Non-Profi t Organization U.S. Postage PAID Anchorage, AK Permit No. 537
Dena’ Nena’ Henash ––Our Land Speaks Vol. 33, No. 6 A Report to the Member Tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Conference June 2008
ConocoPhillips begin fi eld season Loving their livelihood, James family Survey crews will conduct studies along operates Freight Services on Yukon
proposed pipeline route By Ginger Placeres, Editor By Lisa Pekich, ConocoPhillips
Owner Gerald James (center) ConocoPhillips is preparing to begin Field study crews typically consist of two with sons Wesley, 18, and summer fi eld study activities along the to seven scientists. The crews will not enter Bruce, 19. proposed pipeline route. Field studies are land without landowner permission, and the fi rst step in the process of constructing they will work to minimize disturbance. the proposed pipeline. Landowners along the pipeline route Professional survey crews will begin are being contacted directly to obtain walking the pipeline route this month, permission for access. conducting a variety of studies including ConocoPhillips is also working with civil surveys, archaeological surveys, individual landowners and communities wetlands and habitat mapping, hydrology along the pipeline route to inform them surveys, soil and water temperature about the project and its benefi ts, answer monitoring, and contaminated site questions and address concerns. identifi cation. Meetings have already been held with the The fi eld studies are needed to help villages of Tanacross, Northway, Tetlin and ensure the eventual pipeline design Dot Lake, as well as the city of Fairbanks. protects the environment, wildlife habitat Other community meetings are being and historic and cultural resources. scheduled. Studies will last until September, with For more information about Tanana some work required along stream crossings Chiefs Conference involvement, contact after freeze-up. The majority of fi eld studies Bob Sattler, Director, Realty, toll-free at are planned for Delta Junction to the U.S.- 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 Canada border, although some studies will ext. 3343 or email bob.sattler@tananachiefs. be conducted along the entire length of the org. pipeline route in Alaska. Evelyn and Gerald James love being on the His boat was constructed the summer of river, and through their enjoyment, they’ve 2004 with the help of sons, Bruce, 19, and evolved into small, successful business Wesley, 18. Gerald bought the materials in owners in Fort Yukon, Alaska. “The idea 2003 from a retired boat builder, and got a Yukon 800 around the bend! came after not being able to afford lumber good price. The next summer he took out a several years ago” Evelyn explains. They personal loan to buy more metal. decided to haul their own lumber from “I’ve kept track of the boys’ hours in case By Ginger Placeres, Editor Fairbanks to Circle via highway, and from they want their captains’ license when they there, hauled the materials to Fort Yukon get older.” Evelyn anticipates what most The Yukon 800 gets underway on June 21, 2008 at the Pike’s Waterfront Boat Landing. by boat. Interior mothers do when considering Many changes this year make for an exciting competition, the boat race currently has 12 Many people along the Yukon River will back-to-school planning, “They’ve always race boats and will host its fi rst ever GPS tracking system, available for observing online fi nd affordable routes using highways that worked on the barge with him, ever since at www.yukon800.com on race days. Huslia Tribal Member Shane Derendoff is assisting meet rivers in order to offset expensive they were little–they wanted to have with the venture, a rental purchase of GPS units out of Arizona will deem this endeavor freight rates with bush airlines, a means spending money at the Fair!” a proper representation of the 21st century! Currently the incomplete list of captains and used by residents of Fort Yukon, Stevens Fort Yukon’s recent development has team members include: Village, Rampart, Tanana, and others. benefi ted from Gerald’s business, “We Joey Zuray, T’sood Peters, Steven Gregory, Gilbert Huntington, Devon People will drive their materials to Manley hauled materials for the clinic construction, Hot Springs or Circle City, Alaska and then gym renovation, and the water and sewer Walker, Earl Sommer, Katie Sommer, Tyler Huntington, Stuart Erhart, boat their freight home. As for the James project here” Evelyn explains. In fact, they’ve Robert Erhart, Israel Silas, Harold Attla, AJ Dick, Clinton Huntington, Gary family and their business, Freight Services, hauled 126 vehicles since 1999. “They’re Folger, Tommy Kriska, Sherri Kriska, Sharlisa Kriska, Tom Huntington, “Our summers are devoted to the business, all good-looking vehicles, nice ones that Charlie Huntington, Allison Huntington, Milton Moses, Scott Joseph, Bill we just love being on the river. We just love are the opposite of our ‘rez rides’ of the Page, and others. visiting in Circle.” past” Evelyn laughed. Walking through The event is also supported by more business than in the past, including $5,000 in Gerald started Freight Services in 1999– Fort Yukon, one can see vehicles parked gasoline from Sourdough Fuel, Ruby Marine, and Crowley for racers. This is a great show hauling lumber demonstrated his ability at the post offi ce, health center, school, of support since fuel in Galena was $6.25 at press time. A racer may use 20-25 gallons from so others began asking him