MONTHLY REPORT TO:
NORTHWEST ARCTIC BOROUGH ASSEMBLY

April 2004

SIIKAURAQ MARTHA WHITING
ASSISTANT TO THE MAYOR

This time of year it’s hard to stay focused on work when my parents and family are moving to Katyuuraq.  It’s awesome to hear the nuoyaqs and other birds coming home for the spring.  I can’t wait to eat my first pot of ligliq soup!

I have been involved with the Inupiaq language committee, a group of local people interested in keeping the Inupiaq language and culture alive.  We just completed activities for April, Inupiaq Awareness Month.  Please see the attached schedule of events for April.  In addition to hosting fun cultural activities for Kotzebue, a regional task force has been created and headed by regional Elder leaders Levi Cleveland and Raymond Hawley.  The task force is scheduled to meet May 19 – 20 in the NAB Assembly Room.  Everyone is encouraged to promote, teach and learn cultural activities.  We cannot take our language and culture for granted because as each day passes on, we continue to lose Elders and Inupiaq ways.  We must share what we know and work hard to learn life skills of our people.  I appreciate Walter Sampson and other Assembly members who speak Inupiaq during the Assembly meetings.

A Defining Healthy Community Workshop with Larry Dickerson was held April  21 – 22 at ATC in Kotzebue.  Participants included myself, Claudia Sampson, Johnetta Cleveland, Eva Henry, Julia Cleveland, Lulu Nazuruk, Lincoln Saito, Peter Barr, Jonny Hadley, Audrey Hadley, Diana Ramoth, Lily Fair, Alice E. Adams, Walter Sampson, Johanna Tickett, Melinda Moto, Rhoda C. Johnson, Caroline D. Foster, Judy L. Sage, Richard Sage, Hannah Loon, Emma Snyder, Sandy Shroyer-Beaver, Eugene Monroe Sr., John Schaeffer, Ross Schaeffer, Aakachaq Schaeffer, Karen Jackson, Anahma Saito, Gladys Pungowiyi, Walter Porter, Beezee Jack, Kim Franklin, Rena Brown and Richard Erlich.

I thought the gathering was empowering and allowed people to focus on our surroundings, our family, our community and our region and use the strengths we have to build healthy communities.  Despite getting done early to attend a funeral, people were looking at ways to personally work on ways to help others in their network of friends, family and co-workers.  This gathering was a special time to focus on what is important in our lives and the communities we live in.  Attached is the presentation I’yiiqpak, Gladys Pungowiyi presented to the group.  Gladys is a Rural Development student of Larry Dickerson and co-facilitated the workshop. The Northwest Arctic Borough, UAF Cooperative Extension Service and the College of Rural Alaska sponsored this workshop.

The Northwest Arctic Borough, Maniilaq Association, Teck Cominco, NANA, Cape  Smythe and the North Slope Borough sponsored a group from the NANA region to attend Paisavut, Barrow’s Elder and Youth Conference April 6 – 8.  Attendees from this region included Evelyn Ballot, Percy Jackson, Dora Hadley, Willie Goodwin, Hannah Loon, Lily Fair, Pauline Nay and Dale Moto.  According to Hannah Loon, they were fortunate to attend the conference where mostly Inupiaq was spoken.  Our representatives were happy to share our Inupiaq Values by living and learning from our Elders.   Each day values were discussed by Elders and community leaders of the North Slope.  The Inupiaq language was considered most important to the people of the NSB.  There were demonstrations of seal cutting, intestine braiding and rope splicing.  Evening activities included Eskimo dancing, singspiration, snerts, Inupiaq checkers and cribbage.

I will be working with Tara Sweeney to work on ways to barter or sell caribou sinew from this region with maktak or other goodies from the North Slope.  Our neighbors need caribou sinew for their umiaqs and of course we always need maktak.  Once we get a plan in place, Walter Sampson will do a translated PSA to encourage our hunters to save caribou sinew for use here and in the North Slope.

I have been busy assisting with coordination of  Katigvik, the Northwest Native Trade Fair.  This year’s trade fair is scheduled for July 5 – 7 in Kotzebue and Sisaulik.  The committee meets Wednesday’s at 9:00 am at the Senior Center.  The last trade fair in Kotzebue was in 1996 and we hope to revitalize and continue this traditional event.  A draft schedule of events will be provided to you soon!  People are encouraged to sew, carve, make baskets, yo-yo’s, jewelry to sell or barter at Katigvik.  Not only will there be games, prizes, workshops, Eskimo dancing and food, there will be arts and craft competitions and even an Eskimo food competition!  This year we will also do ahpaksriqtuat nanigaugmun – running towards a seal oil lamp competition.  Keep your eyes and ears open for more details!

The Ikayuutiyumaruat group and Alaska Ice will host a Train the Trainers session May 4 – 6 at ATC in Kotzebue.  Participants will learn how to facilitate fun activities using Inupiaq Values and cultural activities to support our youth.  People will also learn how to do hands-on activities to help our communities become a positive and supportive place for all of us.  It’s exciting that this regions leadership support healthy communities and promotes wellness in our lives!  There are a lot of exciting activities to become involved with in celebrating our Inupiaqness!

I attended the Kotzebue IRA Annual Meeting on April 27^th where focus was on celebrating the language and culture of Qiqikgagramuit.  Reports were given by the Ian Erlich, Board chair and Linda Joule, Director.  Newly elected members include York Mendenhall, Guy Adams and Mary Schaeffer.  Elders of the Year included Josephine K. Sampson and Tessie Sheldon.  The Employee of the Year was given to Christina Hensley.  Members who were nominated for 2003 AFN were recognized.  I thought the highlight of the meeting was the Inupiaq language panel.  Panelists discussed the importance of Elders who speak Inupiaq to Inupiraaq with friends, family and kids, and for all of us to make the time to learn our language.

I attended the 2^nd day of the Kotzebue Wellness Conference.  The entire high school participated in youth wellness events while the community had discussions in the armory.  This was a great time for people to celebrate and heal.  The organizers did a great job in putting on the conference and I look forward to more wellness conference and activities in the future.

Have a safe Spring and remember when you go camping, take kids and teach them what you know!  And Inupairaaq!!!

Northwest Arctic Borough Staff Directory

Northwest Arctic Borough
P.O. Box 1110 Kotzebue, AK 99752
(907)442-2500 (800)478-1110 Fax:(907)442-2930

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