Untitled Document

Planning Underway in Selawik
Mayor's Report Week of March 3, 2003

When Kim Franklin joined our Borough staff in January as an associate to Planning Director Noah Naylor, her mission was crystal clear: Help all of our villages complete their comprehensive plans within the next year.

Comprehensive plans are a detailed look at where a community stands today and what the residents would like to see in the future. Plans address all aspects of a village, including roads and airports, water and sewer, health and education, bulk fuel storage and solid waste disposal, public safety and economic development, and even childcare and recreation. Plans serve as a means to preserve what is valued in a village and a roadmap for changes that may be desired. They list the capital projects that may be needed to meet goals, and which are the most important. They record the services that the community would like to provide. And they also list the various funding sources that may be available to accomplish each goal. Government agencies that provide funding for all types of projects, including landfills, water and sewer, roads, and other facilities, often require that a comprehensive plan be in place before approving funds.

Kim's first assignment has been to work on Selawik's Plan. That process began two weeks ago when she attended a town meeting in the village and spent two additional days gathering input from local people. Selawik leaders that have been involved in the project to date are IRA Director Clyde Ramoth and Administrator Maureen Tickett, City Administrator Roger Clark and Mayor Oran Walton, Ray Ballot, Arlo Davis, Pauline Ramoth, Raven Sheldon, Sherman Skin, Dennis Stoyer and the Resource Specialist, Diane Ramoth.

Maniilaq Association is also actively engaged in providing technical assistance to this planning process. Wesley Goodwin and Yiyuk Henry, Planner/Grantwriters, and Bob Wells from the Energy Program were in Selawik to assist with the initial meetings and will continue to work closely with Kim. This coordinated effort and sharing of resources should enable us to realize our goal of seeing all the village plans completed in the near future.

The draft plan, which is now being written, will be reviewed closely by the people of Selawik and discussed at one or more additional town meetings. The plan will be finalized only after there has been a consensus on village priorities.

The completed Selawik Comprehensive Plan will be especially important because it can serve as a model for other village plans in our borough. While each village will have somewhat different needs and desires, all plans will have to include the same types of information.

This planning process is also vital to addressing the "Village Wellness" initiative that is being promoted by both the North Slope Borough and our own. Each plan will address the importance of developing a stronger workforce and less welfare dependency through reduced substance abuse, better school attendance, improved law enforcement, and more parental guidance of the young people. They will also focus on the importance of preserving the Inupiaq culture. Most important, the plans will establish specific goals for accomplishing these things. The talk about our problems has been going on for years. Now, it is time for action.

