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. 32, NO. 5 A REPORT TO THE MEMBER TRIBES OF THE TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE AUGUST 2007 Family Wellness Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center Update Warriors Initiative Construction reaches 48% Native Hire in June By Robert Heffle, Southcentral Foundation By Tanya Beatus, Researcher & Cultural Program Planner, Morris Thompson Center The Family Wellness Warriors education. Initiative will host a Beauty For Ashes This training builds skills to increase Our contract GHEMM Company for the construction of the Morris Thompson conference in Fairbanks November 5-10, a person’s ability to deal effectively with the Cultural and Visitors Center mandates two specific Native-hire goals: 25% of the total in Fairbanks, . issues of domestic violence, abuse, and workforce is to be Alaska Native and 10% of the total construction cost ought to go to Abuse issues are such prevalent neglect. Ultimately, individuals experience qualified Alaska Native subcontractors. In June, GHEMM attained 48% Native hire. problems for Alaskan families that few have personal growth that filters into all fields With a total of 71 employees working on the project, 34 were Alaska Native. Seven worked been spared the impact. During 2001, there of work as well as better equips them to directly for GHEMM . The remaining worked for the following subcontractors: Exclusive were 7,271 reported cases of domestic assist those in need. Participants enter a Paving, Iron, Incorporated, Skippy, Incorporated, Denali Mechanical and Fulford Electric. violence, according to the Alaska safe environment where pain can be shared Thus far, GHEMM has two subcontractors that are Native-owned: Becker Trucking and Interior Concrete. Department of Public Safety’s Council on and hope can be restored by joining with Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault. others in a healing journey, and exploring Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC) will be receiving monthly reports from the contractors detailing the Alaska Native women are victims of stories and events that have touched their domestic violence 4.5 times more often lives. percentage of Alaska Native/American Indian hire. If you are a Journeyman Electrician and are interested in than non-Native women. In 1995, 80% of Topics such as anger, shame, and homicides investigated by the Alaska State working on the project, we urge you to call IBEW at recovery are presented through large group (907) 456-4248 or visit 60 Hall Street (across from TCC Troopers were related to domestic violence. teachings and explored in a small group In 1998, Alaska had the highest rate among parking lot) weekdays from 8 – 5 pm except for lunch. setting. Through a sense of community For those who would like to get started working as the 50 states for rape. Alaska has 6 times and the development of relationships, the national average of reported child Journeymen please call Tom Minder at (907)479-4449 trained leaders compassionately address or visit the Kornfiend Training Center on Dale Road. abuse cases. the dignity of the individual in the context Topping Out Ceremony The Family Wellness Warriors of facing life honestly, in a way that invites th Initiative (FWWI) addresses the core heart change. To date, over 500 people July 26 marked another special moment for the issues of abuse from the perspective of statewide have received direct training to Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center when emotional, mental, spiritual and physical respond to and to help prevent domestic the Iron Workers Local 751 performed the “topping out” wellness. The goal is to break the cycle of violence, abuse and neglect in Anchorage ceremony. “Topping out” is the term used by ironworkers abuse in Alaska in this generation. and throughout the State of Alaska. to indicate that the final piece of steel is being hoisted into place on a building. The project is not complete, Intervention is aimed at healing the Registration costs are $475 per person damage of abuse and preventing future but it has reached its maximum height. To with a $50 non refundable registration fee commemorate this first milestone the final piece of iron abuse, for men and women whose lives and any applicable transportation costs. have been touched by domestic violence, th is usually hoisted into place with a small evergreen tree Ryan McCarty Those who register by September 10 will and an American flag attached. child or sexual abuse. Although receive a $75 dollar discount. Those who Southcentral Foundation’s primary focus cannot afford the registration cost can is to serve Alaska Native people, both apply for a limited number of scholarships. Native and non-Native individuals, Space is limited, so participants must families and communities are welcome and complete the application process as soon encouraged to attend FWWI events. as possible. For additional information The Initiative is unique because it does about the conference, please contact not just treat symptoms, FWWI addresses Family Wellness Warrior’s Initiative at and promotes healing for wounded hearts (907) 729-5440 or email Clair Kee at and minds through intensive training and [email protected].

