Comments on: Alaska’s Rural Villages in Crisis – Update. http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/ Tiptoeing Through the Muck of Alaskan Politics Fri, 19 Mar 2010 00:10:11 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: kuhioboy http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10774 kuhioboy Sun, 18 Jan 2009 22:36:34 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10774 I posted earlier (two days ago) and thought I’d check in. We just met a couple from Alaska. They said Anchorage was not a great place to live. They chose to live way out in the country. I told them about this situation. They said it happens a lot up there. They said that during the warmer seasons, their village (sometimes they lived in places where there were less than 10-15 people, and sometimes up to 500 or more) would collect wood, cut it, and store it for times just like these. They had oil as well, but it was not reliable and was costly. 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. I posted earlier (two days ago) and thought I’d check in. We just met a couple from Alaska. They said Anchorage was not a great place to live. They chose to live way out in the country. I told them about this situation. They said it happens a lot up there. They said that during the warmer seasons, their village (sometimes they lived in places where there were less than 10-15 people, and sometimes up to 500 or more) would collect wood, cut it, and store it for times just like these. They had oil as well, but it was not reliable and was costly.

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.

]]> By: Tristan57 http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10547 Tristan57 Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:52:50 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10547 Ann, Please post as a diary on Daily Kos. Also, contact the Emmonaks. they should be willing to share and they're going to be over-flowing with contributions from everything I've heard. Ann, Please post as a diary on Daily Kos. Also, contact the Emmonaks. they should be willing to share and they’re going to be over-flowing with contributions from everything I’ve heard.

]]> By: redrabbit in Seattle http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10543 redrabbit in Seattle Sun, 18 Jan 2009 01:29:03 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10543 Thank you for the update! It's very good news. My Alaskan and Alaskan-adjacent family and friends are all upset about this (my dad is particularly peeved about the ongoing neglect of the natives). I called the office in Emmorak yesterday and gave a donation. The people I talked to were very nice and very charming and I wish them the best. It's sad that any random anonymous blogger in pajamas armed with only a keyboard and a credit card has done more in five minutes to help these First Alaskans than Palin and her $200,000 wardrobe have done in two years. You guys need a new governor. Good luck you guys... Thank you for the update! It’s very good news. My Alaskan and Alaskan-adjacent family and friends are all upset about this (my dad is particularly peeved about the ongoing neglect of the natives).

I called the office in Emmorak yesterday and gave a donation. The people I talked to were very nice and very charming and I wish them the best.

It’s sad that any random anonymous blogger in pajamas armed with only a keyboard and a credit card has done more in five minutes to help these First Alaskans than Palin and her $200,000 wardrobe have done in two years. You guys need a new governor.

Good luck you guys…

]]> By: WV Democrat http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10524 WV Democrat Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:53:10 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10524 Struggling, I appreciate the info and will be emailing you later tonight as I am typing this while I am fixing a nice dinner in a warm home in WV which makes me feel guilty. Do you have any info for the other villages? You other Mudflatters should get on this as well. Sending food and paper goods via US Mail will be best as even if you send money, the way I understand it, there are few if any places to purchase food. Thanks.... Struggling,

I appreciate the info and will be emailing you later tonight as I am typing this while I am fixing a nice dinner in a warm home in WV which makes me feel guilty. Do you have any info for the other villages?

You other Mudflatters should get on this as well. Sending food and paper goods via US Mail will be best as even if you send money, the way I understand it, there are few if any places to purchase food.

Thanks….