to haul their and elsewhere. It’s the largest Athabascan freight. “Then IRHA was doing work in community located about 140 air miles continued on back page... Canyon Village and they contracted hauling from Fairbanks, where the Porcupine River services from him and it took off from joins the Yukon River. there” said Evelyn. “Now he hauls for Fish & Although Gerald’s main route has been Wildlife, the Bureau of Land Management, Circle to Fort Yukon, the James family Request for Proposal the (Native Village of Fort Yukon) Housing made river trips to Birch Creek, Venetie, Department, and he hauls privately-owned Old Crow, and Chalkyitsik. “It’s only 20 By Jim Knopke, Director, Village Public Safety Offi cer Program vehicles from Circle.” He can haul up to air miles to Birch Creek, but it’s 196 miles three vehicles at a time in his 300-horse so that’s a lot of gas. With the rising costs powered Volvo Inboard, which as a hauling of gas, we don’t have a trip planned in the Tanana Chiefs Conference is requesting interested building contractors or capacity of 30,000 pounds. Gerald remains near future. We have a cabin upriver from individuals located in the following villages to contact Village Public Safety Offi cer cautious and careful with his cargo so a full Fort Yukon that we get to sometimes. We (VPSO) program Director Jim Knopke to bid on renovation/construction projects load may take him fi ve to six hours to Fort only get the river for four months out of the within the villages. These projects will enhance the offi ces and storage areas for VPSO Yukon. The reverse trip from Fort Yukon to year, so we just enjoy being on the river.” equipment and work spaces. Circle is a quick three hour drive. Their love of the river also affected Fort Projects will include renovation of VPSO offi ces with attention to remodel existing Speaking of the natural way this business Yukon youth benefi cially, Evelyn talked of a offi ce space and renovation/improvement of VPSO vehicle storage areas. evolved, Evelyn described her husband, trip to Old Crow for a cultural event. “Old The villages identifi ed as having a VPSO facility in need of renovation include “Gerald likes being his own boss and he’s Crow was having their Gwichin Days and Anvik, Eagle, Huslia, McGrath, Tanana, and Ruby. Please contact Jim toll-free at 800 a hard worker so this really isn’t work for they asked if we could bring the kids up so 478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3236. him. You always hear ‘fi nd something you love to do’ and that’s what this is for him.” continued on next page... Page 2 • The Council • June 2008 Tanana Chiefs Conference Summer job available to college, vo-tech students
The Council is a monthly report to the Member Tribes of the Tanana By Robin Frank, Employment Youth Employment Services Coordinator Chiefs Conference, in accordance with agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service. Letters to the Editor, other Are you a college or vo-tech student on summer break, looking for that perfect summer written contributions and photos submissions are welcome. However, job? We may have just the thing! ConocoPhillips management team has expressed an space is limited and program-oriented news has priority. We reserve the interest in hosting a summer intern program to help native students reinforce your right to edit or reject material. Letters and opinions are not necessarily the education. They are looking for people in a variety of fi elds. They will focus on those that opinions of Tanana Chiefs Conference. Material submitted anonymously can relate to the gas pipeline project, but if you are unsure, please submit your information will not be printed. Contributions and questions may be directed to: anyway. This is a fantastic way to put what you have learned so far to use, further your education in your chosen fi eld of study and earn a little money all at the same time. Ginger Placeres, Editor If you are interested in being considered for an internship please forward your name, Tanana Chiefs Conference contact information, program and year of study to [email protected] or call 122 First Avenue, Suite 600 her toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext 3418. You can also contact Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 Reva Shircel at ext. 3185 or email [email protected]. Please don’t wait! Phone: (907) 452-8251 ext. 3570 ConocoPhillips has asked for some names as soon as possible. Toll-free (Alaska): 800 -478- 6682 (Out-of-State) 800-770-8251 Fax: (907) 459-3884 2008 Nuchalawoyya Email: [email protected] Tanana, Alaska June 19-21, 2008
“Where the two rivers meet” is what Nuchalawoyya means IN THIS ISSUE and Tanana celebrates with traditional dancing, various Tanana Chiefs Conference...... 1-3 relay races, Miss Nuch Queen Health Services...... 4-5 and Princess contest, and a traditional potlatch. For more News for Our People...... 