University of Alaska Fairbanks Interior Aleutians Campus

Do you like animals? The UAF Veterinary Science Program could be for you! Fun things you will learn: Basic animal care & husbandry knowledge, protecting animals from disease, how to work with food animals--all while working toward a certificate degree or higher! Scholarships are available! For more information, call toll-free 888-474-5207. Cultural Programs and Exhibit Task Force Tanana Chiefs Conference has hired Dixie Alexander of Athabascan Designs as a short-term contractor to assist with the development of the exhibits and cultural programs for the Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center. Dixie worked with Doyon, Limited in selecting and acquiring art pieces for their facility. Her experience Wood Energy Conference with the artist community and with cultural events and programs will be invaluable to the project. We look forward to working with Dixie. In cooperation with the Alaska Wood Energy Development Task Group Antlers Needed (AWEDTG), TCC will be hosting a statewide conference on wood energy this fall. The AWEDTG is a group of organizations and agencies from around Alaska whose We’re looking for more than 500 moose, caribou or reindeer antlers to be used in mission is to increase the use of wood for energy and biofuels production in Alaska. an antler arch on the Center’s grounds. If you have some to donate, either from your The conference will be held at the Chena River Convention Center in Fairbanks on home or from fall hunting and berry picking trips, call (907) 459-3880 or email November 14-15, and will involve speakers, presentations, and demonstrations on [email protected] or drop them off at TCC. the opportunities and technologies available to help Alaska communities use local forest resources to become more energy self-sufficient. The conference is titled “Alaska Wood Energy Conference: Renewable Energy for Alaskan Communities” and will be an exciting opportunity for people in our villages interested in energy issues to 2008 regional calendar become more informed on opportunities and potential with using wood and other forms of biomass for local energy production. We hope to see good representation We are happy to announce that preparation has begun for a 2008 regional from our villages at the conference, and will be working to pull together support to calendar! The deadline to submit photos is September 28, 2007-no exceptions! help people attend. Anybody who is interested in staying informed on the details of Email or phone Ginger Placeres, Editor, at [email protected] or toll- the conference should contact Will Putman, Director of TCC Forestry, toll-free at free at 800-478-6682 regarding electronic images (jpgs or eps only). Emailed 800-478-6682 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3373 or email photos should be 200 dpi and no less than 3 inches wide. Please identify the people [email protected]. We will keep you posted on conference details as the and location of the photo. Provide your name and phone number--photos will be conference organizing progresses. rejected if there is missing information. Photo credit will not be given due to the large amount of anticipated submissions. PAGE 2 • THE COUNCIL • AUGUST 2007 Tanana Chiefs Conference Human Resources Department By Sophie Brodigan, Director, Human Resources

The Council is a monthly report to the member tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Earlier this month I reported on the Comp Analyst project; Joel Titus, Human Conference, in accordance with agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Resources Generalist, has worked hard to complete this project. We were assured that and the Indian Health Service. Letters to the editor, other written contributions there would be about a week’s turnaround for them to complete it. This should be a and photo submissions are welcome. However, space is limited and program useful tool for us. oriented news has priority. TCC reserves the right to edit or reject material. Human Resources (HR) was also involved in Oracle Training the week of July 23- Letters and opinions are not necessarily the opinions of Tanana Chiefs 27. We received an introduction to the Oracle Human Capital Management Modules. We Conference. Material submitted anonymously will not be published. look forward to applying processes as Human Resources will begin the new hire and Contributions and questions may be directed to: employee maintenance this week. Gloria Finney, HR Program Assistant, will be The Council responsible for the data entry. During Gloria’s absence, Joel Titus will begin the data Ginger Placeres, Editor