Monthly Assembly Report

May 2005

The past several months have been very active in our department. My report will highlight a few activities over the past several months.

In February, I traveled to Juneau with Bob Boyle, Anahma Saito, Walter Sampson, Josephine K. Sampson and Paulette Schuerch to give a presentation to the Alaska Association of School Boards on the Northwest Arctic Leadership Team and Ikayutiyumaruat activities. Participants were very interested in what we are doing in Northwest Alaska and will be looking to us for guidance in partnerships and working together.

The Economic Development Summit in Barrow was a success. Personal highlights were seeing people committed to sharing and working together to strengthen relationships. Tribal representatives had a strong showing and their participation was crucial to the success of the summit. It was great to see our Northern Lights Dancers represent our region during Kigvik festivities. The summit task force will be giving an update to both assemblies soon.

I worked closely with school district staff to coordinate the first Regional Inupiaq Days at KMHS during the Region IA Basketball Tournament. Over 100 people participated as Elder instructors and volunteers from throughout the region. Over 500 students participated. We offered 13 classes ranging from Atikluk-making, Eskimo Dancing, birch basketry and much more. Approximately $8,000.00 was spent on instructor honorariums. It was a huge success and planning has already begun for the 2006 Regional Inupiaq Days.

I attended the Chukchi Advisory Council meeting Feb. 15. Director Linc Saito gave updates on the student enrollment, Title III grant and other brief CCC updates. The last scheduled Chukchi Advisory Council meeting for this school year is May 24.

I worked with Mary Schaeffer, Polly Schaeffer, and Gladys Pungowiyi drafting bylaws/guidelines for the newly formed Inupiaq Language Commission. Bylaws were formatted after North Slope Borough’s Language Commission.

I have been working with other local representatives to coordinate the 2005 Fourth of July and Qatnut Trade Fair. Festivities will be July 3 – 6 in Kotzebue. The planning group meets every Monday at noon at the City Hall and will begin meeting on Friday afternoons to make Eskimo face pins for first place prizes. Kotzebue IRA will be the primary contact for this year’s Qatnut “Bringing People Together”.

Monthly Ikayuutiyumaruat teleconferences are continuing. Discussion focuses primarily on cultural and language activities in our communities. We are planning a retreat in June to bring participants together to reinforce what we are doing to promote language and culture in our homes and communities.

I’ve had the opportunity to travel with the Northwest Arctic Leadership Team to Kiana, Noorvik, Selawik, Kobuk, Shungnak and Ambler. Overall, the people of the region are appreciative of our regional organizations working together to maximize resources and to avoid duplication. Each community has different needs and priorities and it’s been great to talk to students and community members to strengthen existing relationships. Travel will be scheduled for Kivalina, Noatak, Deering and Buckland soon. Upon completion of village travel, reports and follow-up will be given back to communities.

I attended the Language Conference sponsored by the Kotzebue IRA and Aqqaluk Trust in April. A language survey was conducted this past winter in each of our villages and results were shared at the conference. Participants traveled back to their respective communities and had public meetings to see what we all can do to promote Inupiaq language speaking at home, school and the community. Copies of the complete survey can be obtained by contacting the Kotzebue IRA.

I did a presentation for Career Awareness Pathways 2005 Gear Up for 7th grade students and parents from the district, was a presenter for the Kotzebue Youth Wellness Conference and spoke at the Kotzebue IRA Annual Meeting. My main message is to know and take pride in personal and community Inupiaqness. I feel that once a person is proud of who they are, know and take pride in their unique identity, they will succeed in the home, school, work and the community.

Other tasks included working on the Employee Handbook, coordinate the NAB information table at the NANA Job Fair, assist the Kotzebue IRA in planning their wellness conferences, coordinating meetings, teleconferences, assisting with JNES Inupiaq Days, attend Kotzebue Elders meetings, taking an Inupiaq language class, did several interviews with outside entities wanting information, continue to coordinate staff involvement in community activities and always ‘other duties as assigned’.

It’s hard to be at work this time of year with my family moving to Katyuuraq for the spring. It’s nice to spend time with family at camp and I look forward to eating the spring harvests ~ uugruk, nuoyaq eggs, ligliqs, tatirgaq, white fish and soon, Kivalina trout. My parents are the best for raising us at camp.

In closing, I would like to commend the Northwest Arctic Leadership Team who is committed to working together for the betterment of our region. I’ve seen our leaders set positive examples for everyone and put differences aside to work for a better future for our people. I am honored and humbled to be a part of this effort. Our region will be a better place to live because of our leaders efforts.

Have a safe and enjoyable spring and don’t forget to make atikluks for the upcoming mosquito season!