THE COUNCIL • PAGE 1 Non-profit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Anchorage, AK Permit No. 537

D e n a ’ N e n a ’ H e n a s h O u r L a n d S p e a k s

VOL. 29, NO. 10 A REPORT TO THE MEMBER TRIBES OF THE TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE DECEMBER 2004

Alaska Land Transfer Roustabout Recruitment Acceleration Act By Donna Scott, Director, Employment and Training By Sheri Hardman, Allotment Specialist, Realty TCC is recruiting for our 23rd does not guarantee a job. Employment in Roustabout training program. If you are oilfield work is highly cyclical and no This bill was introduced on July 25, 2003 and a hearing was held on August 6, 2003. a Doyon shareholder and interested in predictions can be made as to the eventual Realty Service Providers, BIA Compactors and Contractors were given very little notice of working on Doyon Drilling’s North Slope needs of Doyon Drilling. However, due to the hearing. Once Realty Service Providers were made aware of the legislation it became rigs, please read the following for the fact that all Doyon rigs are currently information on the application process: up and running, the chances are very high apparent that those with pending Native allotments were at risk. • Applications require a detailed that members of this class will go to work This legislation was drafted by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) by directive training/work history. fairly soon after the class ends. Should from the Department of Interior (DOI). The DOI had been hearing from individuals, • Applicants must submit an employment not be readily available with Native corporations and the State of Alaska about the slow pace that lands were being “individual employability plan” that Doyon Drilling, TCC’s Employment transferred. This legislation is the result of extensive analysis of BLM’s land transfer outlines paid and volunteer work Department will assist Roustabout programs. The goal of the legislation is to have the majority of the pending land transfers experience and short and long term graduates in finding employment with done by the year 2009, the 50th anniversary of Statehood. In order to finalize all land career goals. other companies. Additionally, this transfers Native allotments must be finalized by 2006, the 100 year anniversary of the • A resume and two letters of training qualifies candidates for many reference are required. oilfield jobs that may or may not be Allotment Act. If you have already applied as part of related to drilling. Tanana Chiefs Conference Realty Department works with most of those in the TCC/ our year-round recruitment process, you Doyon Drilling is looking for long Doyon region to help them acquire title to their lands and to keep an eye on legislation that may still be contacted and asked to submit term commitment. The drilling industry may help or hinder progress toward the goal of certification. an update; i.e., new work history, training is high-paying, high-tech and exciting. If When the original version of this bill appeared it proposed to take rights away from completed, certifications obtained, change this sounds like the opportunity you’ve those with pending or improperly-closed Native allotments. The bill would have eliminated in personal circumstances, etc. been waiting for, we look forward to the right to amend a location, the right to reconstruct a lost application and the right to TCC and Doyon Drilling will score all receiving your application! Recruitment closes Jan. 14 - 5:00pm reinstate applications that had been incorrectly-closed. It was explained that these things complete applications and select approximately 40 individuals to be Interview dates – Jan. 20-21 were necessary in order to finalize the locations and number of small parcels within the Roustabout Training – Feb. 7-25 in larger selections of the Native corporations and the State. interviewed for the 20 training slots. (All Doyon rigs are currently operational, so Anchorage Theses rights would have been terminated at the passing of the bill in order to this class will be larger than previous Women are encouraged to apply. facilitate the accelerated land transfer to the other larger entities waiting for title to lands. classes.) For more information, please There were many Realty Service Providers throughout the state that were greatly Applicants selected for training will be contact Gloria Riley, Employment and alarmed by this bill and formed a working group, the S. 1466 Working Group, to let required to undergo pre-employment drug Training Coordinator, toll-free at 800- Senator Murkowski know that there was strong opposition to parts of her bill and to and alcohol screening. 478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 suggest changes. Individuals selected for training ext. 3187 or email [email protected]. The S. 1466 Working Group consists of Realty Officers and Allotment Specialists should know that completing the training from 10 different Native nonprofit organizations such as Tanana Chiefs Conference, ...continued o n page 3 Emergency Fire Electronic Health Fighters State Photo Identification Required Records Installed By Gloria Riley, Employment Coordinator, Employment By Warren C. Whitmore, Director, Health Information Systems Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center Please keep in mind that when you travel to Fairbanks or Anchorage, take the time to get a State of Alaska photo identification. This past summer many firefighters were not The Electronic Health Record The next few weeks/months will be a able to be dispatched to a fire assignment because they did not possess State or federal installation on the Chief Andrew Isaac tremendous change for staff on how we serve photo identification. Health Center (CAIHC) Resource and patients with use of the electronic health How to obtain Alaska Identification Card: Patient Management Systems server was record. An applicant for a State of Alaska identification card must provide two pieces of completed on September 1. All necessary Thank you to the Information Systems identification, one to prove date of birth and the other to prove identity. applications were successfully loaded staff and the Electronic Health Record The following documents are acceptable for proving date of birth: including Pharmacy, Lab, Radiology and all implementation team for all of their efforts • An original or certified copy of a United States or Canadian birth certificate other associated packages within the in getting the electronic health record loaded. • A passport issued by the United States or Canada Electronic Health Record application. • A learner’s permit Efforts are underway to upgrade/enhance • An identification card issued by a State Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office A decision will be made to establish the the health delivery infrastructure for better or Canadian DMV deployment and use schedule of the use of this new technology. For more • Military identification for active duty, retiree or reservist Electronic Health Record in the near future. information, contact Warren C. Whitmore, • The following documents are acceptable for proving identity: CAIHC is not quite ready to actually deploy Director, Health Information Systems, toll- • Photographic employee identification card the Electronic Health Record at this time as free at 800-478-6822 or locally at • Social security card. Metal card is not acceptable we still need more training and hardware (907) 459-3808 or email • Military Identification for dependent installation to take place. [email protected]. • Passport • Pilot’s License • Marriage license or certificate • Other evidence of comparable validity approved by a DMV supervisor Beadwork needed There is no age limitation for a State identification card. An identification card is valid Beaded frames are needed for Prizewinner Paula for five years after issuance and will expire on the applicant’s birth date. For more the 2005 TCC Convention. Specific information, contact Gloria Riley, Employment Coordinator, toll-free 800-478-6822 or measurements are necessary for these Sommer locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3187 or email [email protected] projects. If you are interested, please Paula Sommer of Galena correctly Monday through Friday 8:30 am– 4:30 pm contact Doris Miller, Executive named the title to Amanda Tritt’s article Cost: $15.00 Assistant to the President, toll-free at from the July/August issue. It was titled 800-478-6822 or locally at “Don’t Drill in ANWR!” Mae (Grant) Fairbanks DMV Anchorage DMV (907) 452-8251 ext. 3112. You can Gunderson of Spring City, Pennsylvania 1979 Peger Road (907)451- 1300 W Benson Boulevard email [email protected]. receives honorable mention. 5180 (907)269-5551 PAGE 2 • THE COUNCIL • DECEMBER 2004 TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE New Accounts Payable Supervisor Lisa Metzger started as the Accounts Payable supervisor on October 4. She supervises and trains The Council is a monthly report to the member tribes of the Tanana Chiefs the Accounts Payable Technicians, establishes and Conference, in accordance with agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs maintains relationships between TCC and its and the Indian Health Service. Letters to the editor, other written contributions vendors, reconciles vendor statements and resolves and photo submissions are welcome. However, space is limited and program inquiries, enters check requests, client service requests oriented news has priority. TCC reserves the right to edit or reject material. and authorized travel documents into the computer Letters and opinions are not necessarily the opinions of Tanana Chiefs for payment through the bi-weekly scheduled check Conference. Material submitted anonymously will not be published. processing. “There is an awful lot to learn and I have Contributions and questions may be directed to: just begun. Everyone in the Accounting Department is very nice and helpful. I am happy to be at TCC and The Council look forward to new opportunities.” Prior to this Ginger Kennedy Placeres, Editor change, Lisa worked at her last job for 14 years. Tanana Chiefs Conference Lisa has lived in Fairbanks for 22 years and is 122 First Avenue, Suite 600 married with one son born. She enjoys fishing, snow- Fairbanks, AK 99701 machining, camping and being with family and Phone: (907) 452-8251, ext. 3227 friends. You can contact Lisa toll-free at 800-478- Toll-free within Alaska: 6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3260 or email 1-800-478-6822, ext. 3227 [email protected]. Toll-free from outside Alaska: 1-800-770-8251, ext. 3227 Walking Strong Committee Fax: (907) 459-3851 The Walking Strong Committee was The committee meets on a monthly E-mail: [email protected] established in 2001 during the TCC basis and includes participants from the six Convention after improvements in suicide subregional offices, the Careline, prevention and response efforts we Ch’eghutsen’, the Resource Center for Subregional Offices identified. From this discussion, the Walking Parents and Children, and various Yukon-Koyukuk Kuskokwim Yukon-Tanana Strong Committee started to meet on a departments within TCC. In the monthly P. O. Box 92 P. O. Box 169 1302 21st Avenue regular basis and the issues that were meetings, action items and plans are Galena, AK 99741 McGrath, AK 99627 Fairbanks, AK 99701 identified were being addressed. The implemented to accomplish the goals. committee’s vision is to communicate and (907) 656-1326 (907) 524-3005 (907) 459-3930 The Walking Strong Committee has work with Tribes to help reduce suicide started a fundraising effort to implement deaths in the TCC region. As a result, the the action plans. A recent fundraiser included Upper Tanana Lower Yukon Yukon Flats mission of the committee is to work together an Indian Taco Feed on November 2 at the P. O. Box 129 P. O . B o x 1 9 0 P. O. Box 304 to provide a comprehensive approach to Chena River Convention Center, where suicide prevention through community nearly $1000 was donated toward suicide Tok, AK 99780 Holy Cross, AK 99602 Ft. Yukon, AK 99740 resources, education, research, advocacy (907) 883-5181 (907) 476-7137 (907) 662-2556 prevention. The committee is also exploring and information. This suicide prevention options to bring more awareness to the committee continues to work toward four villages and including youth in the activities. goals that were established to achieve the vision and mission. Walking Strong is always looking for more participants and ideas to bring more The four goals of Walking Strong are: INIn THIS This IssueISSUE awareness to suicide and suicide prevention. 1) to increase public awareness of suicide Please contact Debbie Mitchell at (907) 452- Tanana Chiefs Conference...... 1-4 and suicide prevention; 8251 ext. 3274 or Charlene Ostbloom at Client Development...... 5 2) to hire a suicide prevention specialist (907) 452-8251 ext. 3006 if you would like Health Services...... 6-7 to serve the TCC region; more information or if you would like to Youth Employment...... 8 3) to focus on protective factors; and, join the committee. You can also email 4) to obtain feedback and foster [email protected] or Subregional News...... 9-10 discussions with target groups. [email protected]. News for Our People...... 11-12 New Receptionist Grant Tips for November My name is Alisha Colleen Gilbert. I am 19 and One of the best ways to write a successful grant for a small community is for the the oldest of three siblings. My parents are Annette person in charge of writing the grant start by forming a “mentoring grant committee.” and Bobby Gilbert of Arctic Village. My grandparents This committee would be composed of three friends who would first discuss the grant are Mary and James Fields, and Mary and Trimbal with you in terms of your ideas with the idea of including their ideas in the grant as well. Gilbert. Next, write one page of three to five specific aims of the grant and discuss these with the three committee members before beginning to write the body of the application. And As a receptionist, it’s my job to sort incoming remember, save a copy of your grant application! Even if your grant is not funded the first mail, answer incoming calls, post outgoing mail, time, with some changes it can be the second or third time. This is especially true of deliver faxes, while my primary responsibility is that Administration for Native Americans program grant proposals. For more information, of telephone operator. I also assist others when contact Richard “Dick” Farris, Grants Writer, toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at necessary. (907) 452-8251 ext. 3246 or email [email protected]. In my spare time I love to shop, watch movies, and participate in sports. In high school I played volleyball and basketball. I am glad to be working New Legal Secretary here as a receptionist and mail clerk. Before this, I My name is Ronda Benish Shepard and I worked at my father’s store, Gilbert’s Grocery Store, started as a Legal Secretary in the Legal Department in Arctic Village. in June. I was raised in Fairbanks, married Dennis Shepard, a geologist. We have two beautiful girls, New Admininstrative Assistant Amber, 2, and Jenna, 6. Our family loves to go out camping, visit our cabin in Tenderfoot, as well as My name is Mary Brewer and I have play on our mining properties. I have a certificate in Business Management from University of recently been hired as an Administrative Alaska, Fairbanks and I am working towards my Assistant. My parents are Rosa (Charlie) Applied Associate’s in Business Management. I also and Dale Brewer, my grandmother is the have a Secretarial Science Diploma and I am a late Mary Henry (Charley) and my Certified Professional Secretary. grandfathers are the late Pete Charley and I love working at TCC. The people are the late Jimmie Henry. wonderful and from the first day everyone has made me feel very welcome. The Legal Department My four-year-old son’s name is Isaiah reviews all the contracts for TCC and the Tribes and hisfather is Jeremy Torres. Jeremy’s hire us to look out for their interests. I work for parents are Marjorie (Albert) Torres and three attorneys and one paralegal. Orlando Torres. Before this, I stayed home for almost two years after my baby was born. That was very rewarding, spending more time with my family. Previously, I worked as a clerk for the I was raised in Northway, Alaska and State of Alaska, Department of Transportation in the Planning Department for two years attended school at Walter Northway and before that I worked for The Department of Environmental Conservation, School, where I graduated in 1998. I am Contaminated Sites for two years and Department of Environmental Conservation, happy to be on board at Tanana Chiefs Environmental Health for three years. You can contact Ronda Benish Shepard, Legal Conference. Secretary, toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3177 or email ronda,[email protected]. DECEMBER 2004 • THE COUNCIL • PAGE 3 TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE Impact study released on Dual Enrollment and Alaska Tribes the proposed Gasline By Lisa Jaeger, Tribal Government Specialist By Bob Sattler, Lead Archeologist/Environmental Policy Analyst, Realty The power to determine membership The financial reasoning Tribes use to criteria is a fundamental tribal power, and determine if they will allow or prohibit dual Information Insights of Fairbanks has The report uses a variety of sources Tribes have nearly exclusive jurisdiction in enrollment for adults is a bit complex released the first impact analysis on the derived from the Trans-Alaska pipeline this area. In other words, Tribes alone may because Tribes receive funding from a variety proposed construction of the natural gas developed approximately 30 years ago, the say who their members are or aren’t. When of sources and the rules for funding pipeline. Information Insights prepared this TAPS right-of-way renewal, and a person is enrolled in two Tribes at the allocations change over time. Funding to report under contract with the State of information provided in recent applications same time, it is called ‘dual enrollment.’ Alaska Tribes comes from three main Alaska’s Department of Revenue. This study to the State by competing sponsor groups, Deciding tribal rules about dual enrollment sources: Indian Health Services, through the is focused on financial impacts the or applicants to build the natural gas is a critical issue because marriages between Bureau of Indian Affairs budget, and construction phase will have on pipeline. members of different villages are very through a wide range of state, federal and municipalities along the right-of-way and Four sections in the report from common. The tribal position on dual private grants. One theory is that if a Tribe transportation links to construction Information Insights are: 1) economic enrollment may be addressed in tribal allows dual enrollment, the total number corridor. The Municipal Advisory Group impacts, 2) revenue impacts, 3) subsistence constitutions, but is most commonly of tribal members will be higher, and (MAG) was established through language impacts, and 4) gas treatment plant addressed in tribal membership and therefore the Tribe will be entitled to more in the Alaska Stranded Gas Development impacts. This report consists of the latest enrollment ordinances. funding. This may be true for some funding Act and is made up of officials (mayor, city developments and considerations of what Allowing dual enrollment for members sources such as grants and when enrollment managers, and financial officers) from might be affected in the region when the numbers figure into funding formulas. organized municipalities that are likely to under 18 allows Tribes to maintain their pipeline is built. It also provides an maximum jurisdictional options over However, if the Tribe allows dual enrollment be affected by the gas pipeline construction introduction to anticipated impacts for adults, the Tribe may be obligated to and development. TCC President Harold children involved in custody disputes that associated with the gas pipeline. Tribes are may arise. If a Tribe prohibits dual provide services to more people that will “Buddy” Brown and Natural and Cultural encouraged to review this report to spread the financial resources thinner. Resources Director Paul Mayo have enrollment entirely, and for example, a father determine what additional information is takes a child out of the village and enrolls Tribes that allow dual enrollment for participated in this planning group as needed in order to determine how Tribes representatives of the unorganized borough the child to another village, it is possible adults may place restrictions on members can more effectively participate in this type that the original village where the mother who are duly enrolled. One of the most within the TCC region that will be directly of impact analysis. and indirectly affected by the construction, lives has a weakened jurisdictional claim common examples is to make a tribal rule operation, maintenance, and For additional information contact over a custody dispute between those that only those who are solely enrolled to demobilization at the end of its use. The Brian Rogers, Project Manager, of parents. International law generally allows the Tribe are eligible to receive any report is available on the web at http:// Information Insights at (907) 450-2450. children born to parents of different distributions of tribal assets that the Tribe magalaska.com. citizenships to be citizens of both countries makes from businesses it owns. Another until the child reaches the age of maturity. common restriction is to give priority for Radio Telemetry Study of Seasonal Migrations At that time, the child must choose the tribal services to those who are solely country to which he or she wishes to be a enrolled to the Tribe when funding permits. and Habitats of Broad Whitefish, Humpback citizen. Dual membership in Indian Tribes Whether or not to allow dual is much like dual citizenship between enrollment is up to each individual Tribe. It Whitefish, and Least Cisco countries in this example. is highly recommended that Tribes allow By Kimberly Elkin, Fisheries Biologist, Wildlife & Parks While most Alaska Tribes allow dual dual enrollment for children under 18 in enrollment for persons under 18, Tribes are order for all Tribes to maintain their A fisheries study is being conducted whitefish, 32 were least cisco, and 17 were split on dual enrollment for adults. The maximum jurisdictional options in the event from 2004 thru 2006 in the Kanuti National broad whitefish. Aerial surveys are currently decision of whether or not to allow dual of custody disputes. The decision to allow Wildlife Refuge and is focusing on three being flown to determine locations of tagged enrollment for adults is usually based on dual enrollment for adults, and what traditional law, current social trends, and restrictions to place on dually enrolled species of whitefish (broad whitefish, fish. This study is a cooperative effort financial considerations. Some Tribes have members if any, is a Tribe by Tribe decision. humpback whitefish, and least cisco) found between the United States Fish and Wildlife strong traditional law that prohibits the idea The TCC Tribal Government Services in the Kanuti and South Fork Koyukuk Service’s Fairbanks fisheries field office and of dual enrollment. Either you belong solely Program offers technical assistance to Tribes Rivers. There is a heavy reliance on whitefish Tanana Chiefs Conference’s Fisheries to one Tribe, or you do not. Tribes are on this matter. For more information, species among residents in the upper Program and is funded by the Office of sometimes influenced by whether or not the contact Lisa Jaeger (ext. 3269) or Debbie Koyukuk River drainage and little to no life Subsistence Management’s Fisheries surrounding villages allow it or not. Tribes Mitchell (ext.3274) toll-free at 800-478-6682 history data exists on seasonal migrations Resource Monitoring Program. For more also consider dual enrollment from a or locally at (907) 452-8251. and important habitats. Migrations are information, please contact Kim Elkin, financial perspective as well. being identified along with important Fisheries Biologist, toll-free at 800-478-6822 spawning, over-wintering, and feeding or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3489 or habitats thru the use of radio transmitters. email [email protected]. New Chief Financial Officer During late May 2004, a total of 81 fish were Lloyd Allen has been promoted to Tanana tagged. Of the 81 tagged, 32 were humpback Chiefs Conference’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Lloyd will be working with Bob McGee in transitioning over the next few months from Continued from Front Page... SENATE BILL 1466 Acting Tribal Development Director to the CFO position, since Bob McGee is preparing to retire. Association of Village Council Presidents, Murkowski pledges to continue to seek ways and Central Council of the Tlingit and to address allotment concerns. Lloyd started at TCC in 1999 as a Business Haida. The group worked to eliminate the Counselor and eventually became the director Included in the concerns brought to of the Business Development program. He has deadlines that took rights away from their Senator Murkowski by the S. 1466 Working clients. The group also met with Senator been Acting Planning and Development Director Group were concerns that the Alaska Native since 2002 and became the Acting Tribal Lisa Murkowski’s council numerous times veterans have not been treated fairly and over the last year to spell out what we as Development Director when the division was have not had the same opportunities to created in 2003. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in representatives of those with pending Native apply and qualify for a Native allotment as allotments could not agree with in the Business Administration from the University of those who had applied before the enactment Alaska, Fairbanks and is a Certified Public legislation and what we would like to see of ANCSA. added to it to make it more comprehensive, Accountant candidate. correcting some of the shortcomings in the Before the Acceleration Act there were Lloyd is looking forward to the new allotment program. bills introduced to try to remedy the challenges the CFO position brings and to working closely with the Tribes and TCC staff. inequity of the Alaska Native Veterans On October 10 Lisa Murkowski pushed He may be contacted at 1-800-478-6822 ext. 3277 or by email at Allotment Act. The S. 1466 Working Group [email protected]. the Alaska Land Transfer Acceleration Act had been working to get the language of the through the Senate after over a year of previous bills into S. 1466 in order to address taking comments and making changes to the remaining allotment issues in one final Acting Tribal the bill in order to ease various groups bill. Even though the bill has passed, the concerns. The bill then passed in the House Working Group will continue to work Development Director of Representatives on November 17 and was toward bettering the allotment program presented to the President on November 29 and fighting for amendments that will Ethan Schutt has been assigned to be Tanana for signature. The President signed the bill benefit the individuals to whom we have Chiefs Conference’s Acting Tribal Development on December 10 and it became Public Law trust responsibilities. No: 108-452. Director because of Lloyd Allen’s promotion to You can find the full text of the Alaska Chief Financial Officer. The S. 1466 Working Group’s concerns Land Transfer Act at: http://thomas.loc.gov/ were heard and the original Bill was cgi-bin/query/D?c108:4:./temp/ Ethan will be acting in this capacity until the amended to eliminate the deadlines. The ~c108cBwqtg: or go to the main page of the position can be filled with a permanent director. group was successful to the extent that no THOMAS website: http://thomas.loc.gov/ Ethan is currently TCC’s General Counsel and rights were taken away. This does not end home/thomas.html and search for bill oversees the activities of the LegalDepartment. the group’s efforts though; the S. 1466 number “S. 1466”. For questions call Sheri Working Group is still working to get Hardman, Allotment Specialist, toll-free at Ethan joined TCC in June 2002 as General Counsel. amendments considered that will add to the 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 Ethan has a Bachelor’s of Science degree in equity of the current allotment program. ext. 3342. Mathematics from Washington State University During a panel discussion at the 2004 and a J.D. degree from Stanford University. Ethan Alaska Federation of Natives Convention and in a letter to the working group Senator may be contacted toll-free at 800-478-6822 ext. 3177 or by email at [email protected]. PAGE 4 • THE COUNCIL • DECEMBER 2004 TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE New Compliance/Eligibility Tax program puts money in Supervisor working people’s pockets My name Patricia J. Weaver, I have joined By Don Shircel, Acting Director, Client Development Family Services as the Compliance/Eligibility Supervisor. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Social Because of the lack of full-time jobs in The program also affords the mostly Work and a Master’s degree in Community most villages, many seasonal workers (like non-Native students practical experience Psychology and have worked in the Welfare arena fire fighters) are eligible for tax returns from and an opportunity for cross-cultural for eight years. My experience includes eight years the Earned Income Tax Credit program. learning. Last year the project’s demand for with the State of Alaska, Public Assistance Office Unfortunately, not all those who are eligible students during the brief window of the “tax as an Eligibility Technician I, II and III. Before are aware of the program, able to navigate season” exceeded the number of students working for the State of Alaska, I was the tax forms or have local access to services available and ABDC was able to recruit Supervisor of the Mortgage Loan Department that can assist them in preparing their taxes. student colleagues from a campus in Ithaca, for Northern Schools Federal Credit Union. My By partnering with the Alaska Business New York who eagerly accepted the cross- Master’s Thesis was on “The Perception and Developm,ent Center (ABDC) at the cultural “adventure” and an opportunity to Experiences of Welfare Recipients on Welfare University of Alaska, Anchorage, and volunteer and share their skills to help Reform” which was completed in December 2003. leveraging funding from the Athabascan others. Originally when I worked for the State of Self-sufficiency Assistance Partnership The ASAP program spent a total of Alaska Public Assistance Office I was out-stationed (ASAP) program (the region’s Tribally $98,000 in contracted services with ABDC here at TCC for a year to help with the ASAP administered Temporary Assistance for during the 2004 tax season. A total of 807 program working along side the TCC Eligibility Needy Families program) TCC has been individual tribal members from 552 separate Specialists. I have lived in the Fairbanks since 1979 able to provide tax preparation services in households in 31 Tribal communities having raised two children here and now have six 31 targeted Tribal communities. The project benefited from the TCC, EITC program in grandchildren residing in Fairbanks. We are fortunate to have four generations living here excludes communities where local tax 2004. $568,184 was distributed to these low in addition to my parents. I am looking forward to working with the Tribes to help guide preparers were available. income households in Earned Income Tax families meeting their everyday needs as well as achieving long-term self-sufficiency. You Under contract with TCC, ABDC Credits. The IRS received $32,434 in tax can contact me toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3457 or by email recruits volunteer business students in good collections also as a result of the project. at [email protected]. academic standing and trains them in tax Plans are in the making to expand this preparation. The ASAP program covers the program for low income working families New Language cost of transportation and lodging expenses by linking the EITC Tax Preparation services associated with getting the students out to program to Individual Development Program Assistant the villages. Accounts. Under such a plan, families who Village residents who receive tax receive these tax credits would be eligible to Nellie Schaeffer was recently hired as the preparation assistance can also participate receive matching dollars for every dollar Language Program Assistant for the Interior in Financial Literacy training provided by they deposit into a special account which is Athabascan Tribal College (IATC). She originally the student tax preparers. Local individuals dedicated to the purchase of their first came on board with TCC in a temporary summer interested in becoming tax preparers are also home, education or training, starting a small position