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December
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P.O. Box 1110
Kotzebue, AK 99752 (907) 442-2500 (800) 478-1110 (AK only) Fax (907) 442-2930 Borough Home Past E-Bulletins |
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Whalebone mask by Enoch Norton In addition to the Northwest Arctic Borough arts & crafts posted for sale in this month's e-bulletin, works and artist information can be viewed at: |
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 Mayor's
Corner |
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Traditional Food Security in
the Arctic It was a privilege and pleasure to attend an international Arctic Native conference in Quebec City, Canada earlier this month. The subject of this special meeting of indigenous arctic people from around the world was the security of our traditional food supply, particularly fish and wildlife. The conference, which was held at Laval University, attracted about 150 people from Russia, Scandinavia, Greenland, Canada and Alaska. The range of concerns was broad due to the very different forms of government and legal issues in the countries that were represented. However, a commitment to preserving our ability to harvest healthy, traditional food was the common bond between all those in attendance. While there are a variety of factors that influence the availability and quality of traditional foods, such as pollution, competition for the resource among different users, and climatic changes, the laws of the different countries have the most impact. In Greenland, for example, where the population is predominately Native people, the law allows hunters and fishermen to sell their products directly to the consumers. (Can you even imagine being able to sell moose or caribou meat in our country?) It was also interesting to learn that in the Russian arctic, where coal is used extensively for heat and production of electricity, the resulting ash has had an adverse effect on the vegetation and game animals. There was also a presentation on the changing meaning of the word "subsistence". Obviously, the word no longer describes the entire social setting of Inuit society, as it once did. The entrance of capitalism into the lives of most Native people, which has largely resulted in mixed gathering and cash systems, has served to redefine subsistence. Unfortunately, there is no widespread agreement on exactly what subsistence means in today's world, especially among those who look upon our culture from the outside. That is one of the reasons that the subject is so hard to deal with politically. It was suggested that we work toward developing a specific definition of subsistence that will reflect the new realities of the world. The conference reconfirmed the health value of our traditional foods, especially when compared to the processed foods that are found in stores. Those who gather food by fishing, hunting or berry picking also have the added health benefit of all that exercise. We have new friends in Greenland, Finland, Chukotka and Canada as a result of this conference and I learned much from them. While our languages and governments may be very different, we have a special bond as northern Native people. Among ourselves, there is no need to ponder the meaning of subsistence. It flows within us. |
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Selawik and Shungnak Focus
on Tradition The Borough Economic Development Commission met last Friday in the new Assembly Chambers to review program activity and discuss grant proposals. The meeting was directed by Acting Chairman John Schaeffer, a member of our Borough Assembly. The meeting was the first for my two most recent appointees to the Commission, Kim Franklin and Lucy Nelson. Kim represents Wells Fargo Bank and Lucy is employed at KIC. A key feature of the meeting was approval of grants to a group of Selawik artists and Shungnak School. Both represent a movement toward traditional values and activity and local economic development. A Borough-sponsored carving and scrimshaw workshop in Selawik this past summer attracted over twenty residents. Since that time, we have encouraged those artists to find a building in the village that could be utilized by all the artists who would like to work cooperatively. At a meeting in Selawik last month, a group led by Diane Howarth and Wallace Gray announced that the Howarth family was donating use of a building to house an arts center. Volunteers are in the process of making needed improvements to the building and a substantial amount of material has been donated. The group asked for Borough support in providing funding for a monitor stove, some windows, electrical work and some equipment for the artists. The EDC approved a grant of up to $5,000 for those purposes. This is an exciting development for many reasons. Artists can only benefit from having proper equipment at their disposal and a place to observe others at work. It is also important to separate work that creates ivory, bone and antler dust from the home environment, where it is a health hazard to the inhabitants. Air quality can be controlled at the shop through the use of dust collection equipment. The Borough will continue to assist the Selawik artists in their organizational process. We will also help to find funding that will provide for heat and electricity costs until such a time that the artists can bear those costs on their own through the sale of their work. The funding for Shungnak School is the result of a recent decision by the local school advisory board to have all students wear atikluks to school at least one day per week. A grant of $1,600 was approved by EDC for the purchase of material with which to sew atikluks for over 70 students at that site. The student body will choose and order the material. The Kobuk school advisory board made a similar decision recently and will receive Borough grant funding for material soon. Ambler principal Frank Ramos has already ordered material for atitkluks at that school site. Kiana students have been sewing in teacher Chloe Copeland's classroom and taking on more of a traditional look at school. Students at Selawik are apparently interested as well! From a community "wellness" perspective, this desire to promote traditional culture and spirit is both promising and exciting. It can also lead to enhanced income opportunities for the people in the region who love to sew or have interest in learning. |