entry in collaboration with Dorothy Dayton of Payroll. We are also looking at utilizing Tanana Chiefs Conference I Recruitment and Oracle Advanced Benefits. We look forward to enhancements which 122 First Avenue, Suite 600 will be tailored to the particular needs of our organization. This should assist HR and Fairbanks, Alaska 99701 hopefully streamline some of the problems we have in recruitment and benefits administration and our ability to export reports with just a few clicks. Phone: (907) 452-8251 ext. 3570 Michelle Andon, HR Generalist, has been very receptive and proactive with Health Toll-free within Alaska: Services issues and management has requested that she focus all her time doing nothing 1-800-478-6822 ext. 3570 but health services work. Because this will create a void in our benefits administration, Toll-free from outside Alaska: a major function of her job as HR Generalist, we are recruiting for another HR employee. 1-800-770-8251 ext. 3570 We are excited about this opportunity for Michelle and hope for a smooth transition for Fax: (907) 459-3851 our small department. E-mail: [email protected] Fairbanks Job Listings IN InTHIS This IssueISSUE Tanana Chiefs Conference

Please visit our website at www.tananachiefs.org for detailed information. Soon Tanana Chiefs Conference...... 1-3 applicants may file their completed forms online, we will announce the option when it’s available. **All listings are “open until filled” unless specified by a date. News for our People...... 4 Dental Assistant Trainee August 16 Mental Health File Clerk/Receptionist - Dental Assistant August 10 on-call, full-time Associate Counsel Mid-level Practitioner (Physician’s Agriculture & Business Office Manager Assistant or Advanced Nurse Practitioner) Camp Counselor-Old Minto Family on-call Horticulture Agent Recovery Camp Program Manager-Old Minto Family Clinical Registered Nurse Full/part- Recovery Camp My name is Heidi Rader and I’ve recently been hired as the Agriculture and Horticulture time, weekends Patient Hostel Residential Support Staff Agent for TCC and the University of Alaska Community Diabetes Patient Educator -temporary, on-call Fairbanks (UAF) Cooperative Extension Services. & Care Coordinator Paul Williams House Residential Care I’m excited to learn more about your culture, Community Health Practitioner/ Coordinator traditions, and how agriculture contributes to your Instructor Pharmacist subsistence lifestyle. Dental Assistant, on-call Pharmacy Director I’ve worked for local farms and greenhouses Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis Pharmacy Technician I in the Fairbanks area since I was 14. Although & Treatment Coordinator Program Assistant-Self Governance has some unique challenges for Environmental Technician I Program Coordinator-Home Care agriculture, it also provides some important Fisheries Project Crew Leader Quality Management Coordinator benefits--such as our long summer days. I love trying new varieties and experimenting with crops Health Finance/Contract Health Regional Instructor that aren’t traditionally grown in our area. Director Security Guard Working on different farms around town has given Help Desk Coordinator-temporary Tobacco Policy/Educator Coordinator me the opportunity to grow a lot of different Internal Auditor things--like corn, roses, watermelons, coffee, Medical Provider strawberries, and apple trees using a variety of techniques including plastic and heat! For my master’s thesis in Natural Resources at UAF I did experiments with high tunnels, which are basically 2007 Self-Governance low cost and low maintenance greenhouses for field crops. They are great for keeping moose out and protecting vegetables from frost as well as increasing overall yields. Strategy Session I’m from Fairbanks originally and have enjoyed gardening in Interior Alaska since I was old enough to eat carrots and Fort Yukon peas from my mom’s garden. Growing up in Alaska has taught Aug. 22-23 September 12-13th me to enjoy the great outdoors whatever the season— Food Preservation gardening and fishing in the summer, berry picking and Workshop Grand Casino Hinckley hunting in the fall, and skiing and climbing in the winter. in Hinckley, Minnesota Whatever your interests in gardening are, let me know Galena how I can help you. I’ll keep you posted on future projects Aug. 24-25 Salmon/ On-site registration fee is $125. For more and goals and I look forward to hearing from you. Call toll- Meat canning & information, call the Self-Governance Communication free 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3477 or Agricultural Fair email [email protected]. & Education Staff at (360) 752-2270.