as the Native and Rural Education provided training on how to use tax business or outfitting themselves to Support Specialist. She is responsible for logistic preparation software also provided by the participate in subsistence activities. Call and administrative support related to assisting student instructors. Deborah McCarter toll-free at the IATC Athabascan Language Program 800-478-6822 or locally at The program is intended to provide tax Coordinator. (907) 452-8251 ext. 3366 or email preparation services as well as to increase Nellie was born and raised in Kotzebue, a [email protected] if your local capacity in tax preparation with the northwestern community located 30 miles above village is interested in participating in the intent to create an opportunity for an the Arctic Circle. She worked in the airline industry Earned Income Tax Credit program this for over 20 years and retired from Alaska Airlines additional seasonal income supplement for upcoming tax season. where she worked as a Customer Service Agent. interested local residents. She decided to attend college after completing a nine-month Office Occupations course at the Alaska Technical Center. She began by taking a Morris Thompson Cultural & few college courses at the Chukchi Campus before her thirst for knowledge took to Fairbanks. Three years ago, she moved her family to Fairbanks to attend college full-time to complete her degree. Nellie graduated with a BA in Visitors Center Update Elementary Education from the University of Alaska, Fairbanks in May 2004. By Cindy Schumaker, Project Director, Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center Nellie is the mother of three children. Her daughter Michele Flood also works for TCC as a Data Entry Technician, her son Nolan works at the Red Dog Mine, and her The Congressional Delegation has inserted $6 million for the Morris Thompson youngest son Falcon is in the 7th grade at Randy Smith Middle School. Nellie enjoys Cultural and Visitors Center in the Interior budget. At last word, the budget was in spending time outdoors, camping, and berry picking. Her greatest joy is spending time conference committee, with the expectation that it would be sent to the President for with her grandchildren. signature after the election during the lame duck session. This project got its start when Senator Stevens provided our first planning grant in 2000, and the delegation’s support Nellie is very excited to be working for TCC and enjoys working with the Elders has been consistent since. They do so much for all of Alaska! throughout the region who are working as Language Specialists, Coordinators and Mentors. Nellie can be contacted toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. We have our FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impact) at last! The Federal Highway 3482 or email [email protected]. Administration signed off on our Environmental Assessment in August, after two years of revisions and delays. Thanks to John Hargesheimer, Nortech Environmental, for persevering despite the administrative obstacles, and thanks also to Howard Thies who Alaska Natural Gas pipeline right-of-way kept things moving at Alaska Department of Transportation. The City of Fairbanks has begun the land acquisition process on our preferred site lease over State lands along the Chena River near the Wendell Street Bridge. HDR Alaska, our real estate contractor, By Bob Sattler, Lead Archeologist/Environmental Policy Analyst, Realty has ordered appraisals and is beginning to contact the eight landowners on Block 2. We are hoping for a smooth and speedy acquisition process. I see the Director of Fairbanks The Commissioner of the Department of Natural Resources recently issued a draft Community Mental Health whose office is in the same building as mine regularly. She lease for the construction of a natural gas pipeline over state lands. This proposed lease reports that when we buy their clubhouse along Wendell Street, they will be able to fulfill their dream of a new facility that will finally allow all their programs to be under one roof. does not involve ANCSA corporation lands, Native allotments, or other private and It’s a win-win that we can all feel good about. public lands. Separate agreements would need to be negotiated for these other lands. The Economic Development subcommittee of the Denali Commission has The lease consists of a right-of-way that parallels the Trans-Alaska Pipeline from recommended a grant of $313,000 to the Center. This recommendation requires approval Prudhoe Bay to Delta, and a right-of-way that follows the Alaska Highway to the Canadian by the full commission, but we are heartened by the strong support of Commissioners border. The draft lease can be viewed on the Joint Pipeline Office website http:// Jim Sampson, Julie Kitka, and Mark Hamilton as well as Co-Chairs Jeff Staser and Loren www.jpo.doi.gov. The documents are also in several public libraries across the state: Leman. The Commission and the Center share a common goal—to provide the Noel Wien Library, Tussy Consortium Library, Delta Junction Community Library, underpinnings for economic opportunity in rural villages. Juneau Public Library, Kenai Community Library, Valdez Consortium Library, Tok Hip, hip hurray for the staff of the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau. 100% Community Library, Copper Valley Community Library, and the Anchorage of their staff has made a gift to the Legacy for Progress Campaign. Not to be outdone, the Loussac Library. project Partners are also 100% donors. The message is simple—we all believe in the project and are willing to put money into it. If you aren’t yet a “Friend” it’s time to add This proposed lease is for a right-of-way across State land only and if the project your name to the list. Call me. proceeds the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission will prepare a separate, more thorough environmental impact statement. The federal process requires more intensive There was great passion in the room when project supporters requested a corporate gift from John Shively/Holland America Line. Campaign Vice Chair Rhonda Boyles, consultation with Tribes. TCC is currently working on an invitation to the Federal Energy Richard Wien, Judy Warwick, Steve Thompson, Josephine Huntington, and Julie Biddle Regulatory Commission to convene a Tribal outreach workshop in the region sometime each told Shively in their own words why they believed the Center would be good for this winter. The federal environmental impact statement process is not likely to begin until Fairbanks and the Interior. We await news of the Holland America Line decision. 2006 and will take approximately two years to complete. At best, construction of the Information about the Center is now at your fingertips. Check us out on the web at proposed natural gas pipeline will not begin until around 2008. www.morristhompsoncenter.org. You can also contact Cindy Schumaker, Project Director, For additional information contact Rhea DoBosh of the Joint Pipeline office at toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452.8251 ext. 3895 or email (907) 257-1338, fax 646-5014, or Bob Sattler at TCC Realty at 800-478-6822, ext 3343. [email protected]. DECEMBER 2004 • THE COUNCIL • PAGE 5 CLIENT DEVELOPMENT New Early Childhood Director Tribal Workforce Development My name is Brenda Krupa and I’ve Specialists Training recently joined Tanana Chiefs Conference as the Early Childhood Program Director By Deborah McCarter, ASAP Work Assistance Program Director with Head Start. My parents are Tom and Barbara Bluekens, my paternal grandparents were Fred and Dorothy Bluekens of Everett, Washington; and my maternal grandparents were Leroy and Sally Mayo (originally from Rampart). My husband Timothy and I have two children, Beverly and Bradley. Both are adults now and work for the University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF). Bev is the assistant Volleyball coach and Brad works in Maintenance. My husband and I enjoy our dogs: Duke, a two-year-old fawn Great Dane; and Boo-Boo, our black Pug. They play fight together if you can imagine that! I worked as the Child Development Village participants in case management training for Tribal Program Director for Fairbanks Native Association for over seven years, overseeing the Workforce Development Specialists. Not pictured: Roberta Davis, Head Start/Early Head Start and Parents as Teachers programs. I served five years as a McGrath; Carmelita Haskins, Eagle; and Christina Frank, Venetie. board member for the Northwest Indian Head Start Coalition, with four of those years as The Athabascan Self-Sufficiency Assistance Partnership (ASAP) Program held Tribal chairperson. I was also a delegate to the Regional Coordinating Council of the American Workforce Development Specialists Training in partnership with the Youth Development Indian/Alaska Native Programs Branch of the Head Start Bureau for two years. I am also Specialists on November 8-16. This training was optional for the Tribal Work Force a Head Start Johnson & Johnson Fellow through the University of California, Los Angeles Development Specialists to participate in the pilot training program that will assist our Graduate School of Business. I was recently elected as Chair for the Alaska Head Start office with planning for training and development plans and to identify the best delivery Director’s Association. I hold an Alaska Native Studies degree from UAF, with a minor in approach for upcoming years including some on sight and distance delivery courses. Business Administration. The training focused on case management with certification available from the It is with great pleasure and anticipation that I take on the Early Childhood Program National Career Development Association (NCDA) Career Development Facilitator (CDF) Director position. I can see already that both the Head Start and Infant Learning Program Training. We are looking into options for this as an extensive training program that is have good staff, both at our central office and in the villages. You can contact me toll-free endorsed by the National Employment Counseling Association and the National at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3172. You can also email Association of Workforce Development Professionals. [email protected]. The Career Development Facilitator Training program for front line workforce development staff is a comprehensive training program that consists of a total of 120 hours of instruction, a minimum of 80 in the classroom, and is approved by a number of New Eligibility Specialist job training organizations nationally. The development of this curriculum and credential has been a collaborative effort by the NCDA, National Occupational Information My name is Bryn McElroy and I am Coordinating Committee, National Board of Certified Counselors and the Career the newest Eligibility Specialist for the Development Training Institute at Oakland University. The federal Department of Labor Athabascan Self-Sufficiency Assistance has invested heavily into the development of both the curriculum and the credential over Partnership program (ASAP). I will be the past seven years. As a result, this curriculum is utilized by public and private workforce processing ASAP applications and development organizations throughout the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Australia continuing ongoing cases. and Japan. I am very excited to be able to work for The Career Development Facilitator curriculum consists of training competencies in the ASAP program and look forward to the following areas: meeting everyone. I am returning to the • Overview of the Workforce Development Industry workforce after taking a few years off to be • Developing the Helping Relationship Working with Diverse Populations with my children. My son attends school in • • Ethical Consideration and Seeking Consultation from Supervisors Nenana, and then comes home on weekends • Career Development Theory to join us, and I also have two young • Understanding Assessment and Using Assessment Tools daughters. I was raised in Alaska since I was • Using Labor Market Information and Other Career Information Resources a child, graduating from Lathrop High • Using Technology-Web based, locally stored systems School and having lived in Delta Junction, • Employability Skills, Job Search Strategies, Job Retention Valdez, Nenana and Fairbanks, so I really • Working with Groups love it here. • Working in a Career Center or One Stop • Program Planning and Public Relations Human Services is my passion and I • Special Topics: Welfare to Work, Individuals with Disabilities, Services to really believe in helping others so that they Veterans may lead a better life with self-sufficiency. You may contact me toll-free at 800-478-6822 or Each of the Tribal Work Force Development Specialists and the Youth Development locally at 452-8251 ext.3452 or email me at [email protected]. Specialists that complete the one year long training will receive six college credits dually enrolled with Tanana Chiefs Conference, Interior Athabascan Tribal College and the University of Alaska. All of the students completing the training have been dedicated to completion of the course. Each of them have attended at least two weeks of on site training as well completing Farewell to Marie Simmons numerous distance delivered audio conference classes and completed various assignments, in order for them to receive a satisfactory grade. in Vocational Rehabilitation, she worked as a Health Educator, Family Services Each of the training participants have worked hard to complete the first three credits and I would like to thank each one of them for their hard work and the work that Technician, Developmental Disabilities they do in each of the villages in the region and the families that they serve. Coordinator and with the Indian Child Welfare Act Program. Marie has three daughters, Tamra New Child Protection Program Krykowski, Tiffany Simmons and Teisha Coordinator Simmons. She also has six grandchildren. She is looking forward to spending time My name is Racquel Martinez and I with her grandchildren and family, as well am the new (previous) Child Protection as traveling. Program Coordinator in the Family Services Department. I previously worked Marie has strong ties with her fellow in this position for one and a half years. I coworkers and TCC clients, as well as members of the TCC tribes. She says, “I graduated from University of Alaska, want to thank TCC for the education that Fairbanks with a Bachelor’s degree in has been provided me to fulfill these various Social Work and have over 10 years of Marie Simmons retired from Tanana roles and giving me the honor of serving experience working in the child protection Chiefs Conference on November 29. Marie our Tribal members in the many villages field. I have lived in Fairbanks for over 14 has been working in Family Services as a that I have been blessed to travel and work years and have been fortunate enough to Vocational Rehabilitation Program in.” travel around the state. I am looking Assistant for the last 10 years. The Family Services staff will greatly forward to working with all of my old Marie began her career with TCC in miss Marie and her smiling face; however, colleagues and meeting new staff as well. September 1974 as a Health Aide in Galena we congratulate her on her long and You may reach me toll free at 800- and has worked on and off in various successful career with TCC. We thank her 478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. positions since that time. Before she worked for all her hard work and dedication, and 3360 or email me at wish her all the best in her retirement. [email protected]. PAGE 6 • THE COUNCIL • DECEMBER 2004 HEALTH Office of Environmental Health New Clinical Supervisor Laverne Alexander has recently become Financial Management for Utility a Clinical Supervisor for the Old Minto Family Recovery Camp. She was a village- Managers class based counselor before and enjoyed it very much. She will oversee the clinical activities Held September 13-17 in Tok, Alaska of the Old Minto Recovery Camp and help assure compliance with regulatory agencies as related to the aspects of the program. Laverne provides supervision to the Program Intake Counselor, Continuing Care Counselor, Primary Counselors and Counselors. She also evaluates job performances of professional staff and attends all required training. Laverne says, “I am excited and look forward to the new challenges and new location.” She is married with four children, three of which graduated high school, while the youngest is in 10th grade.

