Shopping Day in Nunam Iqua, Alaska.
I went shopping the other day. I zipped into Carrs on the way home from work, picked up some salad stuff, a couple loaves of bread, a box of Wheat Thins, and a few sweet potatos. The gas station was across the way, and I filled up at $2.33/gallon. Then I headed back to the car that was still warm, and was home in about 10 minutes. I pulled into my heated garage and brought the food inside. I wasn’t worried about loading up because I can do this again tomorrow, and it’s not really an inconvenience.
That’s what my day is like when I need groceries, and it’s probably not too radically different from many reading this. As a matter of fact, if I ended the post here, you’d all probably be saying, “Yeah? So what?”
So, since we’ve been talking quite a bit about rural Alaska lately, I thought I’d share with you a great diary by Mudflatter Ann Strongheart who lives in the village of Nunam Iqua. Here’s what her day is like when she needs to go grocery shopping. Anyone who has lived in rural Alaska will be able to identify with parts of Ann’s story, but urban dwellers and those out of state – prepare to be astounded.
January 24, 2009
Today my husband and I decided to travel the 25 miles to Emmonak to get groceries. Here is what getting groceries entails in Nunam Iqua.
We got up and had to build a fire as the house was getting chilly and we had run out of stove oil a couple of days ago. Then we made coffee, using water that we had packed the night before from the watering point across the village. We took a 30 gallon Rubbermaid trash can (our water bucket) that we use STRICTLY for water storage across to the other side of the village and with two tokens (tokens are one dollar each) we got 20 gallons of water. We went across by snow machine towing our sled with the water bucket in it. Once we filled it we carefully brought it back across to our house and then lifted it out of the sled and up the steps into our porch and then into the house.
After having coffee my husband went out to chop firewood to keep the house warm. First he had to start the chainsaw and saw the logs he had gotten from across the river and then split them into the right size for our woodstove. While he was doing that I checked to ensure our baby sitter, my sister-in-law, was going to be able to come up to watch our 18 month old daughter, Cecelia (CC). It’s too long of a ride to take our baby with us during the winter and it’s too cold also.
My daughter, Cecelia, woke up and I changed her diaper make a mental note that I HAD TO REMEMBER to get diapers we are getting low. Then I made her breakfast. I felt bad because we had run out of bread and canned/dried fruit for her so her breakfast was dry cereal, cheese, and some 100% fruit juice gummy snacks plus a sippy cup full of very very diluted grape juice with her liquid vitamins in it. We don’t let her have anything but milk and water during the day because I worry about her having too much sugar.
As she was eating my husband was finishing up chopping wood. My sister-in-law arrived with her two daughters to watch CC. During this time our power had gone out in the entire village while they worked on the generators. So we had to keep a close eye on the wood stove to keep the house warm.
My husband and I then started on putting on our winter gear. Long johns, sweatshirts, down snow pants, double layer coat, cap, neck warmer, goggles and heavy duty gloves. We let my sister-in-law know which way we were going to travel and then we went out and checked the snow machine over. Then we hooked up the sled my husband made out of plywood and 2” x 6”s and started up to Emmonak. We left Nunam Iqua at 1:30 p.m. We decided that the short cut trail was safe to travel on and going through the short cut would save us about 2 miles of traveling. The temperature was at 25 degrees when we left with a wind coming from the North. So with the wind-chill the temperature was about 15 degrees Farenheit. We had gotten several inches of new snow and there was a lot of powder on the trail and lots of snow drifts. After we had traveled about 8 miles on the short cut trail we came to the Yukon River.
My husband was driving and I was riding behind him. Usually, we would take two snow machines as it is safer to travel that way, in case one breaks down but with the high cost of fuel we couldn’t afford the gas to take both our snow machines. When we got on the Yukon my husband had to keep a close eye out for overflow. Overflow is water and holes in the ice. It is caused by the tides, when the tide comes in the ice rises and cracks and water seeps through the cracks and sometimes even makes dangerous holes that a snow machine could break through.