TCC Eye Clinic Have a question for a Tanana Chiefs Tentative Fall Village Travel Schedule Conference department? Tanana: week of September 10 If you have a legitimate question for Tanana Chiefs Conference and would like to see it addressed in this newsletter, please contact Ginger Placeres, Editor, Anaktuvuk Pass: week of September 25 via U.S. mail at 122 First Avenue, Suite 600, Fairbanks, AK 99701, or via email at Hughes/Huslia: week of November 11 [email protected]. I will not accept phone calls. Provide your Stevens Village: week of November 26 name, number, and home community. Your name will be published with the question. Chalkyitsik: week of December 3 President Isaac approves this method of open communication with a genuine The exact dates and times will be announced as time approaches. For questions, desire to have your question answered. Be respectful and allow this forum to be please call toll-free 800-478-6682 ext. 3220. utilized maturely. I reserve the right to reject any question. AUGUST 2007 • THE COUNCIL • PAGE 3 Tanana Chiefs Conference

Supporters of the 2005 Your Leaders Alaska Federation of Natives Convention Tanana Chiefs Conference continues the introductions of new Thank you for your financial support! and returning representatives of our non-profit organization. There are six Executive Board members who are elected by the Full Board As we approach the second Fairbanks convention, we want to recognize prior supporters who helped make the 2005 convention possible. This year’s theme is “Living of Directors. Their responsibility is to oversee policy changes and each Cultures in the North.” You can make your hotel reservations by calling toll-free 888- represents one of our six subregions. 768-3282. For more information, call (907) 457-3282 or visit the Fairbanks Convention and Visitors Bureau website at www.explorefairbanks.com. Julie Roberts-Hyslop of Tanana, Alaska, is the Yukon-Tanana Executive board member A&W Wholesale: $650 Northern Air Cargo: $800 for Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC). From a In-kind: decorations, triple stone, In-kind: Hospitality tent (3,500 lbs) large family, she is the middle child of mosquito time mist dispensers shipped round-trip to Anchorage Josephine and the late Lawrence Roberts. Alaska Raw Fur: $1,800 Originally there were ten children, and now Pikes Landing: $100 Julie has eight siblings and of course, a very In-kind: Wolf pelt door prize In-kind: meals as door prizes large extended family. Married to Tom Hyslop, Alaska RV Rentals: $1,414 Steve Frank & Linda Anderson, Rivers they have three sons and two daughters: Nick, In-kind: RV as warming hut at Carlson Edge Resort: $1,000 Harris, Raymond, Sherlyn Titus, and Misty Center for volunteers. In-kind: Catering Riley. Julie also has six grandchildren. Fairbanks Convention & Visitors UA Museum of the North: $3,000 In addition to her role with TCC, she Bureau: $150,000 In-kind: Elders’ Reception serves on the Tanana Tribal Council as Vice In-kind: Staff, promotional materials, Volunteers in Policing: $3,000 President, her third year and second term. advertising, Housing Software, web In-kind: Event security Prior to that, Julie was their Executive Director design Warbelow’s Air Ventures: $5,500 for 10 years, and oversaw about 20 employees Fairbanks North Star Borough: $92,000 In-kind: Round-trip Airline tickets from through the very independent compacting/ In-kind: Waived Carlson Center fees, each village served by Warbelow’s 638 tribe that Tanana is. When asked what her Pioneer Park fees, 20% staff time Westmark Hotel & Convention Center: priorities were for her people today, Julie Frontier Flying Service: $25,000 $500 quickly responded, “Making sure that villages In-kind: Airline Tickets In-kind: 5 meeting rooms are going to survive. I really am concerned Guns Down Under: $250 about villages that are experiencing dwindling populations, young people moving Petrostar: $10,000 away. What can we do to bring young people back home? Outmigration and losing In-kind: Knife Door Prize In-kind: Fuel for pavilion a lot of our culture are my concerns today. When you move out [of your community], Holland America and Princess Tours: Big Ray’s: $150 you can’t retain your culture the same way as living there.” $54,000 In-kind: Clothing She talks of how times have changed for Native people and it’s effect on younger In-kind: Three days motorcoach New Horizons: $66 generations and the disconnect from former lifestyles, “My mom is 85 years old transportation during Elders & Youth In-kind: Framing & Mounting and she’s slowly losing her memories of her times at winter camp, spring camp, and Hot Licks Ice Cream: $29 Spenard Building Supply: $250 summer camp. My children don’t know that lifestyle and I can’t expect them to Ice Cream for Youth Dance In-kind: Makita Drill know that, but I want them to understand how strong our elders had to be in their Hotel Group/Comfort Inn: $240 Media, assorted: $9,000 lifetime. Being proud of who we are and where we came from is so important to a In-kind: 4 days room & board In-kind: Matched ad budget Native person, especially our young men; those who don’t have that opportunity to Information Insights: $17,000 experience where we came from, the beauty of the animals, our surroundings, how KTVF Channel 11 (NBC): $2,000 peaceful and connected and the good feeling that comes from being tied to the In-kind: television ads and matched cost Total Community Support land.” Marsh Lakes Tents: $1,500 $370,749 Julie has spent many years in leadership for Tanana, serving on the local school In-kind: Fuel for pavilion board, for Headstart, the City Council, Athabascan Indian Tribal College, water and sewer, the village corporation, and was anExecutive Board member in the past. She has been involved in regional politics for many years. She enjoys traveling, something she got an early start on, “I was selected to go on a foreign study program to Japan when I was 16. From there I really developed Anvik’s Brownfields Technician an awareness of other cultures. Two years later I went to Spain with the Sheldon Shannon Chase-Jensen is Jackson Junior College. I really appreciate my own culture, and have an admiration originally from Anvik, Alaska, and grew for others.” She’s been to Canada several times for the Yukon River Panel, a up in McGrath. Shortly after cooperative board between Canada and the that specifically works graduation, she left Alaska to attend toward protecting, enhancing, and restoring Yukon River Salmon. “We work closely college in Tempe, Arizona, where she with the Canadian government and all villages along the Yukon River. I was appointed by Governor Hickel, a privilege I really appreciate.” She loves hunting, received her degree in Advertising fishing, camping, picking blueberries, sewing, traveling, and mostly being outdoors. Design. After a 15-year absence, Shannon returned to Anvik in 1996 to be closer to family. She is married with three children ages ten, three, and one. Her parents are Ken Chase of Anvik and   Adele Chase (nee Demoski) of Koyukon Pride Anchorage. Shannon currently works for the Anvik Tribal Council’s Environmental Department as the Brownfields Technician since August 2006. The Anvik Tribal Council was awarded a Tribal Response Program grant in 2005 from the Environmental Protection Agency to address the issue of contaminated lands. Brownfield sites are real properties that are abandoned or underutilized due to real or perceived contamination, and have the potential to be redeveloped or reused after clean-up. Shannon supports the philosophy behind environmental protection, saying “Brownfields is fairly new to Rural Alaska and we have a lot to learn about the entire process of clean- up and redevelopment. There is funding out there for rural communities and I encourage any village to research whether or not one of the EPA’s grants fit their needs.” As for Anvik’s commitment, Shannon says “We are currently in our second year of funding, the first being capacity building for the program, and hope to address two potentially contaminated sites before the end of this year’s funding period in September. We are basically recycling land that has been contaminated. The sites that are on our priority list and some ideas we have for redevelopment are: Community Park, playground, boat landing, recreational area, and historical preserve. It’s a slow process in getting to actual work on the land, but we’re excited and look forward to seeing some results.” Shannon’s responsibilities include developing and implementing these concepts, maintaining the public record, developing an implementation plan for their Tribal Response Plan, training of responders and clean-up workers, and pursuing future funding Team members, left to right: Bernice Moore, Desiree Joseph, Verla Esmailka, Carla toward this endeavor. The Anvik Tribal Council Environmental Department is also Saunders, Becky Ridley, Sarah Vent (Malamute after 9/8/07), Doreen Deaton, Sheila working on its website and it can be viewed at www.anviktribalcouncil.com. Click on Esmailka & Euphrasia Demoski. Not pictured: Doris Kubanyi, Justina Demoski, the “brownfield” section for other resource tabs. Ava Laughlin, Kim Nicholas, Laura Saunders, Patti Brown, and Christine Attla. In addition to working full-time, Shannon is currently attaining a nursing and Koyukon Pride is a Fairbanks-based softball team made up of several women from science degree through the University of Alaska Fairbanks. She has a long history of within the region. With 15 wins and 9 losses, Koyukon Pride won 3rd Place in the Midnight working in health care; she worked for the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium at Sun One-Pitch Tournament in June. Thanks and appreciation to Doyon,Limited and the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, and for the Yukon Kuskokwim Health Wright’s Air for their sponsorship. The team would like to thank Verla Esmailka for Corporation in Bethel. In her spare time Shannon likes doing crafts, reading, fishing, being a wonderful coach, as well as Rocky Peters for being their #1 fan and scorekeeper. hunting, boating, and writing. PAGE 4 • THE COUNCIL • AUGUST 2007 News for Our People