6-8 information, contact Faith Peters (seen in 1979 at left) at JAMES FAMILY....continued from front (907) 366-7170. they offered to buy the gas. We hauled the kids and the band equipment and played for them, going up the Porcupine. The Porcupine is a clear, blue river, the most beautiful boat ride. We saw 7-8 grizzlies along the way.” When not working at her full-time job in the Employment/Education department of 2008 Graduate Feature the Native Village of Fort Yukon offi ce, Evelyn is a part-time college student through the The deadline for receiving 2008 graduate photos and information is Friday, Interior-Aleutians and Fort Yukon campus through the University of Alaska Fairbanks, June 20, 2008. The graduates will be featured in the July issue. Send your where her major is Biology. Taking summers off from school frees her up to be the information to the editor, the contact information is on page 2 or online at bookkeeper for her husband’s business. When offering advice for new business owners www.tananachiefs.org. or those who are contemplating it, “Get Quickbooks! It’s really learnable.” Evelyn is also All information must be included or your submission will be omitted, please thankful to the offi ces of Native Village of Fort Yukon, her boss has been very supportive include: of her efforts toward getting a degree. Undoubtedly in today’s economy, alternative routes and types of travel must be sought. • Name Support small business and especially those in rural communities! Contact Freight • School (academy, high/elementary, vocational, etc.) Services in Fort Yukon at (907) 662-2696. • Hometown If you know a small business owner and TCC benefi ciary who would like to be featured • Parents in The Council, ask them to contact the editor at the numbers listed on page two. To feature your business in the TCC Business Directory, a publication to encourage support Digital photos must be 200 dpi or at least a 4 x 6 image for acceptance. Do of small business enterprise in the TCC Region, contact the Purchasing Department toll- not crop your original image as it may be unusable. I reserve the right to reject free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3258. a photo based on red eye, lighting, distance, and/or quality. If you suspect your photo is poorly lit, it will not work in a black and white publication. Hard copy, preprinted photos can be mailed to the address listed on page two, or delivered to the Editor. If you drop off an incomplete submission, it will be Dear Editor, declined. Absolutely no late submissions accepted. I am writing to you from Fairbanks Correctional Center where I’m doing a 27-day jail sentence. It may not seem like a lot of time to some but to me it was the longest and most painful 27 days of my life. You want to know why? I will tell you. The night I was arrested my younger brother took his own life. I didn’t know about this during my sentencing because I never called anyone to let them know where I was. At the time of my arrest I was drunk, blacked-out drunk. I ‘came to’ surrounded by security cops outside of Fred Meyer. Garden seed While I was intoxicated I tried to steal from Fred Meyer and got caught. So I was rightly punished by the courts of Alaska. winners I have been an alcoholic and drug addicted for over 20 years, that’s over half of my life. There is a law in effect now that prohibits people from short-time furloughs. So I was The elementary and high not able to attend my younger brother’s funeral. I sit here on my bunk asking myself over school students who correctly and over “Why? Why?” The pain inside of me is unimaginable. Because of my addiction I could not even be there to help bury my own brother. guessed the number of times Dear young people of Alaska, I am pleading to you if you’re thinking of picking up that the word “ggoo‛” was listed in fi rst drink or doing that fi rst drug, don’t. the article (by Heidi Rader of I have lost over half of my life to this way of living because I chose this life style. I lost my kids, my freedom, my education, my job, the trust of my S.O., family, friends and most the Agriculture program) on of all–time with my family. page 3 of the May issue, are: Dear People of Alaska, if you are thinking about taking your own life, please, I am begging you–don’t. I have tried many times but was brought back from the brink of death Clifton Carroll, Fort Yukon many times. I realize now that pain and hurt that I would of caused my family and friends, Mack Lincoln, Bethel I have because I am living it everyday of my life now. Young people of Alaska, if you are hurting inside don’t be like me and use alcohol and drugs to bury your pain. Talk to Clifford Gowan, Fairbanks/Beaver someone you can trust if you can’t talk to your parents about it. God bless each and every Shamariah Hale, Fairbanks/Tanacross Clifton Carroll of Fort Yukon. one of you. Drew Evans, Fairbanks/Galena Sincerely, Jake Thomas, Chalkyitsik For more on gardening, Vincent Nikoli, Kaltag see page 4. Troy Edwin Fairbanks, Alaska Kiana Edwards, Fairbanks June 2008 • The Council • Page 3 Tanana Chiefs Conference Tanana Chiefs Conference Executive Board of Directors
By Norma Anderson, Executive Secretary, NAME TITLE TERM Administration Jerry Isaac, Tanacross President & Chairman March 2008-March 2011 Peter Captain, Sr., Galena Vice President March 2007-March 2010 The Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) Pat McCarty, Ruby Secretary/Treasurer March 2006-March 2009 Executive Board of Directors is comprised Donald Adams, Tetlin Upper Tanana Subregion March 2008-March 2011 of three offi cers: Jerry Isaac, Tanacross, President & Chairman; Peter Captain, Nick Alexia, Sr., Nikolai Upper Kuskokwim Subregion March 2008-March 2009 Sr., Galena, Vice President; and, Pat Nancy James, Fort Yukon Yukon Flats Subregion March 2006-March 2009 McCarty, Ruby,Secretary/Treasurer, and six Carl Jerue, Anvik Lower Yukon Subregion March 2006-March 2009 Subregional representatives: • Donald Adams, Tetlin, Upper Tanana; John Madros, Sr., Kaltag Yukon Koyukuk Subregion March 2008-March 2011 • Nick Alexia, Sr., Nikolai, Upper Julie