Dena’ Nena’ Henash • Our Land Speaks Vol. 43, No. 11 A REPORT TO THE MEMBER TRIBES OF TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE November 2018 National Health Leadership tour TCC Region In September, TCC hosted the U.S. including; Allakaket, Alatna, Hughes, the trip. The DHHS Department of Health and Human Koyukuk, Manley, Rampart, Tanana, leaders witnessed Services (HHS) leadership on a tour Eagle, Tok, Nenana, and Old Minto. the interactions of our region where they saw first- Tribal leaders and staff provided vital from both ends and hand the challenges and successes input during the visits as they explained Deptury Secretary in delivering quality health and social the massive infrastructure needs Eric Hargan published services to our tribes and tribal including clinic replacements, water an article on it “From a Physician members. and sewer projects and the expansion Assistant in Fairbanks to a Vending High-level officials such as Deputy of terrestrial broadband internet. Machine in Interior Alaska: Witnessing Secretary Eric Hargan and acting IHS A telemedicine and telepharmacy Tribal Health Solutions Firsthand”. Principal Director Admiral Weahkee demonstration in Hughes and at Chief visited several of our rural communities Andrew was an important highlight for Continued on page 3. Alaska’s 2018 Elections November 6 General Election In This Allakaket Culture & Elder Diabetes Men’s Gathering Wellness Camp Highlight Awareness Review Issue: Page 9 & 10 Page 10 Page 11 Page 15 CHIEF’S REPORT MISSION STATEMENT Tanana Chiefs Conference provides a Dear Tribes and Tribal Members, unified voice in advancing sovereign tribal governments through the promotion I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Halloween! of physical and mental wellness, The holidays are upon us and I hope this letter finds education, socioeconomic development, you all doing well and enjoying time with your families. and culture of the Interior Alaska Native Join us in celebrating 50 years with our Community people. Health Aides! In March 1968 Congress recognized Alaska’s Community Health Aide Program. The program was developed in response to a number of health concerns in rural Alaska including tuberculosis, infant VISION mortality, and unintentional injuries. A unique solution to ensuring access to Healthy, Strong, Unified Tribes care, the Alaska Tribal Health System and TCC recognizes the dedication of the past, present, and future Community Health Aides and Community Health Practitioners. To learn more about the history of the Community Health Aide program, see page 7. TCC was honored to host the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC). Tribal leaders from across our nation and agency leads from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) including Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan and IHS acting director, Admiral Weahkee attended the three day meeting. Deputy Secretary Hargan, DHHS agency leads, TCC Health Director Jacoline TCC EXECUTIVE Bergstrom and I were able to visit Allakaket, Alatna, Hughes, Koyukuk, Manley, BOARD MEMBERS Rampart and Tanana. Tribal leaders and DHHS staff also visited Eagle, Tok, Donald Honea Sr./Ruby Nenana, and Old Minto. You can learn more about these meetings on page 1. 1st Traditional Chief During the visit, Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan and SAMHSA, Assistant Secretary Dr. McCance Katz announced that TCC will be receiving two awards Trimble Gilbert/Arctic Village totaling $5.7 Million in grants towards our wellness initiatives and opioid 2nd Traditional Chief prevention. Healthy Transitions Grant: TCC is receiving $5 million over five years to Victor Joseph/ Tanana provide severe mental health services among youth and young adults 16-25 Chief/Chairman years of age. Tribal Opioid Response Grant: Over the next two years will be receiving just Julie Roberts-Hyslop/Tanana over $700,000 to increase access to culturally appropriate and evidence-based Vice President treatment, including medication-assisted treatment for opioid disorders. Jerry Isaac/Tanacross Last month, we finished our fall subregional meetings with the Lower Yukon Secretary/Treasurer in Holy Cross. Topics of discussion included transportation, BLM coastal land management plan, and intertribal courts. A special thank you to the hosting William “Chaaiy” Albert/Northway communities Minto, Venetie, Tetlin; Ruby, McGrath, and Holy Cross and those Upper Tanana who planned and prepared for these successful meetings. I would like to thank Governor Walker for all of the work he has done to improve Nick Alexia Sr./Nikolai the State and Tribal relationship as well as all he has done for the State of Upper Kuskokwim Alaska. Last month, he honorably stepped out of the race for re-election in hopes to put the needs of Alaskans first. I hope you all took this opportunity to Nancy James/Fort Yukon vote. Yukon Flats Thanksgiving is right around the corner and I hope that you spend it surrounded by family and friends. It’s important that we take this time to pause and reflect Eugene Paul/Holy