L-R: Wilma Pitka, Beaver; Irene Catalone, DCED Instructor; Myrna The Village Pharmacy Edwin, Chalkyitsik; June Paul, Tetlin; Natalie Baumgartner, McGrath; Eleanor David, Northway; Eileen Kozevnikoff, DCED Instructor; Andy Durny, DCED Instructor; Todd Cook, Cordova; and Fabian Frank, Program Arctic Village. By Theresa Brice, Registered Pharmacologist, and Matilda Dayton, Program Assistant, Health Services The village pharmacy program at Chief insurance which only pays for 30 days of New Optician for TCC Andrew Isaac Health Center serves the needs medications. In these cases, we would like of the patients in the Tanana Chiefs the patient to continue to use the VRF Eye Clinic Conference region. Theresa Brice, a program and call in for monthly refills. My name is Frances Sanchez and I joined pharmacist, has worked at the pharmacy After the patient and health aide has the TCC Eye Clinic as an Optician on October since 1991 and for the past three years has filled out the VRF and mailed it to Chief 18. As an Optician, I maintain the inventory of been coordinating the village pharmacy Andrew Isaac Health Center, a Pharmacy frames and contact lenses, as well as fit and program. This program includes two areas staff person acquires the patient’s chart and dispense frames for customers. of focus. The first area is the chronic village screens it for any health need. For example, I am originally from New Mexico and came medication refill (VRF) program and the the patient’s blood work is checked to see if to Alaska with the military. I served for 10 years second area is the Health Aide/Clinic supply. it is normal, within goals and up to date. as an Eye Technician and was a Staff Sergeant The VRF program has always been The drug list is reviewed to ensure the at the time I got discharged. My husband Frank used at Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center. patient is taking the right medications. The and I have been married for five years and we It has its origins at the old Tanana Hospital. last clinic/physician visit is noted to have two wonderful boys, Anthony and David. We are always improving and updating this determine if there is any care needed. A file I am looking forward to a long stay with TCC program. The VRF program today is is kept for each doctor so that when they and learning more about the Tribal community. customized to fit each individual patient. It travel to the village, they can be sure to see You may contact the Eye Clinic toll-free at is linked to the Community Health Aide the patients that need care. 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. Manuals (CHAM) so that health aides can The other area of focus is the Health 3220 for an appointment. offer patient education for wellness and Aide/Clinic supply. The pharmacy provides specific disease states. The VRF directs the medications used by health aides in the Do you have information to share with our member Tribes? The deadline Health Aide to ask questions that screen for clinic. Joanna Stanford is the pharmacy to submit information is the 2nd Friday of each month for the following month’s progression of disease and possible adverse technician who covers this area. Health aides newsletter. For November, the deadline is October 8. For more, contact Ginger reactions to drugs. do monthly inventories of clinic supplies, Placeres,Editor, toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3227. Go Every month the VRF program refills checks for outdated medication and then to www.tananachiefs.org, click the “Newsletter Archives and Information” button. one third of all rural chronic medications. the Pharmacy sends replacement stock. The goal is to provide three months of For more information, you may chronic medication to patients so that they contact the Pharmacy toll-free at 800-478- do not run out of daily medications. The 6822 or locally at (907) 451-6682 ext. 3620. Please Accept Our Apology exceptions to this are patients that have An exciting time for Chief Andrew Office of Environmental Health Isaac Health Center Boiler Maintenance Class Pharmacy Held October 5-7 in Fairbanks, Alaska TCC’s Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center (CAIHC) is among the first of the Indian Health Service and Tribal Health sites to implement the Electronic Health Records (EHR). As a result, your pharmacy is changing computer systems. This has begun October 14. We want to apologize ahead of time for an increase in the waiting time, and we want to thank you for your patience and understanding. Changing our computer system will allow our providers to serve you better with an Electronic Health Record. This will solve the problems of missing and hard to find charts, allowing us to serve you better. As we move ahead – we take the knowledge from our past – apply it to the possibilities of today – make a better future for tomorrow. Technological Advances During the next two months, CAIHC will be preparing for a major ‘remodeling’ of Standing L-R: Hugh Bifelt, Isaac Peter, Tracy Gray, Michael Peter, Greg Ratzlaff, how patient health information is documented, protected, and shared. Paper health records, Stanley Taylor, Tod Kozevnikoff, Dirk Moeller, Kenny Thomas, Jr., Wayne pharmacy, and lab orders will begin to disappear. Instead of writing in your Patient Cowart, and Zeb Cadzow. Kneeling L-R: George Yatlin,William Ahkiviana, and Health Record, you will see your doctors, nurses, and pharmacists directly entering your Darrell Sam. visit information into a computer. This effort and investment of time and money is being done to increase patient safety through state-of-the-art documentation, improved pharmacy efficiency with direct prescription ordering, and improved security of your health information by control of EHR access. During this time, like with any ‘remodeling’, there will be times that it will seem like a mess, there will be some delays in visit times, your doctors and nurses may seem to move L-R: Dirk Moeller, a little slower. We have a good vision of how the quality of your health services will George Yatlin, and improve once we have implemented and efficiently use the Electronic Health Record, and, Kenny Thomas, Jr. for this reason, our staff asks for your understanding and cooperation during our ‘remodeling.’ DECEMBER 2004 • THE COUNCIL • PAGE 7 HEALTH Influenza vaccine New Community Health Aide By Betty Pixley Registered Nurse, Immunization Coordinator, Program Secretary Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center My name is LaVerne Schäfer and I have recently re-joined Health Services as the We have received several hundred more Although the flu season has been Community Health Aide Program’s doses of influeenza vaccine. This year, the relatively light this year, our long winters (CHAP) Secretary. I am from Ruby/ flu vaccine is still being reserved for those and indoor social activities can be conducive Fairbanks, my parents are Lilli Sweetsir of people that are ‘High Risk” for developing for spreading respiratory infections. Ruby and William (Bill) Dozette of Nenana/ very serious complications, such as Remember to always cover your mouth Fairbanks, my grandparents are the late hospitalization, from the flu. High Risk whenever you cough or sneeze, to wash your Mary and Paul Peters of Ruby and Nulato, conditions include: diabetes, liver, kidney, hands as soon as possible after sneezing or the late Howard Shade of Oregon/Nenena heart or lung disorders, pregnant women coughing, and to always wash your hands and the late Nina and Luka (Louis) Dozet and children 6 months to 23 months of age. before preparing food or eating. Exercising, of Nenana and Slovenia. My husband All people with asthma, all people 50 years eating properly including a diet with fruits Gerhard and I have a son Christian, who is of age or older, and anyone with a weakened and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, and 10-years-old and a daughter Cheyenna, immune system for any reason should also getting adequate sleep all help to increase who is 8-years-old. Gerhard is from ask their provider for the vaccine. Some of your immune system’s ability to fight all Lauterbach, Germany, resulting in our these people should also receive the types of infections. Blueberries and salmon family being very multicultural, which I love. Pneumonia vaccine every 6 years. are two of the best sources of antioxidants. We travel to Ruby often and to Germany If you are high risk for respiratory For more information, contact Betty every two years. I enjoy history and learning infections, get a flue shot at your next visit Pixley toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at about family ancestry. with your clinic provider; you may call (907) 451-6682 ext. 3676. Previously, I worked in the health field as a Dental Assistant/ Dental Health Aide for CAIHC to make an appointment many years. I began my career at the Galena Health Center and worked the last several specifically to receive a vaccine. years at TCC Dental Clinic until last January, so I have a considerable amount of experience working with our health aides and health practitioners. th Matilda Dayton celebrates 20 My focus will be performing data entry for CHAP training sessions, maintaining health aide training files and data bases. I will also prepare training notices, reports, plans, work anniversary applications for certification, re-certification, and upgrades, tracking CHAP salary, budget By Susie Frantz, Executive Secretary, Health Services information and assisting in preparation quarterly State Grant reports. I will be responsible for generating the CHAP newsletter. I will also be responsible for inventory and ordering Dixon was the CAIHC Director. This made supplies. I look forward to assisting our health aides and practitioners in providing the a big difference; they didn’t have to try to best care for our villages. decode messages on the teletype machine Tanana Chiefs Conference is a great place to work and I want to thank everyone, anymore. Changes in technology since her especially the Health Services staff for being so helpful and welcoming me back to work. early days in the 80’s as a Secretary are You can contact me toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 451-8251 ext. 3400 or astounding. Matilda has noticed a lot of email [email protected]. change in technology, growth in the Native population, our organization, staff and facilities. January Matilda says “When TCC took over January 10-14 management of the clinic it gave us more Stevens Village & Hughes Dental Travel control. It eliminated having to complete forms requesting permission to do January 17-21 Schedule everything. They didn’t need to seek Stevens Village & Rampart approval from Anchorage, decisions could January 24-28 be made right here. This was a great change For more information, because all patient travel could now be Northway, Galena, & Hughes call toll-free approved by the CAIHC Director, among January 31-Feb. 4 800-478-6822 or Matilda is a Program Assistant for the other things. TCC was also able to put funds locally (907) 452-8251 TCC Health Services Department, at the Al where they felt they were needed most, Huslia, Northway, & Galena ext. 3200. Ketzler Sr. Building in Fairbanks. Staff at creating a lot of new programs.” Health Services celebrated Matilda’s 20th Matilda shared some of the funniest work anniversary on September 28. work moments she remembers over the Outside of work here at TCC, Matilda years. Once she forgot something at work Sister Roberta’s Visit and Jim Lord have three adult/nearly adult and had to go back to get it. “I walked into kids, Wesley, James, and Jami. The two the waiting room and the janitor was there Sister Roberta Downey paid a visit to friends youngest are still in High School. Matilda’s with his headset on dancing up a storm. He and co-workers here in Fairbanks on October parents are Roger and Annie Dayton of had some really surprising and jerky moves. 