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A Look at Tourism University of Alaska student Annabelle Alvite has been working with Northwest Arctic Borough residents on a regional tourism study as part of her graduate work. Fortunately for us, her efforts have resulted in fresh thinking about an issue that is clearly of economic importance to our people. Her project began over eight months ago when she took part in the 2002 Arctic Small Business Gathering in Kotzebue and led a discussion on tourism. More recently, she organized a November 14 meeting at our Assembly chambers with representatives of organizations including the National Park Service, Chukchi Campus, both the Kotzebue city government and the IRA, Maniilaq Association, NANA Development Corporation, the Borough and others. The group reviewed the history of tourism in the area, including the dramatic drop in visitor traffic in recent years. She pointed out that the reduction in local tourism is out of step with a broad trend of increasing tourism to Alaska. The consensus of the group was that a comprehensive plan for tourism is needed in order to insure that both the concerns of local people are addressed and that our own people benefit from the industry. I have directed my staff to begin formulating a plan that will accomplish those objectives. There are two basic types of tourist visits that need to be addressed. First there are those who basically come to look for a day or two. They want to see the area, learn about the traditional culture and simply see what life above the Arctic Circle is like. The second group is more activity oriented. These visitors want to paddle down one of our rivers, camp, fish, see the villages, and get an overall hands-on experience. They may stay in the region for a week or more. I t is that second group that we will need to plan for most carefully. As a group, we will need to identify areas that the adventurers can travel with minimal impact on our residents who are involved in traditional activities during the summer and fall months. We will also have to identify those who would like to provide guiding service, kayak/canoe/boat rentals and lodging, and how we can help them prepare to provide those services effectively. I support tourism for a variety of reasons. Most importantly though, I believe that when we try to make our city and region more attractive to tourists, we make it more beautiful for ourselves in the process. Well maintained homes, groomed properties, litter free streets, and a focus on traditional culture can be healthy for both our spirits and our bank accounts. Have a wonderful holiday season. |
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Borough to Sponsor
Small Business Seminars
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The Alaska Small Business Development Center Rural Outreach Program will be holding three seminars in Kotzebue at the Northwest Arctic Borough assembly room. The seminars are free to the public and are scheduled for: December 17 Getting Started in Business 6:00-9:00 PM For pre-registration, contact Lee Stoops at the Northwest Arctic Borough 442-2500 or 1-800-478-1110 (toll free in Alaska). |
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Kotzebue Students
Kick "Butt"
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By Jake Stoops My two Kotzebue High School health classes have just completed a unit on tobacco. For their final project, each student wrote a letter to the editor to pass on what they learned to the community. The following are excerpts from some of those letters. Shawna Hildebrand Cigarettes contain 43 known chemicals. Some of these are cyanide, formaldehyde and arsenic. Formaldehyde is the same chemical that they use to preserve dead animals in biology class. They also contain many of the same chemicals that are found in antifreeze, paint and toilet cleaner. Isaac Hensley Jonathon Henry Ida Nelson Vanessa Reich Mary Black Cheryl Snyder Anonymous Connie Barr |
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Wrestlers looking
for State Championship
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Kotzebue High School entered this season ranked as the number one 3A wrestling team in Alaska and has done little to disappoint.At mid-season, they finished first at the prestigious Anchorage Christian Tournament. This weekend, they dominated the Region 1 North Tournament and are primed for next weekend's State Tournament hosted by Homer High School.Fourteen of twenty Huskies advanced to the finals at regionals and sixteen earned berths to State as Kotzebue finished about 100 points above second place Barrow in team scoring. Individual titles went to Kalla Peacock (103), Edward Garoutte (119), CJ Foster (130), Dustin Lie (152), John Garoutte (171) and Dan Dolle Molle (heavy weight). Also qualifying for State were Landon Shuster, Glen Hanson, Almond Shield, JR Swanson, Kelson Phillips, David Nolton, Byron Nelson, Hans Hanson and Jadd Reynalds. |
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Northwest Arctic Borough Staff Directory Mayor's Department Finance Department Planning Department
Public Servies Economic Development Borough Clerk's Office Northwest Arctic Borough P.O. Box 1110 Kotzebue, AK 99752 (907)442-2500 (800)478-1110 Fax:(907)442-2930 (c) 2001 Northwest Arctic Borough All rights reserved |
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