Autumn Art Show in Fairbanks Young Native Fiddlers ** Fairbanks Resource Agency (FRA) will host its fourth annual Autumn Art Show Thursday, October18th, in conjunction with FRA’s 12th annual Night of Comedy. The By Maryanne Allan, Founder, Young show, held at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel, is an eclectic mix of media and artists Native Fiddlers who are FRA clients, staff or friends—but mainly provides a venue for artists with ** disabilities to showcase their work. The show, which is from 5-7 pm, is free and open Young Native Fiddlers is a group of to the public. There will be live music and refreshments. Alaska Native students, predominantly Special guest artist at the FRA Art Show this year is Erik Behnke of Homer, a Athabascan, ranging in age from Music and Literacy kindergarten through high school. These young adult artist with Down syndrome and autism. Behnke is known around the Meaning is expressed in a much wider state for his distinctive, colorful style, using felt tip markers, pens and watercolors. students receive individual violin instruction for one half-hour per week at array of representational forms than just His originals, prints and cards are uniquely Alaskan and feature wildlife and scenery. their school during the school day (non- reading and writing. Included in this array He also branches out with zoo animals, pets and athletes. academic times) or before or after school are visual arts, dance and music. These are The FRA Art Committee is seeking artists with disabilities to participate in the by a violin instructor who travels to each important ways for expressing ideas, show. The deadline to apply is September 28th. The art may also be displayed at Denali of their schools. And on Saturdays, Bill images, feelings, and for exploring issues State Bank’s Golden Heart Branch on Airport Way from September 7-28th. For more Stevens teaches traditional songs that are that are meaningful to students. information, contact Robin Boggs at (907) 456-8901 or email [email protected]. popular in the Alaskan interior. Young The arts, including music, are a Native Fiddlers performs at many events communication system. This “fiddler” during the year such as the Athabascan program explores music as a literacy International Fiddle Festival, The Festival of Native Arts, expressing personal and cultural meaning. school events, and the Doyon, Limited In nearly all of the case studies one Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Day annual shareholders’ meetings. They were researcher looked at of students who have even invited to play at an opening been successful in school, significant September 9th reception for the Alaska Federation of involvement in activities beyond Natives Conference in 2005. academics was a key component. These music lessons are that extra activity. By Jennifer Schmidt, Public Health Nurse, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Advisory Board Making Connections I started the Young Native Fiddlers, Violin Lessons September 9th is International Fetal Day, please share this information with formerly Fairbanks Junior Fiddlers, The FNSBSD and the Alaska Native Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) Day. People your family, coworkers, and others who can because I wanted to provide Alaska Native Education Program (thank you, Deseree world wide have set aside this day to help prevent Fetal Alcohol-related birth students with an opportunity to make Wright) have made it possible for the commemorate the lives of those who defects and who might provide important connections. I applied for grants children to receive these lessons at their experience the effects of alcohol consumed information and support to individuals and became involved in fundraising to be schools. The instructors are paid for with by their mother during pregnancy. These and families who are struggling with the able to provide weekly violin lessons for grants and donations. The number of children and adults are at risk for minor results of prenatal alcohol exposure. each child. Young Native Fiddlers aims to children who are able to participate and major learning disabilities, behavioral give these children individual violin lessons depends on the amount of funding I am Consider these facts about Fetal Alcohol so that they will have a chance of earning problems, and physical birth defects of the able to obtain for the program which is a Spectrum Disorders: a place in their junior high and high school heart and other vital organs. Individuals charitable tax-exempt program. Besides FASD is 100% preventable; orchestras, thus making a connection to who experience these difficulties are  contributions in the past two years from Damage can be done before a their school and ultimately staying in the Charlotte Martin Foundation, Doyon, characterized by the diagnosis Fetal Alcohol woman knows that she is pregnant; school. And perhaps even more Limited, CIRI, Youth Sports Bingo, North Syndrome (FAS) or the term Fetal Alcohol  FASD is the leading known cause of importantly, these lessons prepare them Pole Physical Therapy, Fairbanks Memorial Spectrum Disorders (FASD). brain damage; with “the basics” so that they are ready to Hospital, Evert’s Air Cargo, Wright Air The damage caused by prenatal Prenatal exposure to alcohol can cause study with traditional Athabascan old time Service, and