They insisted that small villages in remote areas need to always use extra time in preparation for the winters. I read one comment above describing how they would burn up expensive fuel to go out and get wood for their wood burning stove, thereby taking money away from food and heating oil, etc. I told the couple from Alaska (husband is Native from Alaska) about this comment and they said that the village needed to be more organized. They needed to put a foodbank together with storable food for the community. That’s what they did. They had a hard time believing that this current crisis just “happened.”

While they agree that aid is necessary right now, the people in remote areas need to be even more vigilant and prepared than those in larger towns. They also had their “general store” collapse, more than a few times. They did have to take a few snowmobiles to a nearby village to get some supplies, especially food. But after the one time, they prepared for the winter during the good weather times of the year.

He was curious as to how the people were able to produce an income for living and other necessities and, if they didn’t work, what they did to share in the responsibility of winter preparedness.

Don’t count on politicians for a permanent fix. The people need to come together and ensure their village’s survival through local gathering of resources as well as bought goods. They are also the ones who’s responsibility it is to link up with others and apply for government aide, programs, grants, etc.

He, being Native Alaskan, also said that he still feels connected to his ancestral roots as he has family there and returns each year to visit. But economic necessity brought him to the lower 48. And now that his own children are grown (and live here in Hawaii and in Alaska), he is content to live a simple yet “wealthy” life here in Hawaii.

I, having never been to Alaska (we hope to visit soon), can’t speak for anything that is happening up there. But I can speak for similar conditions that are happening here. Again, while we don’t have the life and death struggle of your winters, there are so many in the small town I live in who can not afford to even get out of sight.

Leaving is not an option. There is an extremely high incidence of diabetes, alcoholism, other drug use, especially “ice.” It seems endemic in these areas where most live with little hope. 80% of the people are on public assistance of one kind or another and the beaches are filling up more and more with families without a traditional roof over their heads.

Yet the government does very little. O’ahu is not a big island and it might surprise you to know that clearly 80% of the one million people on this island have never been out here. We get the landfills, but not infrastructure improvements. I walk to the store and even though I’ve lived here most of my life I still will get robbed every now and then by meth’ed out kids. I know who their families are and they pay me back and apologize, but so many of the kids are so hooked on drugs that they’re out of control. THEY HAVE NO HOPE FOR THEIR FUTURE.

Clearly, your state government, the one that can keep the money for a bridge to be built to nowhere, with federal assistance, can help the remote, lower income areas in Alaska. I was always under the impression that Alaska gave their citizens a lot of money each year. Shows ya how little I know.

Surely things are looking up more by now. As the couple we met on the beach this morning said: go after it and don’t stop until something is in place that will ensure your survival as a village and be ready to go to work to get it done. He’s hard core all the way.

Remember the email that Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan sent out on 07-12-2008 after Governor Sarah Palin fired him?

“…Given the gathering storm of a questionable fishing season and the escalating price of fuel in our state, there will be serious stress placed upon communities and residents who will struggle with the coming winter’s challenges. Last week I had asked our Troopers and Fire Marshals to outreach both to these communities and to your departments in a cooperative effort to mitigate issues that will arise like: theft; domestic violence; substance abuse; suicide; and, accidental death; that all can come from sinking reserves of fuel, money, and hope.”

Monegan warned her.

Cherokee Trail of Tears The Trail of Tears lives as one of the darkest episodes of American history. Called “Nunna daul Tsuny” or “Trail where they cried” by the Cherokee, more than 4,000 men, women and children perished as a direct result of the events that occured .
http://ngeorgia.com/history/nghisttt.html

I don’t have much. Certainly no money anyway. I can however manage to scratch up some canned and dry goods to send. I’ve got a lot of cloth diapers my little one has out grown that I could also send. (I’d read one family was having a hard time getting disposable diapers for their baby)

Lynn, sometimes giving of your time and your heart is more important than any $ could ever be. Thank you for calling the Gov’s office and keeping the fire under their feet! And bless you and your family as you, too, struggle through hard times.

Check the more recent thread on Alaska’s Rural Villages for updated info.

-Lynn

Everyone, especially Govenor Palin, needs to realize that it’s not just Emmonak residents that are suffering! We need help in all of the YK Delta villages!