]]> By: Struggling in Nunam Iqua http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10521 Struggling in Nunam Iqua Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:28:51 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10521 OK, I complied a list of everyone here in Nunam Iqua. I spoke to all but one household here and Have a list of what is needed. I got permission for my Youth Center to receive/distribute any donations that come in. So they can be mailed to: Ann Strongheart Nunam Iqua Program for Youth c/o City of Nunam Iqua 101 Mudd Street P.O. Box 26 Nunam Iqua, AK 99666 OR if you would like to send boxes directly to needy families I have a list of families including their family size and needs and their PO Box #'s you can email me at nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com if you would like a copy. Here is a list of things that are desperately needed, since we have no store here in Nunam Iqua we are really struggling to get food and groceries here. If you would prefer to send a check you can make it payable to: City of Nunam Iqua and send it to the above address. Here's the list: Diapers Sizes 1, 3, & 6 Similac Advanced Formula Powder Canned Evaporated Milk Dry Powdered Milk Powdered Eggs Crackers ( Sailor Boy Pilot Bread unsalted tops are the most used here) Rice (minute rice) Noodles Peanut Butter Honey Jam Juice TOILET PAPPER (everyone is running out) Flour Sugar Coffee Cereal Crisco Coffee Creamer Pancake Mix Tea Canned Vegetables Dried Fruit Instant Soups Ramen Noodles Cup a noodles Just basic pantry staples. Even salt, pepper, etc. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. We greatly appreciate it. Our weather is getting wierd here, it got really hot here last night up to 36 degrees, if it keeps up we will be unable to travel upriver by snowmachine to get food, b/c the river will be unsafe to travel on. Again if you have any questions or what more information please feel free to contact me at nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com Sincerely grateful, Ann OK, I complied a list of everyone here in Nunam Iqua. I spoke to all but one household here and Have a list of what is needed. I got permission for my Youth Center to receive/distribute any donations that come in. So they can be mailed to:

Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Program for Youth
c/o City of Nunam Iqua
101 Mudd Street
P.O. Box 26
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666

OR if you would like to send boxes directly to needy families I have a list of families including their family size and needs and their PO Box #’s you can email me at nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com if you would like a copy.

Here is a list of things that are desperately needed, since we have no store here in Nunam Iqua we are really struggling to get food and groceries here.

If you would prefer to send a check you can make it payable to:

City of Nunam Iqua
and send it to the above address.

Here’s the list:

Diapers Sizes 1, 3, & 6
Similac Advanced Formula Powder
Canned Evaporated Milk
Dry Powdered Milk
Powdered Eggs
Crackers ( Sailor Boy Pilot Bread unsalted tops are the most used here)
Rice (minute rice)
Noodles
Peanut Butter
Honey
Jam
Juice
TOILET PAPPER (everyone is running out)
Flour
Sugar
Coffee
Cereal
Crisco
Coffee Creamer
Pancake Mix
Tea
Canned Vegetables
Dried Fruit
Instant Soups
Ramen Noodles
Cup a noodles

Just basic pantry staples. Even salt, pepper, etc.

Thank you in advance for any help you can provide. We greatly appreciate it. Our weather is getting wierd here, it got really hot here last night up to 36 degrees, if it keeps up we will be unable to travel upriver by snowmachine to get food, b/c the river will be unsafe to travel on.

Again if you have any questions or what more information please feel free to contact me at nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com

Sincerely grateful,

Ann

]]> By: SillyWhabbit, Seattle, WA http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10500 SillyWhabbit, Seattle, WA Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:19:43 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10500 re: Ann And just to clarify the reason why I posted above about hoping I wouldn’t get in trouble is b/c technically I need to ask the City Council before I jump into something like this, but we need the help NOW we can’t wait until the next meeting. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I would think as a private citizen, you are able to act on your own. If not blame the crazy whabbit and say she was going nutty. I agree, you, we, all need to act now. Thank you because THAT is what just made me finally melt down. NOW!!! That's what I'm talking about! I know what it is like to suffer greatly and have no one help you. I suppose that is why I am freaking out. Maybe I am reacting to an insane situation with a normal fluffing reaction. Sarah "The Gash" Palin could take a lesson in humanitarian actions. You're right AKM "insert preferred insult here" works just as well as your "the worm". AND I LIKE having the title tied to her name every single time I use it. VERY cathartic! re: Ann
And just to clarify the reason why I posted above about hoping I wouldn’t get in trouble is b/c technically I need to ask the City Council before I jump into something like this, but we need the help NOW we can’t wait until the next meeting.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I would think as a private citizen, you are able to act on your own. If not blame the crazy whabbit and say she was going nutty.
I agree, you, we, all need to act now. Thank you because THAT is what just made me finally melt down. NOW!!! That’s what I’m talking about!
I know what it is like to suffer greatly and have no one help you. I suppose that is why I am freaking out. Maybe I am reacting to an insane situation with a normal fluffing reaction. Sarah “The Gash” Palin could take a lesson in humanitarian actions.