Cross Lower Yukon on all that we have to be thankful for and the blessings that have been granted to us. Frank Thompson/ Evansville As always, all of us here at TCC continue to work towards our vision of Healthy, Yukon Tanana Strong, Unified Tribes. Norman ‘Carl’ Burgett/ Huslia Yukon Koyukuk Ana Bassee, Victor Joseph Peter Demoski/Nulato Chief/Chairman Elder Advisor Jolie Murray/Beaver Youth Advisor 2 TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE • THE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER National Health Leadership tour TCC Region Continued... While in Fairbanks they had the TCC staff and other community “Our ultimate goal is to bring services opportunity to tour FNA headquarters members were joined at the hall by to the people in our rural communities and headstart classes, and Chief Governor Bill Walker, Lt. Gov Byron through a 3 tiered approach, focusing Andrew Isaac Health Center, the Mallott and DHHS Commissioner on prevention efforts, substance abuse Sobering Center, and our Community Valerie Davidson. treatment and medication assisted Health Aide training center. HSS Provides Funding for Opioid treatment,” said TCC’s Deputy TCC’s Cultural Programs hosted Addiction Treatment Director of Health Services, Marilyn a special showing of the Cultural One of the highlights of the week Andon, regarding how TCC plans to Connection show, where Alaska was when Deputy Hargan announced use these funds, “Although we don’t Native youth performed and explained that both Tanana Chiefs Conference have an exact estimate of the number some of the traditional dances, jigs, and the Fairbanks Native Association of people with an opioid disorder in and answered questions about their were awarded grant funding through our region, several indicators suggest traditions, culture, and history. HHS’s Substance Abuse and Mental it is 2% and has been increasing over A special potlatch took place at the Health Services Administration the past few years. This funding is Chief David Salmon Tribal Hall in (SAMHSA) to combat opioid addiction coming at a good time, we can try to Fairbanks to welcome the Secretary and improve access to treatment and get ahead of this opioid crisis before Tribal Advisory Committee tribal support services for youth and young it hits our area hard. In 2017, of 581 leaders, and the DHHS leadership and adults living with serious mental patients that were tested, 88 (15%) staff to the Interior. Native leadership, disorders. has a positive screen for an opioid.” Governor Walker visits Galena On October 6, TCC staff traveled with Governor Bill Walker, Commissioner of Health and Social Services, Valerie Davidson, and Director of Transportation & Public Facilities, Ryan Anderson, Tribal Chiefs and TCC staff to Galena. This was a chance for the Galena community and Tribal Chiefs from Huslia, Koyukuk, Nulato, Ruby and Galena to discuss education, lack of housing in villages, airport and road maintenance, and water and sewer concerns with the Governor. TANANA CHIEFS CONFERENCE • THE COUNCIL NEWSLETTER 3 Get your Jig Onat the Gwich’in Athabascan Fiddle Dance In 2010, Athabascan fiddler Bill November. Now that the dances have been Stevens and Traditional Chief Trimble Fiddle music was first brought to rekindled, Judify Henry from Venetie Gilbert approached Tanana Chiefs Alaska by fur traders who set up a comes to every one. Arriving fully Conference Cultural Program Director trading post on the Yukon River in the decked out in a moose hide vest Dixie Alexander with a request— 1840s. The music with roots in and caribou skin boots, he buys document the traditional Scotland and French Canada, extra admission tickets for friends so Gwich’in Athabascan and the accompanying jigs, he’ll have a partner for every dance. square dances so people reels, and square dances, Elder Elise Pitka doesn’t dance, but will remember them. caught on quickly with the she comes to watch the jiggers. She Just like the loss of Gwich’in tribes who were arrives when the doors open to claim traditional art forms and the first to hear this “new” her seat and enjoy moose soup and languages, the dances music. It was adapted and frybread; she doesn’t leave until well that used to fill the tribal integrated into traditional past midnight when the clean-up crew halls in the villages were Indigenous celebrations, is done. being forgotten. Instead of and passed on to the next The jig contest draws dozens of simply filming the dances for historical generation at village celebrations that contestants who take the floor two at purposes, Alexander did something lasted long into the night and until the a time to show off their fast jig and better. She created the Gwich’in sun came up. beautiful moccasins. The perennial Athabascan Fiddle Dance at the “The musicians played so long that favorites are the youngest dancers, Morris Thompson Cultural and Visitors there was a permanent indentation who spin around the floor with their Center, where the old-time dances are from the strings on their fingers,” parents, grandparents, aunties and the highlight of the night.