGOLD RESOURCES Inc., and Barrick Gold U.S. Inc., a subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation. Donlin Gold is working with NOVAGOLD Resources, Barrick Gold Corporation and Alaska Native land owners, The Kuskokwim Corporation and Calista Corporation, to build a gold mining project near Donlin Creek in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region of western Alaska.