Mayor's Corner
Working with the North Slope Borough Mayor's Report Week of February 24, 2003 Our economic development director, Lee Stoops, traveled to Barrow last week as a follow-up to the Arctic Summit, held in Kotzebue earlier this month. The visit was the result of interest in our Small Business Loan and Art Marketing Programs that was expressed by Mayor Ahmaogak and others from that region. The North Slope Borough is in an ideal situation to start a Revolving Loan program similar to ours, which has generated over 150 loans during the past two years. They already have at least $75,000 in dedicated funds for business loans and share our ability, as a municipality, to accept Permanent Fund Dividend assignments. It is the assignment of the loan amount that makes the program relatively easy to administer. Lee met with John Ames, Director of Administration and Finance for the NSB, and reviewed the details of how our loan program is implemented. He expressed strong interest and a willingness to explore options on exactly who might administer the loans. Jan Phillips, Director of the Arctic Development Council in Barrow, is also interested administering the loan program in cooperation with the NSB, which would have to accept the PFD assignments. The ADC is the recipient of state ARDOR funds for economic development on the North Slope, which amount to about $46,000 per year. ARDOR stands for Alaska Regional Development Organizations, of which there are thirteen statewide. In our region, the Northwest Arctic Borough is the recipient of ARDOR funding. Another key part of the Barrow visit was a meeting with Neil Bjornstad, a grant writer for the Native Village of Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government. Neil was successful in obtaining a $30,000 grant from HUD for development of an arts and crafts marketing program for the North Slope region. Because we operate the most active program of that kind in the State, Neil is interested in learning as much as possible about how we initiated and manage it. Our Borough has purchased over $350,000 in art from over 120 different residents over the last two years, using a revolving purchase account of about $100,000. The program is intended to provide a consistent market for quality products. Other subjects shared included encouragement of the use traditional clothing by students in the schools and our arts for awards concept. Kobuk and Shungnak have already adopted local school dress codes that will encourage students to wear kuspuks to school at least one day per week. The concept has the desired outcome of producing school, community and cultural pride as well as creating a broader market for those who sew in the village. The thinking is that the economy of each village can be improved by keeping more of the money spent on clothing within the village. The people of Barrow were gracious hosts, as always. We look forward to working cooperatively with the North Slope Borough for the good of all of our people.
Planning Underway in Selawik Mayor's Report Week of March 3, 2003 When Kim Franklin joined our Borough staff in January as an associate to Planning Director Noah Naylor, her mission was crystal clear: Help all of our villages complete their comprehensive plans within the next year. Comprehensive plans are a detailed look at where a community stands today and what the residents would like to see in the future. Plans address all aspects of a village, including roads and airports, water and sewer, health and education, bulk fuel storage and solid waste disposal, public safety and economic development, and even childcare and recreation. Plans serve as a means to preserve what is valued in a village and a roadmap for changes that may be desired. They list the capital projects that may be needed to meet goals, and which are the most important. They record the services that the community would like to provide. And they also list the various funding sources that may be available to accomplish each goal. Government agencies that provide funding for all types of projects, including landfills, water and sewer, roads, and other facilities, often require that a comprehensive plan be in place before approving funds. Kim's first assignment has been to work on Selawik's Plan. That process began two weeks ago when she attended a town meeting in the village and spent two additional days gathering input from local people. Selawik leaders that have been involved in the project to date are IRA Director Clyde Ramoth and Administrator Maureen Tickett, City Administrator Roger Clark and Mayor Oran Walton, Ray Ballot, Arlo Davis, Pauline Ramoth, Raven Sheldon, Sherman Skin, Dennis Stoyer and the Resource Specialist, Diane Ramoth. Maniilaq Association is also actively engaged in providing technical assistance to this planning process. Wesley Goodwin and Yiyuk Henry, Planner/Grantwriters, and Bob Wells from the Energy Program were in Selawik to assist with the initial meetings and will continue to work closely with Kim. This coordinated effort and sharing of resources should enable us to realize our goal of seeing all the village plans completed in the near future. The draft plan, which is now being written, will be reviewed closely by the people of Selawik and discussed at one or more additional town meetings. The plan will be finalized only after there has been a consensus on village priorities. The completed Selawik Comprehensive Plan will be especially important because it can serve as a model for other village plans in our borough. While each village will have somewhat different needs and desires, all plans will have to include the same types of information. This planning process is also vital to addressing the "Village Wellness" initiative that is being promoted by both the North Slope Borough and our own. Each plan will address the importance of developing a stronger workforce and less welfare dependency through reduced substance abuse, better school attendance, improved law enforcement, and more parental guidance of the young people. They will also focus on the importance of preserving the Inupiaq culture. Most important, the plans will establish specific goals for accomplishing these things. The talk about our problems has been going on for years. Now, it is time for action.
Saving for Your Future Mayor's Report Week of March 10, 2003 The biggest change in our lives in this region over the past half century has been the emergence of a money economy. Whereas people lived busy and productive lives through subsistence alone in the not too distant past, most families now purchase most of their food, clothing and other items that they see as essential parts of their lives. With that change in thinking, there needs to be an accompanying change in how people prepare for the future. We need to start saving money and teaching our children to save. I recently learned that over 40% of the families in our country today do not have savings accounts. That percentage is certainly even higher in our part of the country. Without savings, families will not be able to plan for a better life in terms of owning a home or business, preparing for an injury or illness, or having higher education available for their children. Worse yet, if parents do not develop a saving philosophy it is not likely that their children will do so either. The basic purpose of our Borough Economic Development Department is to increase the assets of the people of this region (assets are defined as things that people own that are of value and use). An important part of building assets is creating opportunities for people to earn income. However, it is equally important to have people save a portion of their income on a regular basis if they are going to be able to build their individual and family assets. Our Economic Development Director was a guest at an IDA (Individual Development Account) Summit in Anchorage last week to review a process designed to assist people in creating assets for themselves. The concept is simple: In order to motivate and help people save enough money to start a business, buy or improve a home, or pay for special training or education, an agency such as ours can create a savings account in partnership with individuals. If a person creates a plan to save a certain amount over a period of time, such as between six months and three years, the Borough can match that savings with a like amount or even double that amount. Here's an example: If someone wanted to build an addition onto their home in order to open a small store, they might determine that materials would cost $3,600. Under the IDA plan, they would then put $100 per month into their IDA savings account for one year. At the end of that year, they would have not only their $1,200 but an additional $2,400 in matching funds from the IDA program. They would also have whatever interest the money had earned over that time. They could then proceed with their building project and create an asset for themselves. I think the program is an excellent idea and could help people learn the value of saving. We hope to introduce our own version of the IDA plan to our residents in the near future. I believe saving is an important part of the overall personal "wellness" campaign that we need to encourage. It is a "live for today only" philosophy that creates difficulties for families in the form of poverty and alcohol and drug abuse. We will be healthier in every way when we consider the future in all that we do. In the meantime, I would like to encourage everyone to start a savings account, adults and children alike. Here are a few ideas on how even those with the smallest of budgets can put $50 to $100 per month into savings: 1) Take full advantage of local fish and game as part of your diet. You will save money and eat healthier! 2) Control the heat in your home. By turning the thermostat down a few degrees you will be saving fuel cost. Also, heat with wood whenever possible. 3) Reduce or eliminate consumption of soda pop (and alcohol) and your bank account can grow fatter while your body becomes thinner and stronger. Water is always the healthy choice! 4) Stop smoking. There's $150-$300 per month in your savings account right there and you will make your family proud. It's the healthy choice. 5) Control or eliminate bingo and pull-tab activity. Gambling is a huge drain on the budget and a huge loss of time that could better be spent with the children. 6) Put all, or at least half, of each child's PFD or other unearned income into a personal savings account for that child. Their excitement about the future can only grow when they know they are saving for it! Taikuu.


13" Ivory & Baleen Fisherman on Mammoth Bone by Donald Ferguson.	Home-tanned Caribou skin, Wolverine & Beaver Traditional Fur Parka stiched with homemade sinew by Agnes Hailstone.

Old Foods, New Pyramids
Students in Jake Stoops' health classes at Kotzebue High School created food guide pyramids using only traditional Inupiaq foods. In addition to the pyramids, the students wrote papers on why or why not the traditional diet was healthy. The general consensus was that while the diet lacked balance in the winter months, the organic nature of the foods was much healthier than the processed consumables on store shelves today. It also contained very little dairy and almost all carbohydrates. One student noted that traditionally, the lifespan was much shorter, but conceeded that medicine, technology and other factors are probably responsible than a change in diet. The lack of carbohydrate consumption also supports the recent findings of a Harvard University study. The study reported that carbohydrate intake should be limited and certain fat intake increased, contradictory of the original food guide pyramid.