MONTHLY REPORT TO:
NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH ASSEMBLY
November 17, 2004
SIIKAURAQ MARTHA WHITING
ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR
The task force is meeting on a monthly basis via teleconference focusing on coordinating the 2005 Economic Development Summit. The task force recently conducted a survey to see what people would like to share and address as local priorities at the summit. Approximately 175 surveys were sent to local and regional tribes and councils and approximately 20 were returned. Please see the attached survey results. The North Slope Borough received a grant to host Kigvik February 3 – 5, 2005 in Barrow.
The next task force meeting is scheduled for November 24 from 8:30 – 10:30 am.
Ikayuutiyumaruat
Ikayuutiyumaruat activities in Northwest Alaska are in full gear. I attended the Prevention of Violence Against Indigenous Children at Quadra Island, BC, Canada and the Alaska Association of School Boards (AASB) Conference in Anchorage in September. Both requested presentations on Ikayuutiyumaruat activities. They are intrigued by the way we tie in grassroots efforts in promoting our Inupiaq Values to help our kids succeed.
The BC conference had participants from all over the world including India, Africa, New Zealand, Guatemala, United States and all over Canada. After learning about violence against indigenous children worldwide, I was very humbled at how much we have in our region. Although we have our share of violence, we are blessed to live in an environment that provides food and everything necessary for survival and perpetuity. For the most part, our kids can walk freely in our streets and we still help each other with everything. We have a people, a tribe, an identity with strong cultural values that are still very much alive. We are not a people on display at a museum. We have tons to be thankful for.
AASB participants were school board members interested in how we promote community involvement in helping our kids. I shared that raising our kids takes the entire community, with school involvement. With Ikayuutiyumaruat planning, implementation and activities, the key to success is involving organizations, Elders, youth and anyone interested in helping each other. We prioritize Inupiat Ilitqusiat and continue to learn and share cultural activities to instill pride, motivation and responsibility with being Inupiat.
Matthew Turner and Donna Rae Faulkner with Alaska ICE ~ Initiative for Community Engagement were recently in Kiana, Selawik and Shungnak working with communities to build on the assets framework utilizing local Inupiaq Values. Matthew and Donna Rae have been working with local people to focus on what we want for our children and provide specific activities to get there. Matthew and Donna Rae will be back in the region after the new year to visit more of our communities.
Ikayuutiyumaruat planners will participate in monthly teleconferences to support each other and to plan on local and regional activities that promote positive cultural activities. Please visit www.alaskaice.org to get more details on Northwest Arctic activities.
Village Teleconference
The first village teleconference of the winter was held November 3, 2005. Frederica Schaeffer, Noatak Resource Technician was the only village participant. Staff present were myself, Mayor Schaeffer, Lee Stoops, Tom Bolen and Walter Porter. Mayor Schaeffer explained the purpose of the village teleconferences are to share information and listen to the needs and concerns of the people in the region.
Frederica started employment as Resource Technician in October. She is reviewing the NWAB Economic Development Plan and is working on shareholder development to assist NANA shareholders in obtaining employment. Frederica will be working with Herbert Walton to review Noatak priorities and will work on raising funds to meet Noataks needs.
Village teleconferences will be held the first Wednesday of the month from 10:30 am – 12 noon. The call-in number is 1-800-315-6338 code 2500#. Cities, tribes, resource technicians and assembly members are encouraged to call in.
Northwest Arctic Leadership Team
I continue to provide staff support for NWALT and recently assisted with the planning of the quad board meeting. NWALT will meet December 3 from 12 – 3:00 pm at the School District Office.
Healthy Community Committee
The Healthy Community Committee met November 4, 2004 at the NANA boardroom. The purpose of the meeting was to review tasks as directed by the recent Quad Board meeting. Minutes will be provided at the next Assembly meeting. A group of 6 from Lorino Russia planned a trip to Northwest Alaska the week of November 15th. They wanted to see what we are doing in this region with regards to healthy communities and planned to visit Kotzebue and Shungnak. They were unable to travel due to weather. We hope there will be another opportunity for this group to visit our region in the future.
The Regional Elders Language Committee met November 16 at NANA. Present were Linda Joule, Sativa Quinn, Hannah Loon, Raymond Hawley, Helen Wells, Linda Mason, Gladys Pungowiyi, Levi Cleveland, Lori Henry and myself. This group formed after the quad board heard recommendations from the language task force to see what we can do as a region and as specific communities to learn and teach the Inupiaq language. The committee reviewed recommendations from the quad board meeting and discussed structure of the language committee. The committee discussed the recommendations from the task force and will look at ways to make recommendations become reality. Raymond Hawley liked the work done by the task force and would like to keep the same people involved with this committee. Levi Cleveland said we must do everything in Inupiaq ~ think, speak, live, hunt, fish, build traps etc. He said we must motivate speakers to teach and learners to speak. Helen Wells noted that it’s hard to speak Inupiaq to non speakers. It’s automatic that English is spoken to non-Inupiaq speakers. She will keep on trying to teach Inupiaq to her children and grandchildren.
A grant has been secured by the Aqqaluk Trust with partnership from the Kotzebue IRA to do a language survey. Survey training for conductors will be held in early December in Kotzebue. Communities will have at least 2 surveyors trained from each community. Kotzebue IRA will conduct the survey in Kotzebue. Priorities for the survey include: 1) hire grant administrator, 2) do surveyor training, 3) do grant reporting, 4) do analysis of survey, and 5) hold language conference in February 2005.