You’re right AKM “insert preferred insult here” works just as well as your “the worm”. AND I LIKE having the title tied to her name every single time I use it. VERY cathartic!

]]> By: CRFlats http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10499 CRFlats Sat, 17 Jan 2009 22:16:08 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10499 Ripley in CT (08:18:41) : CRFlatsNo Gravatar (12:39:22) : Are they the UConn Huskies??? YES, and I am a proud Alum of the University of Connecticut! Go Huskies!!! ************************************** Wouldn't that be a nice connection? If you have an alum organization that could be contacted. The folks in the real Yukon (Emmonak and other small villages are in the Yukon/Kuskokwim River Delta, referred to as the Y/K Delta) need help. Ripley in CT (08:18:41) :
CRFlatsNo Gravatar (12:39:22) :

Are they the UConn Huskies???

YES, and I am a proud Alum of the University of Connecticut!

Go Huskies!!!
**************************************
Wouldn’t that be a nice connection? If you have an alum organization that could be contacted. The folks in the real Yukon (Emmonak and other small villages are in the Yukon/Kuskokwim River Delta, referred to as the Y/K Delta) need help.

]]> By: Tristan57 http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10497 Tristan57 Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:34:20 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10497 Grandma, Color me gobsmacked, dumbfounded, befuddled, whatever. This inanity totally escapes me. How do these frikken people get elected!?!!? Grandma,

Color me gobsmacked, dumbfounded, befuddled, whatever. This inanity totally escapes me. How do these frikken people get elected!?!!?

]]> By: Grandma Nancy http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10496 Grandma Nancy Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:08:28 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10496 For Tristan57 -- Just imagine my amazement when here in St, Paul, MN, I received a letter labeled “From The Office of The Governor of Alaska”!!! and, the letter is signed by none other than Sarah herself (last thing I ever wanted in my house). A FREE Travel Guide??? How much more ridiculous can things get? Native Alaskans starving and freezing and Sarah and AK State Govt. spend money to mail me unwanted and unasked for junk mail. To keep her name out there????? Do you suppose that these were sent to EVERYBODY in the lower 48????? For Tristan57 –

Just imagine my amazement when here in St, Paul, MN, I received a letter labeled “From The Office of The Governor of Alaska”!!! and, the letter is signed by none other than Sarah herself (last thing I ever wanted in my house).

A FREE Travel Guide???

How much more ridiculous can things get? Native Alaskans starving and freezing and Sarah and AK State Govt. spend money to mail me unwanted and unasked for junk mail. To keep her name out there?????

Do you suppose that these were sent to EVERYBODY in the lower 48?????

]]> By: Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble http://www.themudflats.net/2009/01/15/alaskas-rural-villages-in-crisis-update/#comment-10495 Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble Sat, 17 Jan 2009 21:02:09 +0000 http://www.themudflats.net/?p=1060#comment-10495 Tristan57No Gravatar (10:48:03) : OMG! Guess Sarah's fired or run off the competent people in the Gov's office. LOL. Tristan57No Gravatar (10:48:03) :
OMG! Guess Sarah’s fired or run off the competent people in the Gov’s office. LOL.

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