Roberts-Hyslop, Tanana Yukon Tanana Subregion March 2007-March 2010 Kuskokwim; Richard Frank, Minto/Fairbanks Elder Advisor none • Nancy James, Fort Yukon, Yukon Flats; • Carl Jerue, Anvik, Lower Yukon ; Leslie Jones, Koyukuk Youth Advisor none • John Madros, Sr., Kaltag, Yukon Koyukuk; Federation of Natives annual convention this is to encourage any interested tribal We have many and varied issues, many • Julie Roberts-Hyslop, Tanana, Yukon and the National Congress of American member to attend. The Executive Board of which are diffi cult. Our board is not Tanana; Indians annual convention. Many of meeting minutes are mailed to all member afraid to tackle these issues as they arise • Elder Advisor Richard Frank, our tribes are unable to send a tribal tribes as soon as they are approved to in a very productive manner. Each board Minto/Fairbanks; and, representative to statewide and nationwide inform our tribes of board action. member is fully encouraged to speak out on • Youth Advisor Leslie Jones, Koyukuk. meetings due to the expense; by scheduling Since the beginning of the year, the board behalf of those they represent. All views are Elections are held at our annual meeting an Executive Board meeting in conjunction met on January 29-30, 2008 in McGrath, considered and respected. For any questions each March in Fairbanks for staggered terms; with these meetings, our Native leaders can February 23, 2008 in Anchorage, March or additional information, please contact each year, our delegates elect one offi cer participate on behalf of our member tribes. 8-14, 2008, in Fairbanks during the TCC Norma Anderson, TCC Administration, and two Subregional representatives. All Executive Board meetings are open to annual convention, and April 28–May 1, toll-free at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) The TCC Executive Board sets policy for tribal members and we welcome all who 2008, in Las Vegas in conjunction with the 452-8251 ext. 3112. Please remember–our our organization. Our board is very active would like to attend. If executive session Tribal Self-Governance annual conference. tribes are always welcome. and meets on the average every six weeks. is called, non-board members are excused For upcoming meetings, our board plans Some board meetings are scheduled in unless they are requested to stay present. to meet in Tanana on June 19, 2008 and in conjunction with other meetings to allow Each Executive Board meeting notice is Anchorage during the Alaska Federation of the Executive Board to attend as Native faxed to all of our member tribes once the Natives Convention. Other meetings will Leaders from our region, such as the Alaska next meeting date and place has been set; be scheduled and announced.
Elder Advisor Richard Frank, Vice President Peter Captain Sr., Minto/Fairbanks Galena
Missing: Nick Alexia, Nancy James, Carl Jerue, and Leslie Jones. Chief Administrative Offi cer Ted Charles, Dot Lake, and President & Subsequent issues will inclue biographical features of our Executive Chairman Jerry Isaac, Tanacross. Board. The editor apologizes for lack of photos.
Secretary/Treasurer Pat McCarty, Yukon Tanana Subregion Upper Tanana Subregion Yukon Koyukuk Subregion Ruby Julie Roberts-Hyslop, Tanana Danny Adams, Tetlin John Madros Sr., Kaltag Page 4 • The Council • June 2008 Agriculture & Horticulture Program ❁ Tanana Chiefs Conference Demonstration Garden ❁ This year, Tanana Chiefs Conference will have its own demonstration vegetable garden. It will be behind the old Headstart building. Workshops will take place throughout the summer ranging from basic vegetable gardening, season extension techniques, to soil fertility and pest management. We will talk about community gardening as well as how to start your own garden. Whether you live in town or in the village, you are welcome to stop by Tanana Chiefs Conference for a tour of the garden. Below are several garden experiments that will be demonstrated at the garden. Try these experiments at home in your own garden if you have one! ❋ ❋ ❋ ❋
The benefi t of a soaker hose is that it waters more deeply than either a sprinkler or a watering can. It also concentrates water only in rows as opposed to a sprinkler (which waters everywhere). When you water with a watering can, a lot of water runs-off into the rows as well so using a soaker hose is a more effi cient use of water. ~Five Fun Farm Facts~ Carrots and thinning: When carrots are thinned they’ll get way bigger than carrots that are not thinned. See for yourself! Even though it’s painful to pull out live plants— after the carrots are a couple of inches high, pull out enough carrots to give each carrot 1 inch of space on either side. Watch how big they grow! ✺
IRT, Black, & Clear Plastic: Have you ever heard of covering the soil with plastic? Some vegetables such as tomatoes, corn, and zucchini like it HOT! Clear plastic and IRT plastic can actually warm up the soil for these types of vegetables. Black plastic is used to keep Above: Mary Fricilone Pullella, weeds from growing. IRT plastic is used to warm up the Angie Richardson, and Lisa Gwalthney listen to the
✿✿✿✿✿✿ soil and keep weeds from growing. introduction of the project plans. Left: Lisa Jaeger plants Lemon Gem Marigolds at the Tasty Turnips: Do you ever see holes or tunnels in end of the row. your turnips? If you do, you may have root maggots. To prevent root maggots from laying eggs, cover your turnips with a cloth called Remay or frost cloth. This cloth will prevent root maggots from laying their eggs.