19. A potluck luncheon was held in her honor at Koyukuk. She has eight siblings, four When he realized I was there he was so the Chief Andrew Isaac Health Center (CAIHC). brothers and four sisters. Matilda was born embarrassed. Another time my uncle Over 50 people came to visit with Sister at the in a tent on a trapline in -50º weather, Franklin Pitka from Galena was at the clinic. clinic that day. Friends who could not be there delivered by her father, 100 miles above His nickname is Iron Man. I was doing a sent letters that her good friend and co-worker, Koyukuk. travel authorization for him. When I came Josephine Malemute read aloud to her and those out of my office he was quite a ways down gathered at the luncheon. Jim Kohler, CAIHC Matilda started her career twenty years Director, recognized her work as the Village ago as a Federal employee serving as a a hall filled with patients. I hollered and waved, Iron Man, I have your TA. You Health Liaison and for her efforts in numerous Technician in the Medical Records areas such as the March of Dimes, Patient Hostel, Department for the IHS ANHS clinic in should have seen the reaction I got from those patients in the hall…” for those in the Hospital. Sister’s kindness, Fairbanks. This clinic became the Chief prayers and friendly visits to those ill and in the Andrew Isaac Health Center in 1984 when In 1996 Matilda moved to the hospital are greatly missed. Harold “Buddy” Tanana Chiefs Conference took over Counseling Center to work as their Office Mathilda Huntington welcomes Brown also paid tribute to Sister Roberta, management. Back then she says the clinic Manager. Here she did encounter forms, Sister Roberta during her visit. showing appreciation for her work by presenting wasn’t as busy as it is now. She checked in coding and typed dictation from the her with a birch bark basket filled with Alaskan-made appetizers. Sister returned to West patients at the counter, pulled their medical providers at the Counseling Center. She also Hartford Connecticut just a couple days after her visit. There she will continue with records, did patient travel, etc. She said that did a lot of research for studies completed treatment for her illness. Cards and letters can continue to be sent to her at: Sister Roberta once she even escorted a patient to there. Matilda learned how to code various Downey, 27 Park Road, West Hartford, CT 06119 Anchorage. diagnoses rapidly, and seeking frequent In 1983 Matilda moved from being a assistance from another coder, Lilly Medical Records Tech to being the Secretary Sommer. Work at the Counseling Center assists in other clerical support including work. It is hard to see good people leave, for the ANHS Clinic Director, Tom helped her learn of many other kinds of taking minutes for other meetings as like when Dr. James retired and seeing Sister Hartrich. Back then they used IBM Selectric illnesses aside from physical illnesses, requested. Matilda has taken minutes for Roberta leave due to her illness.” These are typewriters, having to copy and manually bringing out her compassion for those that Ft. Yukon Subregional meetings held in the hardest for her as her favorite thing at send correspondence to everyone copied. seek counseling services. Fairbanks for the past 15 consecutive years. work is the people she works with. She feels They also had a teletype machine in their Today Matilda does travel for various Here she gets to know the people from other camaraderie among her peers and fortunate office that received coded messages from Health Staff, especially for the regions, learns of their issues and sees how to work with people that want to see she Anchorage ANHS that they had to decode. Environmental Health and Remote different Tribes in the region work together and others achieve, encouraging success in Going from IBM typewriters to computers Maintenance Workers. She also does the to benefit Tribes. their work. Happy 20th Anniversary in the late 80’s allowed her to produce more monthly Health Calendar, Safety Looking back Matilda reports “serious Matilda! work in a shorter amount of time. Fax Committee minutes, Policy Committee times come and go but don’t outweigh the machines came in the early 90’s, when Mim minutes, writes articles for The Council and happy memories that I have had here at PAGE 8 • THE COUNCIL • DECEMBER 2004 YOUTH EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING Career Corner Tribal Civilian Community Corps- Our Future Leaders Anthropology: a study of people By Casey Hann, Youth Employment and Training Manager By Casey Hann, Youth Employment and Training Manager TCC’s Tribal Civilian The study of anthropology cultivates Because laws now exist that require critical thinking, reading, and writing skills archaeological preservation whenever Community that are essential to a good liberal arts roads and other construction are Corps (TCCC) education and useful in a variety of proposed, students studying archaeology began its fourth careers such as teaching, public affairs, can prepare for jobs in cultural resource year of service human resources, social services, the arts, management—the recovery of October 6, 2004. business, and politics. archaeological materials threatened by Thirty members In anthropology, the concept of modern construction activities. Still other from the TCC “culture” provides an important tool that careers for anthropologists include region and beyond helps us interpret human events and positions with museums and research have taken a first conditions by digging into the underlying institutions. step on an exciting meanings of what is happening in the Here in Alaska, the opportunities are adventure of world. Anthropology can help people endless for becoming an Anthropologist. education, recognize their own cultural assumptions You can study narrative and discourse employment and and limitations because it provides them analysis, art history of the northwest coast with a broad perspective based on studies of North America, Alaskan Native, Eskimo service to our of different ways of life in different times and Inuit art of the historical and communities. The and places. Private and government contemporary periods, Inuit/Yup’ik program is TCCC Corps members Laura Minerva, Jared Gregg and Alen agencies hire anthropologists for their ethnography, social organization and designed for Tucket making new friends during the first day of program. research and analytical skills. ethnohistory of Siberia and Alaska, Alaska Native, Members were learning about TCC employment programs. Government agencies and private anthropological study of children, history Native American corporations employ cultural of ethnography and circumpolar and Native Hawaiian young adults between the ages of 18-26 who are interested in gaining anthropologists as consultants in dealing exploration, socio-legal studies; culture educational and vocational opportunities and who wish to help their communities. with foreign countries and other cultures. and politics, ritual and symbolism and so Corps members travel to the Nenana campus and perform community service Programs such as the Peace Corp and the much more. Agency for International Development projects for 9 months. The projects range from mentoring youth in a remote village to Anthropology is an exciting career building structures and assisting at events like AFN. Corps members receive extensive regularly require the expertise and skills that can take you anywhere! What are you held by cultural anthropologists.Students training to perform the different tasks and even receive college credit for many of the waiting for? Contact TCC’s Youth activities. They live in very comfortable dorms with gymnasium area, recreational activities with an emphasis in biological Employment and Training Department anthropology often pursue careers in for more information and guidance. and full kitchens. All food and most personal costs are covered by the program. In health professions or in forensic analysis. addition, members receive $100 per week for personal use. When members are not performing community service projects, they are learning new skills and meeting new people. The program requires them to have their high school Youth participate in Elders/Youth diploma or work toward their GED. This year, members will receive training in: ETT First Responder certification, CPR, Red Cross Disaster Management, UAF constructions trades Conference courses, cultural awareness programs, computer vocation, interviewing skills, conflict Another need they identified was to work resolution, drug and alcohol prevention and much more. All courses are provided for free By Rachel Graybeal, YES Coordinator on more projects as a team. to members and many are available for college credit. These are just some of the many TCC’s Sakkaay Neelyil Kk’ Sakkaay Neelyil Kk’ Onheedineeyh, reward to TCCC members. TCCC provides young adults the opportunity to take control Onheedineeyh (Youth Working Together in which is Koyukon Athabascan meaning of their futures. Applications are being accepted. Call (907) 452-8251 ext. 3089 for more Koyukon Athabascan) Youth Council “Youth Working Together,” is TCC’s Youth information. What are you waiting for? traveled to Anchorage to participate in the Council created earlier in the year during Alaska Federation of Natives (AFN) Elders Annual Convention. At that time, they and Youth Conference on October 23-27. learned how TCC operates and were They learned many new things: current oriented on the Youth Council. After issues Alaska Native people face; historical Convention, they participated in bi-weekly events such as Alaska Native Settlement teleconferences. Their term ends March Claims Act (ANSCA); and had the 2005 during TCC’s upcoming Annual opportunity to participate in group Convention. New members will be recruited discussions. One discussion they at the next Convention. participated in was with the University of Having the ability to work with a group Alaska, Anchorage on recruiting young of youth on a regular basis proves people into the medical field, which worthwhile. The members are developing provided them the opportunity to offer leadership skills, learning about current feedback on how best to recruit young issues, various career pathways, and helping people. They also had the opportunity to TCC staff recruit for different evaluate the progress of the Youth Council. opportunities, such as career camps or TCCC Corps members Mike Lasack, Victor Ballot and TCC employee One need they all agreed upon was the need conferences. Evelyn Baldwin discuss the employment and training opportunities to meet more often on a face-to-face basis. provided by the program.

Takotna Spirit Camp Youth Opportunity Program offers scholarships By Amanda Goods, Sakkaay Neelyik Kk’ Onheedineeyh Youth Council Member, Takotna By Adam Demientieff Youth Opportunity Coordinator Picture yourself coasting across the river on a clear day in a boat. You are on your way For the past three years the Youth Youth Opportunity Program at Tanana upriver towards a campsite called Spirit Camp. In Takotna, such a campsite exists 20 miles Opportunity Program has offered higher Chiefs Conference is funded through a sub- upriver from the village. At this camp, the local kids, adults and Elders stay in tents and cabins for a week. One of the activities includes taking field trips into the woods behind the education scholarships to youth enrolled contract with Cook Inlet Tribal Council cabin to look at all the creeks and plants. Another favored activity is the Campfire Chat. from Allakaket, Holy Cross, Huslia, Kaltag, from the U.S. Department of Labor. Fall All the camp members and volunteers sit around the campfire with an eagle feather. When Minto, Northway, Nulato and Venetie. 2004 scholarship recipients are: you have the eagle feather, everyone else is required to be quiet and listen to you describe Youth receiving scholarships are attending Estelle McGinty the best thing that happened to you that year or talk about the things that you are UAF, UAA, Alaska Pacific University, Fort Duane Burnham thankful for. Lewis College, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical Ava Vent University, and Southwestern Indian Melanie Wholecheese At Spirit Camp, you can go fishing, swimming, berry-picking, plant identifying, Polytechnic Institute. Shelly Agnes animal track identifying, canoeing, paddle boating, water-skiing, regular game playing Glenn Marunde and of course work around camp. Camp work also known as, “Camp Chores,” include To be eligible for the scholarship, you Jamie Marunde helping the camp cook, cleaning around camp, putting up tents, hauling water, chopping must: be enrolled into the Youth Monica Garcia wood, doing dishes, wake-up duty and Opportunity Program from one of the Grace Stickman serving the Elders. Spirit Camp takes villages listed above, fill out the scholarship place the first week of school, application before posted deadline, provide Jonathan Sommer incorporating the camp as a part of the an acceptance letter from institution of Harold Walker school curriculum. From getting ready attendance, maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better Amber Bradley for camp, to taking part in all the activities and provide any other information Teri Vent and chores, to taking down camp, Spirit requested from the Youth Opportunity Trisha Madros Camp is fun, educational and Program central staff members. Lena Aloysius Jordanna Esmailka memorable. Hopefully it will be around Higher education scholarships are for many more years and for many more available for full-time and part-time For more information please contact people to enjoy. students. The amount available and Kimberly Carlo, Youth Employment frequency of individual scholarship awards Specialist at (800) 478-6822 extension 3418. Amanda Goods of Takotna. are dependent upon program funding. The DECEMBER 2004 • THE COUNCIL • PAGE 9 SUBREGIONAL NEWS Lower Yukon Subregional Tanana Chiefs Conference Advisory Board Meeting 14th Annual Agricultural Fair By Phillip J. Demientieff Sr., Director, Lower Yukon Subregion By Rosalie Wulf, Agricultural Fair Committee Member The Lower Yukon Subregional Advisory Board meeting was held in Shageluk on The Tanana Chiefs Conference 14th Annual Agricultural Fair was held in Holy Cross November 4. The delegates included Carl Jerue, Jr., Gabriel Nicholi, Eugene Paul, and from September 10-12. There were a total of 17 fun-filled events for all age groups. All Clarence Painter. There were also tribal and council members, and youth who attended. with 1st, 2nd and 3rd place cash prizes. Congratulations to all the winners and those who Carl Jerue Jr. was selected Chairman and Marvin Deacon did the invocation. participated. We had some exhibits on display, they included: fresh vegetables, hand- The delegates heard reports from Alaska Department of Fish and Game staff. Randy made crafts, photos, preserved foods, dried salmon and plants. The grand prize winner of Rodgers reported on Moose Management Plan for 21(E), Caroline Brown reported on the exhibits went to Clayton Turner, 13, for his birch bark basket. Thank you to all who Subsistence Division Update (each year a staff member visits each village to collect entered their exhibits. We also had some tables available for