There will be a regional language conference in Kotzebue tentatively set for February 2005. There will also be funding to host local language gatherings each community.
The next meeting is scheduled for December 15 at NANA.
Assembly
Angela Joule and I have been researching retreat sites for the Assembly retreat tentatively scheduled for January or February 2005.
Staff
Angela Joule has been working on a part-time temporary basis and will be doing a variety of tasks for all departments.
On September 13, Mayor Schaeffer hosted the NAB Retreat at his cabin at Sadie Creek. Staff reviewed mayoral and department projects and work plans. Some of the priorities Mayor Schaeffer listed for the remainder of his administration include more village involvement, providing regional large and small scale economic development opportunities, new schools in each community, working with Kivalina on their new site, setting the stage for completion of projects, working on regional networking with leadership, working on problem-solving with administration, have administration communicate with the public and allow the public to have access with administration, work on ordinance enforcement, involve young people with projects, increase voter turn-out, work on developing self empowerment, increase funding for the Borough and have village Assembly meetings.
Workplans were reviewed from the Mayors Department, Planning Department, Borough Clerks Department, Economic Development Department, Public Services Department and an update of projects was covered by the Borough Grantwriter.
The staff reviewed the Assemblies draft goals and will ensure the departmental workplans are in alignment with Assembly priorities.
A vacancy for an Information Coordinator Specialist was announced. This full-time position will focus on all computer needs including creating the ebulletin and updating the website. This position will also focus on communications efforts with the North Slope Borough and NWALT. Candidates must have computer and technical writing expertise.
On November 12, staff and assembly participated in the annual KOTZ Fundraiser. During our time on the air, we raised approximately $5,000. Staff donated personal premiums in addition to artwork from our Borough gift shop.
An informational table with NAB resources was available to Northwest Arctic Borough School District teachers during their Fall Inservice.
I sat in for Mayor Schaeffer for the ICC Board Alaska Delegation teleconference. Present were Chuck Greene, Jack Zayon, Gladys Pungowiyi, Margaret Opie, Arnold Brower, Levi Cleveland, Helen Bolen, Tim Towarak and myself. The board reviewed and acted on two resolutions. Resolution 04-04 RE: Climate Change and Inuit Human Rights passed unanimously. This resolution was passed previously by the ICC delegations from Canada, Russia and Greenland. Discussion focused on the impacts of climate change to the Inupiaq way of life and the need to provide worldwide awareness.
Resolution 04-05 passed unanimously and selected Barrow, Alaska as the location for the 2006 ICC General Assembly. Planning will begin by the Alaska delegation and Barrow to host ICC. This international event will be special not only because Alaska formed ICC but because Eben Hopson from Barrow was founder of ICC in 1977. An Alaska ICC chair will need to be selected.
On October 13, I attended the National Park Service (NPS) Cape Krusenstern Subsistence Commissioner’s meeting. I have been on the Commission since 1996. We heard reports from NPS staff on their activities including research projects, the musk ox management plan, commercial services plan, resource protection and education and were given an update on the Northwest Arctic Heritage Center. We also reviewed a variety of subsistence proposals in addition to reviewing the status of the Hunting Plan. The NPS staff has been working with the commission to keep local people involved with park activities. The education outreach with communities has been very positive and I look forward to working with NPS staff and community members to continue to build relationships.
The Kattivik planners are hosting the next trade fair in 2005. The original intent was to hold Kattivik every 2 years but in 2006, ICC will be held in Barrow and there will be limited funding for travel. The 2005 Kattivik Trade Fair will be administered by the Kotzebue IRA to meet the request submitted by the Kotzebue Elders Council to host more cultural activities which promote wellness.
The Kotzebue Wellness Committee met November 19th at the Maniilaq board room. Present were Willie Goodwin, Linda, Reggie and Angela Joule, John and Mary Schaeffer, DeAnne Hamilton, Kim Haviland, Claudia Tiepelman, Lovie Harris and myself. The group focused on planning a Kotzebue Wellness Conference in April 2005. There was discussion on how to bring in more people to the gathering. John suggested getting a few people from each village including Kotzebue to work on inviting their communities to participate, like a ‘village within a village’ concept. All topics will be tied in with the Inupiaq culture.
The group discussed planning for Kattivik ’05 and discussed local Elders needs. When the Kotzebue Elders meet on December 10, they will plan their ’05 calendar and will discuss what the Elders can teach to community members. An Elder might be willing to teach knitting, skin sewing, building sleds, survival etc. We just need someone organizing these events. Willie noted that the National Park Service does cultural workshops such as making fur hats. He suggested partnering with Elders and youth when offering these workshops.
Local wellness/health champions will be recognized at this conference. A nomination process with categories will be formed soon. The theme for this conference will focus on Living Inupiat Ilitqusiat. Chairperson for the Kotzebue Wellness Committee is Willie Goodwin. John Schaeffer serves as alternate.
Have a great Thanksgiving!!! We have so much to be thankful for living in this region. We have a people, a culture, an identity, a way of life that is still alive and thriving. With everything we know, we must teach. We must take the time to learn how to make fancy qupaks, to learn Inupiaq names for hunting or fishing sites. We cannot take these skills and other life skills for granted anymore. With each new day, we must take the opportunity learn, teach and live our Inupiaq ways. Arigaa taikuu…