Zucchini Harvest: Mark two zucchini plants for this test. On one, harvest every zucchini when it gets 6 inches long. On the other plant, don’t harvest a thing. After 4 or 5 weeks of harvesting, tally up the numbers of zucchini each plant produced. The zucchini plant that is picked more frequently will produce more zucchinis! ✿✿✿✿✿✿
Please contact Heidi Rader toll-free at 800- 478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3477 or [email protected] for more information
about the garden. Verna Tittle, Mary Fricilone Pullella, and Heidi Rader begin the demonstration ❁ ❃ ❁ ❃ garden in the old playground area of the former Headstart building on 2nd Avenue. June 2008 • The Council • Page 5 Morris Thompson cultural & visitors center Thank you to our Exhibit Donors! Since our last article, we’ve received Exhibit Wishlist many new donations. Amongst the 16 ft. river boat (doesn’t have to fl oat) • 30 or 40 horse donations we’ve received include: a 6 boat motor (shell only or doesn’t have to work) • 55 gallon x 8 canvas wall tent donated by Alaska drums • Caribou Fur • Dogmushing gear • Chest Freezer Tent and Tarp; a beaded portrait of Morris Thompson made by Patti (doesn’t have to work) • Other furs • Woodstove • Fish Brown; a dog racing sled made by camp table • Kuspuk/bets’eghehoolaane • Flowery scarf • Harold Greenway and donated by Adele Basketball • Soccerball • Ice fi shing gear • Curling stone, Bacon; record-holding moose antlers broom • Cross-country ski equipment • Downhill ski retrieved by John Erik Anderson Jr., the father of Chris Anderson who donated equipment • Snowmachine helmet, avalanche beacon, tow them; a canvas canoe donated by rope • Snowboard • Snowshoes • Theater costume • Quilt Alfred Wright; a blazo stove donated by • Mini-tripod, Nenana Ice Classic ticket • Coleman stove Randy Zarnke with some of Jamie and Cheryl Bradley; handmade • Tanana Valley State Fair Posters • Tanana Basketball the items he’s collected and traditional tools including a dip net, Jersey • Glass Beads • Howard Luke Map • Lifejackets • donated. shuttle, moose skin scraper, fl esher and beaver skin scraper all made by Elizabeth Starr, the mother of Used Carhartts • Hipwaders • Hacksaw • Fuel Container Paul Starr who donated the items; and a snow machine with all the for (ATV and cooking) • Sleeping Bags • Stove • Utensils amenities donated by Howie Thies and Polaris Outpost. And fi nally, • Ammo Box and Shells (washed out like they’ve been in the thank you to Randy Zarnke who has collected or donated numerous sun) • Berry Containers (coffee tin, plastic bucket) items to our exhibit.
John Erik Anderson Jr. with the record holding moose antlers he retrieved. Thanks to our Donors! We thank all of our donors for their generous contributions. The exhibits will open in the Spring 2009. If we do not have your name on the list of donors, please call Tanya Beatus at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3239 to ensure that you receive proper recognition. Adele Bacon Jackovich Estate Alaska Tent and Tarp Jamie & Cheryl Bradley Need Master Artist Teachers! Alaska Trappers Association James O’Neill Alfred Wright John Lysen Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) is looking for applicants for the Master Artist programs to be offered in the new Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Barb Milles Mark Keech We are looking for Alaska Native teachers for skin sewing, basket making, hide Bennett’s Estate Mike & Sharon Cook tanning, wood carving and other traditional craft making. This includes applicants from our TCC villages. If interested, please submit your resume to: TCC, c/o Tanya Bill Stevens Orie Williams Beatus, 122 First Ave. Suite 600, Fairbanks, Alaska 99701. Or email it to tanya.beatus@ tananachiefs.org. For more information, call Tanya toll-free at 800-478-6822 or Chris Anderson Patti Brown locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3239. Dave Andersen Paul Starr Dixie Alexander Pioneer Museum Elizabeth (Glandon) Baker Polaris Outpost Ethan Schumaker Randy Smith Need art for gift shop! Fairbanks Hockey Hall of Fame Randy Zarnke Tanana Chiefs Conference is looking for art to be sold in the gift shop in the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Preferably, we would like to purchase Gwen (Glandon) Selle Rema Demoski art wholesale from our rural communities in order to promote rural economic Howie Thies Thelma Williams development. However we are not excluding artists who live in the urban areas. If you would like to submit your art for consideration, please contact Tanya Beatus at (907) Ice Dogs UAF Face-Off Club 452-8251 ext. 3239 or e-mail her at [email protected]. In Memory of Kay Brower
Flesher donated by Paul Starr. Blessing & Dedication The Blessing and Dedication for the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center will be held on August 12th at 2 pm. We welcome all to attend! For more information, contact Cindy Schumaker at (907) 459-3880 or email cindy.schumaker@ tananachiefs.org.