the Fairbanks Ear, Nose, and alcohol exposure is permanent, but problems with learning, behavioral fiddlers and develop a connection to their Throat Clinic, we were given funding for individuals and families who receive control, language development, cultural communities. It is clear, when this year’s program for the first time from proper evaluations and support are better problem solving and judgment; these young fiddlers perform on stage they the Fairbanks Arts Association Bedtax able to develop strategies that will help Alcohol causes more damage to are carrying on this 150-year-old tradition Regrant Program for which I am extremely them be more successful at home, in school babies than any other drug; of fiddling. One participant said a few years grateful. We will likely start the year with and in the workplace. Individuals who are No amount of alcohol is safe during ago after a performance, “This is when I approximately 25 students in grades one not appropriately evaluated and supported pregnancy, the brain is the only really feel Native!” through nine. Saturday workshops should are at greater risk of dropping out of organ that develops throughout the Culture and School be starting in mid-September. Bill Stevens school, having employment problems, or entire pregnancy, making it Researchers who are writing currently will be teaching the advanced students but being incarcerated. Early diagnosis and particularly vulnerable to alcohol; about the cultural and academic lives of at this time, I am unsure about the appropriately treated FASD enhances and For the majority of those affected, and American Indians agree instructor for the advanced beginner/ supports individuals, families and society. FASD is an invisible birth defect; on one thing; cultural strength bodes well intermediate students. Josephine A FASD individual may look their for academic success. Researchers say: Malemute will be helping us out with If you know a child or a family who guitar. may be struggling with the effects of age, but may function intellectually • The more academically successful Future Plans prenatal alcohol exposure, what can you and emotionally younger than their Native students are more likely to be years; those who are firmly rooted in their Future plans include a trip to Weiser, do? Encourage them to talk to their health  care provider about their concern so that FASD is found in all socioeconomic Native community. Idaho for the National Old Time Fiddling the individual can get appropriate groups and in all races, wherever • “Failure rates are more likely for competition in June of 2009. Bill Stevens has already started to prepare the children. evaluations of their problems. They may women drink, Fetal Alcohol youth who feel disenfranchised from If you are interested in supporting this also contact the Fairbanks FAS Diagnostic Spectrum disorders exist; their culture and at the same time  program, or our efforts to get to Idaho, or Team through Alaska Center for Children The cost of lost human potential experience racial conflict. if you are interested in your child and Adults at (907) 456-4003 for related to FASD is immeasurable; • “More and more research shows that The cost of providing services to an the Indian student who is ‘grounded’ participating in Young Native Fiddlers, you information regarding evaluations and the can reach me at resources available to children and families. FASD individual has been estimated in his or her Indian culture has lower absenteeism, dropout rates, [email protected]. For Go online to www.acca-ilp.org, click on to be $1.5-2 million dollars over their higher test scores, and is more likely information about Young Native Fiddlers, “Faces” for more information. lifespan; and,  to advance to higher education and or to see pictures of the lovely benches th FASD lasts a lifetime. On September 9 , FASD Awareness return to their own tribe valuable made by fiddler parent, Donna Blackburn knowledge and skills both needed and painted by local artist, Jim Allan as a fund raiser, you may check out the website and wanted by tribal elders and at http://mallan.hypermart.net and click leaders.” As much as $5,000 for Artists on Young Native Fiddlers.

September 1, 2007 is the postmark deadline to apply for the Rasmuson Foundation Individual Artist Project Award! Memorial Potlatch in Tanana, Alaska The Individual Artist Project Award August 30 - September 1, 2007 grants up to $5,000 for emerging, mid-career, or mature artists to accomplish specific, short- Fred Starr term projects that have a benefit to the artist and the development of his/her work. Esther Walsh The Awards will fund individual artists In loving memory of: Teddy Jordan working in any artistic discipline, and whose work is defined by excellence and reflects any of the diverse cultural communities in Alaska. Freddy Jordan Applicants should also note the change in work sample requirements. Program Please feel free to contact Ava Walsh Edwardsen at guidelines and application information can be found at the Foundation website (907)366-7279 or Dorothy Jordan (907)366-7358 for any www.rasmuson.org, or by calling (907) 297-2700, or toll-free (877) 366-2700. further information.