anyone who had some goods information on fish and big game). John Burr reported on the Pike Study (non-salmon for sale. and other species). On behalf of the Agricultural Fair committee, I would like to give a big thank you to The delegates heard a report from Marvin Deacon, Field Supervisor for the Yukon the following agencies that made this year’s fair successful: Holy Cross Tribal Council, Kuskokwim Health Corporation. Yukon Kuskokwim Health Corporation is advertising Tanana Chiefs Conference Central Office, Holy Cross City Council, Bush Tell, Incorporated, for Wellness Counselors in the Villages of Anvik, Grayling and Holy Cross. They also have AT&T Alascom, Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation, Deloycheet, Incorporated, an opening for Elder Counselor. Northern Air Cargo, Evert’s Air, HC Tribal Store, Doyon Limited, Innoko Wildlife Refuge, Patricia’s Place, Zho-Tse Incorporated and the Community of Holy Cross. Thank you all The delegates passed a resolution to direct Tanana Chiefs Conference to conduct a so very much! study on Health Services for the four villages in the Lower Yukon Subregion. The delegates also heard from Tanana Chiefs Conference staff: Harold “Buddy” Brown, President, Would like to also say thank you to the reported and updated the delegates on the internal and external issues affecting the Tanana following individuals/agencies who Raffle winners: Chiefs Conference region. Charlene Ostbloom, Corporate Communications Director volunteered to coordinate games, judge the Anchorage Plane Ticket – Judi Walker reminded the delegates about the village banners, which were due December 10. The exhibits and sell raffle tickets: Judi Walker, banners will be hung on Wendell Street in Fairbanks during the Tanana Chiefs Conference Angela Demientieff, Phillip Demientieff Sr., Smoker - Ed Richards Jr. convention through the Alaska Federation of Natives Convention in October 2005. Robin LaVerne Turner, Margaret St. John, LeAnn Hunting Box – Beverly Turner Renfroe, Chief Administrative Officer reported on the Subregional Director evaluation. Samuelson, Tina Gregory, Heidi Sutter, VHF(base) – Ray Turner Jerry Woods, Tribal Employment Rights Officer, briefly discussed issues that were affecting Darren Lee, Brenda Sims, Ryan Demientieff, Drum of Oil – John Sims Jr. the Lower Yukon Subregion that he is working on. Evan Newman, Eva Edwards, Margie Drum of Gas – Betty Johnson Edwards, Mathew Burkett, Vaska Gregory, Grass Cutter – Mary Sims Donlin Creek Mine (Yukon-Kuskokwim Port Road Project), reminded the delegates Jeff Bader and there were many youth who (if they haven’t submitted yet), that public comments were due by December 10. Phillip assisted with setting up the community hall Six-person Tent –Elsie Sims Demientieff Sr., Subregional Director presented his report to the delegates. The delegates for the exhibits and potluck(thanks to all Chainsaw - Teddy Edwards have directed the Lower Yukon Subregional Office to coordinate a four-village Cultural who cooked and brought food). Thank you Food Saver - Theresa Demientieff Camp for next year. The delegates presented their village reports. The main concern they volunteers and to those individuals that I Pressure Cooker - Gabriel Edwards Jr. discussed was the alcohol issue-there is no enforcement. There is the Local Option Law, did not mention! Thanks to everyone who Beaded Cross - Betty Johnson which limits the amount each person can bring in; the Tribes have to work with the city made the 14th Annual Agricultural Fair a Moose hide - Sandra R. Demientieff councils to address this issue. Another concern was the fuel shortage in two of the four success and we look forward to making next Afghan - Mary Sims villages; TCC is working on this and will report back to the villages. The time and place of year’s Agricultural Fair a success as well. next meeting will be in Fairbanks, prior to the TCC Convention in March 2005. On behalf of the Tribal Councils of Anvik, Yukon Flats Subregional Grayling and Holy Cross, I would like to say “thank Advisory Board Meeting you” to the village of By Mary Beth Solomon, Director, Yukon Flats Subregion Shageluk for hosting this year’s Lower Yukon The Yukon Flats Subregion Advisory funding. It was shared that any village can Subregional Advisory Board of Directors met in Chalkyitsik invite the Denali Commission to their village Board meeting and to the October21-22. It was a snowy day this to meet with the people so they can guests that attended and October afternoon as we waited at the Fort understand the process to getting funds for reported to the Tribes. We Yukon airport for our airplane to arrive a village clinic or a regional health clinic. appreciate the hospitality from Fairbanks. Arriving on the Fairbanks Another issue was the lack of law that Shageluk has shown flight included Robin Renfroe, Chief enforcement in the village. Although us. Thank you. Administrative Officer, and Charlene Chalkyitsik voted to become a dry village, Ostbloom, Corporate Communications Shageluk youth attend the Lower Yukon Subregional Advisory Board Meeting. the people still need to develop their tribal Director of the Tanana Chiefs Conference. court system and needs a Village Police Then we continued onto Chalkyitsik and Safety Officer to help enforce laws. arrived there around three o’clock. Also another concern was the lack of Preserving memories A separate airline was chartered to fly young people that are unemployed and around the subregion to pick up the without any type of training to obtain village advisory board members from Beaver, jobs. It was suggested that the Education of the past Birch Creek, Circle, Venetie and Arctic Department look to help fund the young By Kathy Snow, Administrative Assistant, Upper Kuskokwim Subregion Village. However due to the heavy people with a stipulation that they work at snowstorm occurring in Arctic Village, the home for at least one year. Karen Ladegard, working through Interior Aleutian Campus of the University of airplane was not able to stop there so the flight continued onto Chalkyitsik without The meeting ended around six o’clock Alaska, Fairbanks, obtained a HUD grant to build a museum in McGrath. The museum for a community potlatch for all to visit is being built as an extension to the Iditarod Area School District Building and should be our Arctic Village, Venetie and Arctic Village youth delegates. and eat a good dinner. The community completed by the end of October. To gather pictures and oral history of McGrath, Karen members prepared and cooked a variety of hosted an “old photograph party” on September 24-25. Local residents were encouraged The Yukon Flats Subregion Advisory meat and side dishes for us. Thank you to to bring old photos to be scanned for display in the museum and to record stories of Board meeting started at four o’clock with all the village council staff, the cooks, the people and activities that took place in McGrath a long time ago. McGrath Native Village five members present and three absent that drivers and the young people who took Council provided meals, which were established a quorum. Prior to the opening good care of us while we were in their village. exercises, we were honored with the presence cooked by Dawn Magnuson. TCC The next morning, everyone met at the employees Lucille Magnuson and of the Reverend Chief Dr. David Salmon, who lives in Chalkyitsik. tribal office to reconvene the board meeting Kathy Snow provided rides for the forPresident Harold “Buddy” Brown’s mid- Elders who participated. Rose Reverend Chief Dr. David Salmon gave year report. The conference lasted for about Winkelman, Helen (Esai) Rathbun, the opening prayer and gave his welcome two hours then we went back to the Anne Egrass, Ann Demientieff, Marie statement to the visitors and the local community hall to finish our remaining Dementoff and Cecilia Andrews were people. Chief Salmon emphasizes that our agenda items. There were several questions the Elders who brought pictures. Sally culture and traditional knowledge must be for Buddy. In conclusion, Nancy James, Turner was an “honorary” Elder as preserved and passed on to our future Fort Yukon gave a healing prayer in Gwich’in. she took the place of her mother, Mary Oddin, Ann Egrass, Cecelia Andrews, and generations through hands-on experiences. Katherine Turner, who is in the The young people need to see the actual The meeting reconvened at the Dena Andrews (back to camera). Pioneer Home in Anchorage. Many product being created and have a chance to Community hall to finish off the remaining people helped in the scanning of pictures and recording of stories. Local historians Ray create these themselves in order for our agenda items. After, the regional health and Sally Collins, along with Dean O’Dell, Sarah Hanuske-Hamilton, Mary Odden, John culture and language to become preserved shares program was discussed and and LaRae Gray, Cole Clancy, Francis Mitchell and Donna MacAlpine Miller helped copy and used naturally by our future generation. directions given to the subregion director, the meeting concluded. and scan photos and interview elders about the photos. Since some of the “old-timers” The community members of were out moose hunting and could not participate, there will be at least one more old Chalkyitsik participated in the opening Thanks once again to the community photograph party at a later date. Anyone who comment period. The issue at hand was the members, the cooks, the drivers and the used to live in the McGrath area and has old health service delivery provided by the youth of the village who attended the pictures or stories they might like to share is Tanana Chiefs Conference. Also, the meeting or helped out with the potlatch. encouraged to contact Karen at (907) 524-3074 members discussed their health clinic needs You guys are awesome and keep up the or you can call the TCC office in McGrath toll- and a need for an itinerant health aide to good work. Enjoy yourself and your people free at 800-478-3007 and we will put you in give the primary health aide time off. and especially continue to have fun while touch with her. helping your community. There were concerns regarding the Sarah Hanuske-Hamilton and Marie Yukon Flats Health Clinic building proposal Dementoff. submitted to the Denali Commission for PAGE 10 • THE COUNCIL • DECEMBER 2004 SUBREGIONAL NEWS Rose Isaac and Lorrie New Minto Village Counselor Grube visit Eagle Miriam Titus started as Minto Village Counselor in mid-November. By Rose Isaac, Director, Upper Tanana Subregion Miriam is the daughter of Luke and Alice Lorrie Grube, PA/CI’ last day of Titus of Minto, Luke is also a former employment was September 17. She Minto Village Counselor. Miriam is a needed to visit Eagle Village Clinic. Isaac graduate of the University of Alaska, Juneby, first Chief of Eagle Village Fairbanks (UAF) Rural Human Services Council and I agreed that I would visit Program and earned her Bachelor’s of Eagle too, before the snow flies! So Lorrie Science in Social Work from UAF in Grube and I went to Eagle on September 2000. She has been working at Old Minto 1. I met with Eagle village community Family Recovery Camp since 2000 as a and some council members. We Donna Westphal, Lorrie Counselor and more recently, Aftercare Grube, and JoAnne Beck. discussed the following topic: GOTV – Representatives are Isaac Juneby and Counselor. Ethel Beck, IHS Allowable Cost, Sub-regional Shares, Sub-regional Survey, Upper Tanana She especially anticipates applying Suicide Committee, Upper Tanana Leadership workshop, Upper Tanana Sub-regional herself to making a difference in the lives Advisory Board meeting which will be held on October 8, 2004 in Tetlin and local village of Minto’s youth, and is glad to have hire. the opportunity to move home. Old We left Tok at 8:30 am, it was a beautiful morning until Milepost 1330 or so when we Minto will miss her, but they recently got into smoke so thick that we could not see a thing in front of us! After about ten miles welcomed Yukon-Tanana Counseling Services’s former Minto Village Counselor, of it, we finally got out of the smoke. It was good the rest of the way. The land once full of Laverne Alexander, as their new Clinical Supervisor. Laverne also graduated from the trees, Birch, Alder, Willow, and others are now blackened from the summer forest fires! Rural Human Services Program (RHSP)and was then invited on the basis of merit Thousands of acres of devastation which was so heart-breaking and sad to see! Blueberry and promise to be a mentored co-instructor for RHSP while working on her Bachelor’s picking areas were nothing but blackened ashes! Who owns these acres and acres of land? of Science in Social Work. The position at Old Minto will give her a great chance to Who is responsible for allowing this to have happened? This “let it burn” policy has done so much damage, one can only wonder how much natural resources has been lost. How stretch and grow, and meant a move for her from home to Fairbanks. We’re fortunate long does it take for one tree to grow? to have these two Native women on staff. They are the future of professional Native counseling services in the TCC Region. We were approximately 70 miles from Eagle village when we had a flat tire! Thank you to the gentleman, John, who stopped and changed the tire for us! Prior to leaving Eagle on September 2, I visited some people in the village: Ruth Ridley, (visiting from Fairbanks), Ethel Beck, Bertha Ulvi, Matthew and Martha Malcolm (two Elders). It was good to visit Martha and Eagle village and see some friends. Matthew Malcom.

Dan David Ethel Beck and Bertha Ulvi.