Native Hire Report Violin donated by Bill Stevens. The contract with GHEMM Company for construction of the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center sets two Native Hire goals: 1) 25% of the total workforce during construction, and 2) 10% of the total construction cost to a qualifi ed Native subcontractor. Our monthly Native Hire statistics since January 2008 has been: January 35%; February 37%; March 31%; and, April 27%. Thanks to the building trades council, AK Works Partnership and GHEMM for working together to meet our goal. Good show! Just a few more monthly reports and the building will be complete! Page 6 • The Council • June 2008 News for our People: Northway Northway’s $1.2 million airport renovation project underway for summer 2008
The 1.2 million dollar airport project for Northway is underway and includes six local workers from the community of about 250 people. Northway is about 255 miles from Fairbanks and sits south of the Alaska Highway, perpendicular and seven miles into the lake-fi lled land basin. Some residents of Northway live as far as 16 miles from the Canadian Northway high school border, a visit to the Northway School demonstrated students of all ages walking to and from the cafeteria with the kind of energy that foretells the coming of summer. girls competed at State The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) initiated the airport improvement project to correct prior damage from the 2004 earthquake that rattled the Upper Tanana First time since 1985 subregion. In addition to the airport, the main road into Northway will be re-routed and fencing will be added. The improvements will occur as the Alaska summer allows and Basketball coach and community leader Gerald Albert is a union-contracted undertaking. “The project has brought a lot of revenue into our proudly shared the accomplishments of a hard-working community” said Gerald Albert, President of the Northway Tribal Council, “they’re buying group of girls who placed 5th in the 2A Championships this gravel from one Native allotment owner, they’re renting apartments here, and renting spring–a strong feat for a team of eight who often played space at the corporation-owned R.V. Park. against 12 to 14-member teams. The team consists of eight girls, Katherine Albert, “A lot of residents have built on their own Native allotments” said Albert, Northway Ashley Nyswaner, Tasha Demit, Kayli Hildebrand, Shanice Albert, and Ariel Brown. and the Interior Regional Housing Authority (IRHA) worked together to add a new In order to get to State, they beat Tok High School during a close game, the winning subdivision in 2004, adding six new homes to the area. score was 46-43. Living in a small community requires creative thinking, especially when it comes to small student numbers. Coach Albert struck a deal with Tetlin high schoolers to network and become part of their team. As a result, the six-member team became “Alaska dream team” eight and held separate basketball practices. “It takes a lot of community support and we had that” said Albert, their school funding is low, the school has about 50 students. In order to play, their competition even offered fi nancial support, “Yakutat First team to represent Alaska in paid our way there to play, Galena and Fort Yukon paid our way, and we paid the remainder of the expenses to stay in another community to play.” Native American-only Tournament Two of the players graduated in May, Eva Thomas and Dena Paul.
Northway Naabia Niign Store
Owned by Northway Natives, Incorporated, Northway’s grocery store and gas station sits at milemarker 1264 alongside the Alaska Highway. This store was Northway high school basketball players Lucas Nutting, Todd Demit, and Randy established in the 1980’s, after the Alaska Land Claims Settlement Act. Demit will be part of a larger team to compete in Phoenix, Arizona next month.
Several high school basketball players from the Interior are representing Alaska for the fi rst time this year at an invitational basketball tournament in Phoenix, Arizona in July. The Walter Northway School This all Native American tournament has invited Alaska players so Randy Demit, Todd Demit, Lucas Nutting, Reynard Smith, Moses Gibson, and others from the Glenallen area, now named the “Alaska Dream Team,” will be fl ying down with coach Neal Charlie Home of the Warriors Jr. of Minto/Tok. The estimated cost of the trip is $10,000 and includes travel, room/board, and rental cars for the team to stay a week. If you are willing and able to offer fi nancial support toward a positive and healthy cause for these young men, please contact Lorraine Titus at (907) 778-2298.
