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January Headlines: |
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P.O. Box 1110 Kotzebue, AK 99752 (907) 442-2500 Fax (907) 442-2930 |
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Mayor's Corner
Week of February 11 At the monthly Assembly meeting on January 29, I introduced a resolution
supporting the efforts of the City of Kotzebue to establish an alcohol
receiving and distribution center. I took this action in an effort to
provide a regional consensus for this support. The resolution failed by
a margin of 5-4. According to our borough code, approval would have required
at least six positive votes. Since becoming mayor, I have continually been asked how we can control the flow of alcohol between our communities. With Kotzebue now legally "damp" and all the neighboring villages legally "dry", problems have been created for the villages because alcohol can easily be received and transported from Kotzebue. The people and leaders of Noorvik have been asking for help. Once I discovered that the recent death of a 14 year old in Kiana was a direct result of his obtaining alcohol in Noorvik, I decided that it was absolutely necessary to take some action. I contacted the troopers and requested assistance on their behalf. In the winter months, as you can imagine, snow machine travel makes enforcement very difficult. The state troopers generally respond only after a serious crime has been committed and the VPSO program has its shortcomings. Until the Task Force I formed to address this region's law enforcement issues comes up with concrete recommendations and they are implemented, we will have enforcement problems. A Kotzebue distribution center would allow only Kotzebue residents to order and receive alcohol. There would be limits on how much alcohol an individual could receive each month and this action would not change the limits established by current State law. While I am aware that the law would still be subject to abuse and that some alcohol would still find its way to the villages, it would at least limit the amount of alcohol coming into the region and make the battle against bootleggers a little less difficult. With full respect to individual rights, I find this to be the least intrusive option to deal with the problem. It does provide some controls that are needed. I hope that many of you in Kotzebue and around the region will support this effort by providing your testimony at public hearings at City Hall that will be scheduled this month. We have to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem. This has been my personal opinion and I thank you for considering it.
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Native Arts For Awards
The Arts for Awards Program, funded by the Borough for the Northwest Arctic Borough School District, was initiated at the 2001 Bush Brawl Wrestling championships in Kotzebue in December. The program has expanded and since created awards for the Husky Shootout Basketball tournament, spelling bee and most recently, the Battle of the Books competition. The winning team in the grade 3/4, 5/6, 7/8 and high school divisions received a scrimshawed ivory medallion enclosed in an oak presentation box. The scrimshaw, depicting stoty telling through traditional dance, was done by Kotzebue artist extraordinaire Vika Owens. Winners of various tournaments and academic competitions throughout the region this year will receive art for awards. Art forms will include bone sculptures, baleen etchings, and more.
Northwest Arctic Borough & North Slope Borough Joint Assembly Meeting Assembly Chambers - Kotzebue, Alaska February 27, 2002 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. AGENDA A. Call to Order B. Invocation C. Roll Call D. Agenda Approval E. Minutes of February 21, 2001 meeting F. Area Projects Updates: G. Public/Private Partnership Opportunities H. Summitt 2002 Task Force Report: I. Collaborative Effort Action: J. Audience Comments K. Assembly Comments L. Adjournment |
| "Wet", "Damp" or "Dry"? Kotzebue High School Students Speak Out | |||
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By Jake Stoops Stiff answers to a watered-down question. The assignment for my four high school Physical Education/Health classes was a one-page opinion on rural Alaska's "buzz" words. Should Kotzebue be "Wet", "Damp", or "Dry"? The following are some unedited excerpts from those papers. The voices of the future are revealing to say the least. As you read through the thoughts of the next generation, think back to1980… Little brother is watching… "I think Kotzebue should be "dry" because younger kids wouldn't have to see alcohol all their lives and won't start drinking and get addicted and so our parents won't spend our dividends on alcohol. Some parents spend their kid's money on alcohol and then start beating them which is not good for kids because when they grow up, they will start doing the same things their parents did and it will be passed on to generations." "I think drinking is a privilege and it is abused. People can't control their drinking, so it needs to be controlled for them. Kotzebue should be dry." "Kotzebue should be dry because nobody knows how to act when they're drinking. They like to do stupid things like rob stuff, harass other people, try to start fights and pass out on the streets. When underage people drink, they do the same things, but even more stupid and think they can get away with it. They rape people, molest people, run from the cops and walk around stumbling which messes up your reputation of being a Native. Look at the way the whiteman looks at natives like we are scrubby dumb drunks. That's why I think Kotzebue should be dry." "I believe Kotzebue should be dry. If there was no alcohol in Kotzebue, there wouldn't be any in the villages. Places that are supposed to be dry like Point Hope get most of their alcohol from here. It would be a big |
difference in my life, because my family drinks a lot. When they drink they all fight. I am having a hard time in my life right now. This is mostly because of alcohol. I am the only person in my house that doesn't depend on drugs or alcohol. It is really hard because people think I am bad just like everyone else." "I don't drink because I know it will lead to a cheap life. It will let you go broke on money because it is expensive, also it tastes nasty. My parents used to drink in front of me and I wanted to try it real bad, so at the age of 14 I tried my first shot and I didn't know it was going to taste nasty so I threw up and I didn't go near that stuff again because I know what it does to you." "Kotzebue should allow no more alcohol. Everyone knows how alcohol affects the citizens and neighborhood and stuff. It's going to be hard to regulate, but it has to happen and the people realize it too. It doesn't mean people in Kotzebue are not going to be able to drink anymore. Adults can go down to Anchorage and drink. It's not like regulating alcohol for good. Just no alcohol in town. Someone needs to do this. We don't have much time anymore. It's actually going to be easy once it's started. All those drunk people out there, they don't have any idea about the point of their lives. Once alcohol is regulated, other than the people's initial panic, there isn't going to be a problem." "I think Kotzebue should be dry because too many people don't know what they are doing and could get injured or even killed. There is a drug in alcohol so I think it should be illegal like other drugs. I think the only reason people are drinking is because they have problems and they want to get rid of them but the only thing they are getting rid of is their life because it is slowly eating up their brain by killing cells." |