Marriage at Midlife:Crisis or Celebration? By Dennis Hojna, Director, Yukon-Tanana Counseling Services Midlife is talked about, written about, have some happiness and we all have some best shot. But one day, the lines in our faces, possibility may still exist that this is the researched about and joked about. One emotional baggage. And this baggage plays the spare tire and the gray hair or lack of it, person we can truly go with, to the place thing for sure is that it’s bound to come itself out in our most important adult going into a room for the third time unable where no one goes alone. about. In sailing terms, to “come about” is relationships – first, with spouses, and to remember why… signal that midlife has If you’ve been hanging on my every to change direction, usually about 90 second, with our children. arrived. Usually by this time if we have not word, off a cliff at the end of your rope, degrees. Straight ahead is now sideways. And With spouses, we go through the initial done the exhausting personal and marital perhaps it’s your time of danger…and that’s how many folks feel in midlife – like romance stage during which anyone can rise work necessary to be personally content and opportunity. Perhaps you could use some they’re going sideways. I heard a teacher above their baggage. Good thing, or else no intimate while having healthy boundaries information, reassurance or assistance. say that the two most important questions one would ever get married! Once that stage and straight communication, we are weary. There are many good books about working a man or woman can ask themselves are: passes, FedEx arrives with our baggage, and If we have been medicating or are addicted, on marriage and self. One of my favorites “Where am I going?” and “Who am I going then we start the real work of relating and the medicating no longer works or the is Coupleship by Sharon Wegsheider-Cruse with?” Those usually get answered in early negotiating as one imperfect, wounded and addiction throws us to the mat. It’s time for or go online to www.onsiteworkshops.com. adulthood, and they pop up again in midlife. brilliant soul to another. They say there is a change. Another website full of excellent resource This is the midlife crisis we all hear about. no accident as to a choice of spouse, and I Not that all marriages are meant to be. information is www.gottman.com. There ‘Am I going with my present partner, a young have found it to be true. Somehow water If partners grow close enough to the same are therapists trained in couples counseling, blonde cutie or hunk, a sports car or always seeks its own level, and we will find rate, then they both grow and the marriage and even short-term intensive residential supersonic snowmachine, all of the above, or someone about as wounded and as whole grows. If one partner grows and changes programs that can give a first-class am I even willing to keep going at all?’ After as we are, although the issues won’t look and the other doesn’t or regresses, then the diagnosis and plan for a troubled marriage. all, no man is an island…he or she is a the same. Scott Peck said that a primary space between them eventually forces the I’d advise trying one of the above before peninsula. reason that people get married is for the healthier partner to either regress or leave. throwing in the towel. Or else, you might What’s the big deal? Life. We can let a friction. That’s the good news and the bad And here’s where a Japanese concept comes find yourself with a new partner – and the lot slide while we’re young and believe we news. In the exhausting work of marriage, in handy. “Crisis” in Japanese is spelled with same old country song, eventually. The fact have plenty of time. Things can be “good we have usually mysteriously selected a the symbol for “Danger”…and the symbol of the matter is – wherever you go – there enough.” We can find ways to distract person who will most help bring out both for “Opportunity.” If we are miserable at you are. And, if nothing changes, then ourselves from the people, places and things our weaknesses and our strengths. It is said this stage of the game, it can be intensely nothing changes. that are bothersome. Then, we hit our 40’s that in marriage a person goes where no appealing to blame our spouse instead of The best news is for last. If the “issues and 50’s. We realize we don’t have forever, one goes alone. We will see ourselves fail asking ourselves what we have failed to face in the tissues” get faced, then midlife can and each day seems more precious. What and shine in our partner’s eyes in ways we up to until this point, or what we as a couple truly be a celebration. By now we know what have I accomplished so far? Am I having fun would never see if single. That gives us the have failed to face or resolve. The bad news we like and don’t like, and what truly trips yet? And one morning, we look over at the opportunity to confront our wounds and is that you can’t ‘teach an old dog new tricks’ our triggers. A lot of the hard work is done. person sleeping next to us, and ask ourselves weaknesses and grow, or else avoid them – but who said anything about being old? We can ask ourselves if we’re having fun yet if we’re a genius or if we made a big mistake. through the use of medicating obsessions, The latest brain research has revealed that – and take some hard-earned time and They may start to look like our best friend compulsions or addictions. Otherwise, exactly in midlife the brain goes through a money and have some. As for me, I’m going or the cause of all our grief. Maybe, we start depression is the alternative. But then we process of laying down new cells and to head down the road with my current to think, “It’s time for a change.” will never know the great joys of marriage, pathways much like it did in adolescence. partner, only now it’s time for us to cruise Well, maybe it is. The question is, who of living and playing with our best friend We have the opportunity to learn, expand in that old Porsche I’ve always wanted. It’s or what needs to change? To answer that, and cheerleader. and even go in a whole new direction in our not the solution to my problems; it’s the we need to flashback to our youth. Nobody In the first half of life, we are striving, life. And guess what? Chances are that the reward for facing them. It’s time to hit some had it perfect growing up. They say there achieving and building. It has been said that same partner that has the knack for saying open road, let the engine breathe, and blow were two people at the last international each of us is born with a certain song to just the wrong thing in the wrong voice some carbon out. What would do that for “Adult Children of Normal Healthy sing, known only to us. To the extent that before our first cup of morning coffee is the you? Dennis Hojna is Director/Clinician for Families” conference. That means we all got we eventually realize it and sing it, we best possible partner with which to reassess Yukon Tanana Counseling Services, serving some love, and we all got some abuse and experience joy. Perhaps we have also worked and straighten ourselves and our marriages the villages of the TCC Yukon Tanana neglect. We all coped the way we did with out enough issues involved with intimacy out. We have invested much in each other, Subregion. He can be reached confidentially what we got, and we all learned how to play in marriage to make it workable, if not traveled many miles together, and no one and toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at our cards based on our experience. We all joyous, or else we medicate. We give life our knows us better naked in body or soul. The (907) 452-8251 ext. 3462 or email [email protected]. DECEMBER 2004 • THE COUNCIL • PAGE 11 NEWS FOR OUR PEOPLE Literacy Council of Are you worried Did you know… Ch’eghutsen’s Mission Alaska relocates about your Ch’eghutsen’ provides family The Literacy Council of Alaska (LCA) may have to concentrate on upgrading the driven, collaborative, culturally is entering an exciting time. This month we skills of their present employees to improve appropriate and strength based will be moving to a new facility at 517 productivity. The Conference Board’s child’s services to take part in the healing of Gaffney Road, which will allow all of our report, Turning Skills Into Profit: Economic our children, families and programs to be housed in one building. This Benefits of Workplace Education Programs, behavior? communities through a flexible, move will also give us the space to open a states that according to 98% of employers, Do you feel like you are losing evolving process returning us to our used bookstore. The used bookstore will employee participation in workforce control of your child? Are you worried most basic belief that children are bring in earned income to support our education programs result in at least one about what might happen next? precious. programs, and it will also provide a training organizational benefit and in employees Ch’eghutsen’ is here to help if you facility for residents of Fairbanks to learn gaining at least one skill. have a child whose behavior is making Ch’eghutsen’s Vision real life work experience to better prepare The LCA has provided literacy training, them to work in your you lose sleep. We can meet with you • Healthy babies born to healthy free of charge, to adults and organizations. The and your child to begin to figure out families, nurtured into healthy “The National children in Fairbanks for what is needed. Together we can create workforce experiences the over 30 years. Do you know adulthood bookstore will provide are in Institute for a support (wraparound) team, to help • Building healthy communities that the LCA also advises you make a plan so your child is safe addition to the computer and • Ch’eghutsen’s values Literacy estimates employers who need help in and setting goals. For further workforce preparedness recognizing, as well as • Respect that 11% of the information call one of our offices: training available through solving, literacy problems in • Empowering growth and healing Fairbanks: (907) 479-0673 our computer literacy adult population in their workplace? If you • Joyfully celebrating success while program, our one-on-one or toll-free: 866-470-0673 would like us to help your sharing rewards volunteer programs, and Fairbanks functions Nenana: (907) 832-5208 business improve the literacy • Caring and compassion our cross-age tutoring at the lowest skills of your employees, Huslia: (907) 829-2498 • Building trust and security program. The LCA literacy level.” please contact our trained Koyukuk: (907) 927-2270 • Honored programs strengthen our staff. • Accomplishment students’ skills and abilities, Stevens Village: (907) 478-7100 We thank you for all past contributions Building purposefully, hopeful which result in a more effective workforce or you can email: • and ask for your continued generous for you – which is a continuing need in our [email protected] Connections support of the LCA’s work. Financial community. Did you know that: support is always appreciated, and given The National Institute for Literacy our upcoming changes we are also United States Fish & Wildlife Service Fire Management estimates that 11% of the adult population requesting in-kind support for renovations in Fairbanks functions at the lowest literacy and relocation. If you are interested in Request for Comments level. Even a skill as basic as filling out a job donating items or services, please call us to application is beyond their abilities, which The Koyukuk/Nowitna National Village of Huslia. The hazardous fuels learn more about our needs. Please know makes earning a living wage difficult. It is 100% of your donation will be working for Wildlife Refuge (NWR) would like your reduction work is to lower the risk of estimated that an additional 20% of comments regarding two proposed wildland fire to Huslia. The project would literacy right here in the Greater Fairbanks Fairbanks’ adult population function at the projects for 2005. begin next spring, be done by hand, and area. employ people from Huslia. next lowest literacy level. [The State of The first project involves the prescribed Literacy in America, National Institute for Literacy Council of burning of 13,260 acres of old willow and Maps of the project areas can be Literacy, 2003] These individuals represent grass lakes in the Three Day Slough area examined at the Koyukuk/Nowitna NWR almost a third of the labor force and of Alaska Board of over a five year period. The prescribed office in Galena. Further information your pool of potential job candidates. burning is to improve winter forage for regarding the proposals can be obtained by Directors moose and provide muskrat habitat. The contacting Robert Lambrecht at (907) 656- American businesses lose over $60 burning would occur during the early 1231. billion in productivity each year due to Hugh Richards, President spring and be done by the refuge’s fire Comments should be submitted by employees’ lack of basic reading skills. Lisa Baker management staff using aerial ignition. January 15, 2005 to Koyukuk/Nowitna [National Institute for Literacy. (1998) The Katherine Abel state of literacy in America: Estimates at the The second project involves the NWR, P.O. Box 287, Galena, AK 99741 or Mary Earp removal of brush and trees (hazardous call (907) 656-1231. local, state, and national levels]. Alaska’s fuels reduction) on 14.6 acres around the FY05 state budget is estimate at $7.6 billion Judie Triplehorn (Office of Management and Budget). The Betsy Robertson National Museum of the $60 billion loss of productivity is almost 8 Ramona McAfee times more than Alaska’s entire yearly Sharon McLeod Everette American Indian budget. Corky Cantil By Tonya Garnett, Program Assistant, Tribal Government Low unemployment rates (now at Grace Schaible The National Museum of the American Indian has been in the workings for years and 5.3% in Fairbanks) mean that employers with the help of Native people all over, it has become a reality. It is a symbol of reconciliation between the first Americans and the people that have arrived since first contact. It is a place where people will learn that our Government formation came about from the structure of Attending Mt. Edgecumbe the Iroquois Nations Government from the Eastern United States. They will also realize that a lot of medications used to cure illnesses came from traditional forms of medications High School used by Native Americans for centuries. It is a place where we can share our culture with My name is Nadine Carroll from Ft. other people from all over the world. It is a place where people can go and realize that Yukon, Alaska and I am a 16-year-old Native American History is just as important as any other History. junior attending Mt. Edgecumbe High With four floors total, the top two floors were filled with information on Historic School (MEHS) in Sitka, Alaska. Being events and more contemporary issues and art work. There were exhibits that represented so far from my home and family is hard, how Native people endured times of disease, loss of land, and relocation. Other exhibits but I manage by being involved, doing demonstrated how people are determined to keep their culture alive and what steps they my best, and thinking of my future. took or were taking. Coming here as a freshman was difficult My favorite exhibit explained how Native people must prove they are ‘Native’ and all but I pushed myself through because I the controversy that are associated with that. For example, we have to prove our ancestry know I wouldn’t get as good as an to BIA, a government agency that approves Indian blood quantum. They go into detail education if I stayed in Ft. Yukon. I was asking who gets to determine who is Native and who’s not? Should it be Native people or the only person from Ft. Yukon attending non-Natives? Also, how much Native does a person have to be, to be considered Native school here so