If you need to change your address for The Council, and you are a Doyon shareholder, your updates at Doyon will be effective for this newsletter. If you are not a shareholder, contact the editor at the numbers provided on page 2. This publication is monthly and reaches 9,500 households with 3,000 hits online each month. View it at www.tananachiefs.org. June 2008 • The Council • Page 7 News for our People: tanacross
Wednesday Night Family Dinner Every Wednesday night Tanacross residents gather at the hall for a Family Dinner, which is a sobriety movement by Alfred Jonathan. Everyone brings a dish and enjoys the company of others in a positive atmosphere. “Our purpose is to get people out of the house and get together–usually we get together for a death in the community. This way we get together for fun, we sing Indian songs in our language with the kids group. We talk to kids about cultural issues, and we teach them language at the same time too,” said Dollie Jonathan in May. Children play in the large hall, photos adorn the walls, and all the action takes place in the kitchen, where Alfred and Dollie cooked salmon, rice, and fry bread for the community. Funds to support the activity are supplemented by the Alaska Institute to incorporate cultural activities.
Top: Kirshawna Grant, Tyler Aluf, Shawn Frank Jr., and Kyle Allen. Lower left: John Rogers and Kenny Thomas. Below: Ellen Thomas and Dollie Jonathan.
What’s sprouting in Tanacross? By Dollie Jonathan and Mara Bacsujlaky
Monica Isaac with starter plants that are ready for transplanting.
Helping water the garden: Charlie, Coby, Taylor, Shelby, and Lawrence.
It was late May when the birch trees began to leaf down here in Tanacross. Recently greenhouse, we will grow tomatoes, squash and cucumbers. There will lots of fl owers Johnny Lillie rotor-tilled some of the garden and spent the evening working to fi nish too, planted in front of the Council Offi ce, and by the Church. We sowed wildfl owers the greenhouse. This is the second year that we will be planting the community garden down at the cemetery, and hope that all the delphiniums that we planted by the here, and it will be even better than last year. Church and elsewhere in the village will come back year after year. Before volunteers tilled over the grassy fi eld last year, it didn’t look like much would Last year, we harvested enough from the garden that all the elders got some vegetables grow here. But after we got a load of topsoil donated from a Bingo night, and the rows and potatoes–there was enough left over that we gave vegetables to families in the tilled, it began shaping up. By mid-July, it was full of all sorts of vegetables. We also village as well. The kids had fun helping start the garden, and they helped weed it had a fence put in, so that dogs, rabbits and moose wouldn’t eat the veggies before we too, although they didn’t think weeding was as much fun as digging in the dirt to fi nd could harvest them. potatoes. This year we are planting even more potatoes than we did last year. There will also be carrots, turnips, onions, cabbage, lettuce, peas, beans and other greens. In the
Tanacross population: 150
Alaska highway Milemarker: 1325
Hometown pride: Tanana Chiefs Conference President Jerry isaac 2006–present Keith Jonathan, June Paul, and children. Scott and Faye Tanner with their children. Page 8 • The Council • June 2008 News for our people Adult Learning Programs of Addressing the myth of “free” health Alaska GED Graduates care for Native people Indian Health Care Reauthorization Act puts question in the spotlight
Reprinted with permission from the Southcentral Foundation Public Relations Staff
Opinions and questions about Native to approximately 1.5 million Alaska Native health care, and why it is “free,” surface in and American Indian people who belong to media reports, private conversations and more than 557 federally recognized tribes everywhere in between. The recent passing in 35 states. of the Indian Health Care Reauthorization Tribes may also choose to take specifi c Act in the U.S. Senate–and its subsequent program shares or to become totally Adult Learning Programs of Alaska graduates gather before the start of the 2008 veto threat by President Bush–has put the self-governing. Self-Governance Tribes Commencement. question of why “Native people get free have total control over all of their health- Adult Learning Programs of Alaska (ALPA) held their GED health care” into the spotlight once again. related programs. Alaska tribes took over graduation exercises on Friday, May 23, 2008 at the Pioneer Park What many people do not understand is all contractible functions from the IHS, Exhibit Hall. The 27 men and women, who could personally that Alaska Native and American Indian including health care delivery for the attend, were treated to excellent advice from two instructors, Ms. people have paid for their health services Alaska Native people, making Alaska the April Ghalami and Ms. Barbara Haney and the keynote speaker, in full. fi rst state to do so. In 1998, SCF assumed Representative Jay Ramras. In essence, the health care for indigenous ownership and management of all primary The 200+ families, friends, and guests heard the speakers deliver peoples in the United States has been care services of the Alaska Native Medical messages on perseverance, goals and can-do attitudes along with “prepaid” by agreements related to land Center, most of which are located in the their wish that this step is the fi rst of many toward education, and resources. Alaska Native and American Anchorage Native Primary Care Center. In business and life careers. Indian communities have purchased 1999, Southcentral Foundation became co- Over 150 men and women throughout the Doyon Region received their GED this services from the federal government owner and co-manager of the Alaska Native year–15 from rural and village areas. We are the only offi cial GED examining center through government – to – government Medical Center with the Alaska Native within Interior Alaska. agreements with the United