"If it were to be dry then there would be more students coming to school and getting more education. And they wouldn't get pregnant at a young age. And people would not commit suicide, murder or get STD's and get raped. They would be smarter and I know that we would have a good town." "There's a lot of bootlegging which is messing everything up. You can always find a bottle somewhere. In my opinion, Kotzebue should be almost damp. Not really dry, but almost damp. There are people who have the right to drink. No one can stop them. But at the same time, I want it to be dry because there are too many teens drinking! For me, it's hard to see my friends drink." "I think Kotzebue should be a damp town because it's going to end up that way anyway if people voted for a dry town. The people who didn't vote for dry would somehow find a way to get it here, although I would love for it to become a dry community some day. If not, then there should be a limit on how much alcohol comes in every month. So if the town goes over the monthly limit, then some lucky people won't receive their orders of whisky or whatever their beverage of choice is. They'll receive their money back. So it's like a compromise between alcoholics and sober people of this town." "Keeping Kotzebue a "damp" town is the smartest way to go. Some people in Kotzebue know how to drink responsibly. Right now, I think the suicide rate must have surely gone down since we were a "wet" town." "Right now in Kotzebue, it is supposed to be damp. I have no problem with that, but it might as well be wet since people bootleg everywhere anyway. I bet I could name at least one kid in each of my classes who sells the |
infamous R&R. If they had a licensed alcohol store here, they could limit the illegal sales. Right now, jugs cost $50. If someone wanted to continue to sell them illegally, they couldn't make a profit. They could just buy it at the store. The way I figure it, no one should be drinking at all. I think it's disgusting and people look plain stupid doing it. However, since people are selling it for jacked-up prices, the city might as well make some profit. Maybe by making a liquor store, they sell weaker brands of alcohol. It might cause Alaska Airlines Goldstreak business to lose a little profit but it's worth trying. If we could be dry, that would be awesome, but it's not possible." "I think Kotzebue should be wet because if you want alcohol, you can get alcohol. It will help the economy. More people from the villages will come to Kotzebue. Even tourists will want to come and stay. They would probably pave more roads because if there are bars, dirt roads suck because you can swerve out of control." "If the town got dry, all the alcoholics will get desperate and probably start making homebrew or going to the store and steal Lysol, which contains alcohol. So if it was dry, heavy alcoholics would be going crazy." "Kotzebue's cargo is mostly beer, etc. The alcohol has brought in most of the money for the cargo business." "If this town went dry, they would start drinking other products such as Pine-Sol, hairspray and Lysol. I think they would get the idea from the villagers." "My parents drink and I want to drink and I don't care if it's wet or damp or dry." |
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Upcoming Events
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Nunaptinni Savaktit Katimmaviat The Gathering is scheduled for March 26 - 29 in Kotzebue at the National Guard Armory and Sulainich. Sulainich is located across the street from AC in the old Pondu Building. The conference will begin at 1:00 p.m. with speakers, panels and workshops. Evening activities will be held at Sulainich with hands - on demonstrations. We are focusing on the needs of our local and regional artists by providing training, resources and assistance with marketing products as well as encouraging high-quality artwork from our artists. An arts competition will be held in the following categories: carving, doll-making, utility pieces, graphic art, jewelry and atikluk-making. Local and regional artists are encouraged to participate and to bring in arts and crafts for sale. Once the schedule confirmed, it will be available on the Borough website. This Gathering is in it's 3rd year and is again hosted by Maniilaq Association, NANA Regional Corporation and Northwest Arctic Borough. Please contact Martha Whiting or Lee Stoops at the Borough or Ed Ward and Muriel Morse at Maniilaq Association. NANA contacts are Red Seeberger or Cheryl Graves. |
Rural Provider's Conference The RPC is scheduled for May 27 - 31, 2002 in Kotzebue at the Kotzebue schools, National Guard Armory and the Boys & Girls Club. Approximately 3-500 people will come to Kotzebue for this conference to celebrate sobriety, culture and healthy living. Participants from all over Alaska and Russia will attend this Conference. People interested in helping the local planning committee are encouraged to attend. The next local planning committee meeting is Thursday February 21 at 12 noon at the Big Dipper Conference Room. Please contact Martha Whiting or Angela Joule at NAB or Kimberly Haviland at Maniilaq Association. |
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Art Work For Sale
The pictured full walrus head mount has been posted on ebay. The posting can be viewed at: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1513102743
Artwork Currently FOR
SALE at the Northwest Arctic Borough Office
3 lbs 15.2 oz Scrimshawed Ivory Tusk by Vika Owens ($750.00).
3 lbs. 15.6 oz Scrimshawed Ivory Tusk by Vika Owens ($630.00).
2 lbs. 5.2 oz Scrimshawed Ivory Tusk by Vika Owens ($570.00).
2 lbs. 7.6 oz Scrimshawed Ivory Tusk by Vika Owens ($580.00)
Ivory Fisherman by Donald Ferguson ($520), Ivory & Baleen Eskimo Dancers by Donald Ferguson ($300), Whale Bone Mask with Mammoth, Ivory & Baleen inlay by Joe Swan ($225) and Caribou Skin Mask with Beaver & Fox fur trim by Mabel Berry ($65 or $95 in shadow box).
Caribou Antler Spirit Mask by Lowell Ward ($85), Loon Mask with Ivory, Baleen, Duck Feathers and Drift Wood by Lowell Ward ($325). |
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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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