I basically didn’t know American? Why is it that other minority groups can easily pronounce their ethnicity and anyone, but I soon met many people. not Native Americans? I found it really interesting because we don’t hear much about this Over the years more people from home issue, or it’s not really publicly talked about. have taken my example and pursued a Another favorite exhibit of mine was of a pair of beaded tennis shoes done by a better education, and there is now eight contemporary Native American artist. I thought they were different and really unique. from Ft. Yukon attending MEHS. Native American artists are continually expected to only stick to Traditional Native art, As a result of attending MEHS I have become a more cultured person, and I have and for someone to go outside the box, to some extent, was really impressive. broadened my perspective by being around diverse people in an entirely new The first and second floor of the museum is a gift store and a cafeteria. The cafeteria environment. Also, MEHS has prepared me for my post education as I am not afraid had about four sections with each having it’s own theme. One was Southwest, another was of being away from my family or afraid of changes. To pass the time and make my the Great Plains. They served such food as Indian tacos, corn, and buffalo chili. stay here worthwhile, I try to be involved and keep myself busy; I do this by participating Many musicians attended, including Ulali, Pamyua, Indigenous, Joanne Shenandoah, in various clubs and selecting advanced classes to challenge myself. I also stay close to and Buffy Sainte-Marie. There were thousands of Natives there in Traditional clothing my culture by being in the Athabascan Dance Group and beading. from all over the United States, Canada, and South America. It was a good time to converse I think anyone who is considering attending school here should try it. It is a great together about the different struggles facing the different Nations, to learn about different experience and a good way to get out of the village and trying something new. Getting cultures, and to socialize and eat Indian tacos! over homesickness and culture shock is the hardest part, but the time goes by fast The grand opening of the National Museum of the American Indian was a significant and you soon learn to adjust. As the years passed I’ve made many friends and have and historical event that has been long waited for. I am very thankful that I was able to come to enjoy my time here, and I also plan to return next year and graduate as a participate in the opening procession and events and would like to thank the Gwich’in four-year senior. Steering Committee for making that possible. PAGE 12 • THE COUNCIL • DECEMBER 2004 NEWS FOR OUR PEOPLE My Personal Sobriety Story Fairbanks Native Association receives By Tanya Yatlin, Fairbanks/Huslia $3.5 Million in grants from SAMHSA I recently celebrated my second year of sobriety! I used to get excited about it, but now it Media Contact: SAMHSA Press Office The second award, totaling $1,499,986 just seems like another day. People tell me they (240) 276-2130 www.samhsa.gov over three years, is being awarded to the don’t remember me ever drinking, but for me, it The Substance Abuse and Mental Fairbanks Native Association’s Women and still seems like yesterday. Most of the time it seems Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Children’s Center for Inner Healing easy to not drink, but I still have to watch my announced two grant awards totaling $3.5 (WCCIH). It will be used to expand the thinking. Relapse starts before you even pick up million to the Fairbanks Native Association. availability of residential substance abuse the first drink. It starts in your thinking; such as “I am pleased to be in Fairbanks to treatment services for pregnant and thinking it will not hurt to have one sip, one shot, present these grant awards to the Fairbanks postpartum women and their children. one fun night…. It is a constant battle. Native Association. These awards will help WCCIH will expand services through its expand two exceptional programs that Healthy Women – Healthy Children project I have heard so many people say when you to provide medical and substance abuse start up again from quitting (doesn’t matter if it bring help and hope to some of Alaska’s most vulnerable citizens,” said Charles treatment services, including residential is one month or ten years) you will start back up services to women with their children, to right where you stopped. I have to remind myself Curie, SAMHSA Administrator. “Homelessness and substance abuse among low-income pregnant, postpartum, and where I was back then and why it is better for me women continue to be major problems here parenting women in Alaska. In addition, to stay sober. I don’t want go back to that way of in Alaska. We know that treatment works WCCIH will partner with Tanana Chiefs life. Every once in a while I miss the fun times, but with the fun time comes the other times, and recovery is real. With these new Conference and provide education, when it isn’t going right or when I was drinking alone. resources the Fairbanks Native Association screening and other medical services to can do even more to connect people in need pregnant and postpartum women in rural One reason a lot of people quit is because of depression. Alcohol is a depressant. villages and in Fairbanks. Depression is a strong emotion to get rid off. I swear if I didn’t quit Nov. 14, 2002, I with people who provide the services.” Both grants will continue annually wouldn’t be here today. I don’t think I would have survived another year. Both emotionally The first award, totaling $2,000,000 depending upon the availability of funds and physically I was bad off. Lucky I was able to see what was happening and quit. over five years, is being awarded to the Fairbanks Native Association’s Long and performance. Alcohol is very addictive, because of all the fun it can be. Alcohol is hard to quit. House. It will be used to provide treatment SAMHSA is a public health agency Addiction is the thinking behind the substance. It is part of you; it makes you distance for homeless persons in Interior Alaska within the United States Department of yourself from family and friends. It changes your thinking and makes you want to drink. with co-occurring addiction and mental Health and Human Services. The agency is With me, the addiction had me distanced from everyone I cared for. It was easier to stay illness. Long House’s treatment model was responsible for improving the away then to have to see the hurt and concern on their faces. I was thinking if I distanced demonstrated to be effective for the Interior accountability, capacity and effectiveness of myself from everyone and ended up dying, it would be easier for everyone to heal. Addiction Alaskan homeless population and will the nation’s substance abuse prevention, and alcohol changes your thinking to whatever it wants. In one of my classes I was told to include traditional substance abuse addictions treatment and mental health read a book about addiction. It was called Addictive Personalities. It was great; it talked treatment, mental health care and cultural service delivery systems. about why a drinking person (or someone addicted to something) does the things they reintegration services. do. It talks about how the family reacts and changes too. Addiction affects and changes the person with the addiction, the family, and the whole community. The book was a great Program Available to Assist Elders eye opener. It helped me understand what I was thinking and what others with an addiction By Barbara Stevens, Program Coordinator, National Senior Service Corporation think. It was a lonely life. I would recommend the book to anyone. The book is great for The National Senior Service Corporation (NSSC) has announced that funding is a person with an addiction or anyone who has a family member or friend who has an now immediately available for retired Elders in our community who volunteer to provide addiction. mentoring and classroom assistance to young children in primary grades. “This is an I was also told if you are able to have a couple of drinks and quit for the night, you unusual program in that volunteer service is rewarded with a tax exempt stipend. Seniors over the age of 60 may be eligible, provided that certain income guidelines are met,” stated don’t need to quit. Just watch for the signs. Some signs are not being able to quit with only program officer Donald Murray. a couple of drinks, not being able to control your actions while drinking, not being able to function without alcohol, if you are more depressed than if you didn’t drink, if you drink The Foster Grandparent/Elder Mentor Program, a service of the NSSC matches retired seniors, both men and women, with volunteer opportunities in their communities. to feel better or get rid of depression, if you drink more than you used to or drink more “Such locations as schools, after-school programs, Head Start Centers and other locations often than you used to, if you become angrier more often than before drinking, if you are the locations that often work best,” stated Fairbanks Program Coordinator Barb start to blame your drinking on problems in your life (this is the addiction rationalizing Stevens. “Seniors may volunteer 10-30 hours per week and they receive a tax-exempt drinking), if you make promises you can’t keep because of your drinking, if you are stipend for their service as well as meals and a transportation allowance,” Stevens continued. neglecting your job, family, and friends, and if you notice your addiction affects anything “This is a great program. It assists the seniors/Elders of our community while utilizing in your life in a negative way. their significant abilities to assist many children. Mentoring is quite powerful and these I started this article wanting to just tell you about my progress and to be aware of relationships often grow to be very significant, Stevens said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity alcohol. I am not trying to lecture people on alcohol, but help everyone become aware of for everyone…Elders, children, and the schools who participate. Everyone wins.” how it affects everyone’s life and thinking. Again it doesn’t only change the person with For additional information about the opportunities with Foster Grandparents/ Elder the addiction, but the whole family and community. Mentors in the Fairbanks area, please contact Barbara Stevens at (907) 452-6417. Growing up traditionally: One man’s story around my ankle, send me down into the animals you trapped or game you killed. to take and forget to give. We need to share By Paul Nathaniel, Circle, Alaska den with a 22 rifle and tell me to kill the bear The outdoors was our classroom, the more with our children our traditional When I was growing up, uncles, aunts by shooting it between the eyes. I was scared Elders our teachers. You learned or you ways. We need to teach them to share first and grandparents were a large part of my the first few times I did this; my father told wouldn’t survive. before taking. We need to teach them how education. They taught me the traditional me not to be scared and because my father Kids nowadays don’t receive this kind to be aware of their thinking every moment Athabascan ways. When I was seven years had such confidence in me I would go into of teaching or training; they are losing of time in connection to the world around old, I lived with my grandparents in the den in spite of my feelings. I would crawl something that is very dear and very them. This would make a better world for Chalkyitsik. My grandfather took me with down into the den until I could see the bear important. A way of life is being forgotten everyone. him one morning and showed me how to sleeping away. I would aim carefully and as our traditional ways are not being passed I sometimes think this is the problem snare a ground squirrel. After that I was on shoot it between the eyes killing it dead. on. we have today with all the drinking and drug my own. Every morning my grandfather Then I would take the rope from around use going on. People have not been taught my ankle and tie it around the bear’s front The traditional ways of life I was taught would tell me to go catch a ground squirrel. helped me live as an adult in today’s world. the traditional way of thinking about the So early in the morning I would walk up legs before crawling backwards out of the world we live in. The modern world is in den. My father and I would then drag the The old ways of our people taught you a into the woods until I came to a clearing. At way of thinking that enabled you to adjust direct conflict with our own deep down one end of the clearing would be some dead bear out of the den. I killed six or seven traditional patterns of thinking. Our bears that way when I was just a kid. to anything in order to survive. The old ground squirrels. In the clearing there would ways made you more adaptable and able traditional ways of thinking and living were be several dips and holes in the ground. I A lot of other things my father and to change your thinking to make your way downgraded by the white man’s culture. The would set my snare carefully in one of the grandparents taught me when I was young. in a world that never stays the same. The way they view the earth as something that dips or holes. Then I would walk around We learned how to take care of dogs as dog old ways taught you how to be aware of can be bought and sold doesn’t fit well into the edge of the clearing until I was behind sleds were our only transportation back your own thinking as it relates to the world our way of thinking and living. This has the ground squirrels. I would sneak up on then. You had to depend on your dogs so outside of you and to be aware of everything created great conflict so to escape the conflict them until they ran away from me and dive you had to take good care of them. as everything is connected. You learned to many of our people take to alcohol and into the dips and holes. One would always In the summer our relatives from listen. Maybe that is why most Elders don’t drugs. This only makes the problem worse; end up in my snare and I would take it home Chalkyitsik would travel by boat to Circle, like to speak up all the time, they were taught it moves us further from our own for breakfast. They are good-tasting. We pick up the whole family and then we would to listen first. Good talkers are sometimes traditional ways. always had a good breakfast this way. travel to fish camp. We camped out all talking too much that they don’t listen well. We need to be proud of our traditional When I was ten, my father taught me summer-catching and drying fish, hunting We were also all taught how to learn to work ways; proud of who we are as Athabascan how to kill a bear. In late November bears in the woods and learning how to survive with others, we were taught to treat Mother Indians. Other cultures could learn a lot are in a deep sleep hibernating. My father on our own. When the salmon quit running Earth as something you shared, not from us. We don’t have to be afraid to crawl would locate a bear’s den then pitch a tent and we had enough dried salmon to last us something you could own. If you treated down into a bear’s den at all. around the hole to keep air from rushing in all winter, we would travel back to Circle. the earth well, it would be good to you in or the bear would sense the change in As kids, we all learned how to cut and dry return. If you treated the earth badly, it temperature and wake up. Once the tent salmon, how to make a camp and how to would not give back to you. I think we are was in place we would dig out the front of live in the outdoors. We learned how to trap not treating Mother Earth very well in the den. My father would then tie a rope game, how to hunt and how to take care of today’s world. We are in too much of a hurry