States, captured Tribal Health Consortium, representing all The GED has changed considerably over the last few years, and is now being accepted in numerous treaties and legislation. The 226 Native tribes of Alaska. by major universities, some military branches of the armed forces and private sector Indian Health Service (IHS) oversees these “The Alaska Native Medical Center is a businesses, much like the high school diploma. For more information, please call ALPA services. prize,” said Stevens. “We can literally say it’s toll-free in Alaska at 866-452-6434 or locally at (907) 452-6434 ext. 28. The contractual relationship, established the best health care for indigenous people in 1787, is based on Article I, Section 8 of in the world.” the U.S. Constitution. For some 200 years, By its own calculations, the U.S. the federal government has acknowledged government falls massively short of treaties by passing legislation and providing funding for the provision of providing funding. One of the latest pieces basic health services for Alaska Native of legislation is the Indian Health Care and American Indian Communities. The Reauthorization Act, which has been stalled government provides only 40% of what in Congress for nearly a decade. The Senate would be considered adequate funding. recently passed the bill, which President Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid Bush has threatened to veto. The bill needs made a statement on the fl oor of the U.S. approval from the House of Representatives Senate in February: “Right now, our Native before becoming law. American communities have access to In his remarks at the Healthy Alaska some of the least adequate health care in Native Foundation’s Raven’s Ball, U.S. Sen. America. Far too many Native children are Ted Stevens addressed the bill. “It is a time diagnosed with diabetes, suffer from abuse of great strain for the country to deal with and neglect, or die prematurely because of the rising cost of health care… I think we accidents or illness that could be prevented YUKON 800 CONTINUED from front page... have to concentrate on making sure that or cured. Far too many adults get lost in a we get Alaska’s fair share through Indian sea of bureaucracy and fail to receive the Fairbanks to Tanana, and 15-18 gallons Finally, the return to a Pike’s Landing Health Services.” preventive care and other health benefi ts from Tanana to Galena. The return trip departure is welcome most of all by Jay The land acquired by the United States in they need and deserve.” requires a few more gallons per route since Ramras, who will see many fi ne customers on these deals continues to yield immeasurable The reauthorization of the Indian it’s an upriver challenge. inspection and weigh-in day, one day prior value to the American people. Some of that A new refueling stop now includes to the start, then on race start and return. Health Care Improvement Act passed in the Tanana; a Frontier Flying Service overnight Prior starts at the Chena Campgrounds land is still owned and managed by the U.S. U.S. Senate on February 26, 2008 and now charter will follow the racers and will land offered a different environment and mood, government, and is used for Americans’ awaits the consideration of the U.S. House in Tanana, overnight in Galena, stop again but nothing beats sitting on the deck and business pursuits, such as logging and of Representatives. Once fully enacted into in Tanana, and return to Fairbanks in time enjoying good food and drink as the racers mining, and for recreation. Americans law, this bill would address some of the to view the fi nish. As of press time, there leave the Chena River. Huntington said, have used the land for mining and farming, inadequacies of the current funding. were four open seats. Tom Huntington, one “We made arrangements with Jay Ramras as well as paving and building on it the “Millions of our fi rst Americans await of several race organizers said “I haven’t and it’s their biggest day of the summer–he thousands of towns and cities, and millions had one solicitation turned down.” Interior wanted us back.” our action,” said Reid. “Let’s quickly Alaska appreciates our Interior version of Other races to anticipate include a big of homes, where Americans live and work. pass this bill and send it to the President southern raceway action. affair in Manley Hot Springs on the Fourth In return for this land, IHS serves as for his signature. Let’s let our country’s Further endorsement comes from Inland of July Race in Manley, residents are making the principal federal health care provider Native Americans know that they are not Barge, who will sponsor free freight for big plans for this years’ event. and health advocate for Alaska Native and forgotten, and that we will deliver them the immobile boats. American Indian people, with a goal to raise care that they deserve.” their health status to the highest possible This year’s Fort Yukon Queen level. IHS currently provides health services and Princess are sisters Miranda Solomon and Mariah Joseph, Two $7,500 Law Enforcement Academy daughters of Arlene Joseph. Arlene scholarships available! and grandma Virginia Peter, made Doyon Foundation is pleased to announce that two $7,500 scholarships are Mariah’s dress in less than a day available to Alaska Native students wishing to attend the Law Enforcement Academy (Arlene had existing beadwork at University of Alaska Fairbank’s Tanana Valley Campus. The scholarships, which are open to all Alaska Natives, are generously funded by the Alyeska Pipeline Service for another project) since Mariah Company Alaska Native Program. The next academy will be held August 18– announced her intention at the November 14, 2008 in Fairbanks, Alaska. To apply, download and complete the application packet located at www. last minute, they were corronated doyonfoundation.com. All applications must be received or postmarked by Monday, July 7, 2008. in March during the spring For more information, contact Doris Miller at 907-459-2050, 1-800-478-4755, ext. carnival. 2050 or via email at [email protected].