We crossed the Yukon and traveled another 5 miles where we passed Alakanuk and headed another 12 miles to Emmonak. We arrived in Emmonak and went straight to the Alaska Commercial Company Store. We got there at 2:45 p.m. We were surprised when we got there because when we left Nunam Iqua we had ¾’s of a tank of gas which is normally enough to go up and back. But this time when we got to Emmonak we had less than a ¼ tank of gas left. Due to there being so much powdered snow and drifts on the trail we had used much more gas than expected. So now we were going to have to get gas before we started coming back home.
We went into the store and bought our groceries. Here is a list of what we bought:
$ 8.99 —- 2 lbs Raisins
$ 3.10 —- 2 boxes of Jiffy Blue berry Muffin mix
$ 6.99 —- 1 bag generic cheerios
$10.25 —- 3lb Coffee creamer
$ 4.72 —- 8 packages unsweetened Koolaid
$17.34 —- 6 cans of fruit cocktail
$10.76 —- 4 cans vegetables (2 peas 2 beans)
$13.35 —- 1 large jar of Mayo
$ 6.45 —- 1 one pound box spaghetti noodles
$10.35 —- 5 lbs white rice
$13.40 —- 4 boxes of rice-a-roni
$ 4.49 —- 1 can spaghetti sauce
$ 5.00 —- 4 small cans chili
$ 8.95 —- 12 cup a noodles
$11.98 —- 2 loaves generic bread
$ 9.95 —- 6 rolls of Toilet paper
$12.90 —- 2 – 2lb boxes of pilot bread
$ 6.99 —- 5 lbs fresh potatoes
$ 5.99 —- 18 eggs
$ 3.81 —- 1 quart cottage cheese
$ 7.99 —- 1 pkg string cheese
$ 6.38 —- 2 pkg blue bonnet margarine
$ 3.99 —- 1 pkg frozen stir fry veggies
$ 9.15 —- 1 dozen frozen corn on the cob
$ 7.41 —- 1 pkg oven roasted turkey (for sandwiches)
$ 6.19 —- 1 pkg sliced ham (for sandwiches)
$14.78 —- 2 pkg Kielbasa Sausage
$11.42 —- 2 lbs ground beef
$22.36 —- 5 pork chops
$16.38 —- 2 pkgs Johnsonville Italian Sausage
$19.58 —- 2 pkgs Tyson IQF frozen drumsticks
$ 9.79 —- 1 pkg Tyson IQF chicken thighs
$ 6.49 —- 6 rolls generic paper towels
$82.55 —- 1 case size 6 Huggies diapers (144 diapers)
Total including tax
$409.26
The groceries were packed into 3 boxes plus the box of diapers. We took this out and put it in our sled and wrapped it with a tarp and tied it down so it wouldn’t slide around. We then went to the Emmonak Corporation Store Deli and shared a plate of fried shrimp and French fries and a can of pop totaling about $16.00. We left the Corporation Store and went to the Tank farm to get gas before we headed home. We bought 6 gallons of gas which cost us $43.50 but we were relieved because we had been hearing the rumors that Emmonak’s gas might jump to $9-$11 a gallon so we were happy we only had to pay $7.25 a gallon. We also bought a quart of oil for the snow machine and that cost us $10.85 with tax. We called my sister-in-law and checked on CC and told her that we were on our way home. It was 4:15 p.m. We left Emmonak and headed towards Nunam Iqua. It was starting to get a little stormy and snowing some and I was very happy that we had our GPS with us in case the storm got any worse. The storm did get worse and white out conditions were setting in we would have lost the trail if we hadn’t had our GPS with us showing us where to go. We had had the GPS tracking our route to Emmonak on the way up so it enabled us to follow our same trail back to Nunam Iqua and avoid any overflow.
When we left the Yukon and started on the short cut trail we stopped to stretch our legs and warm up a bit since the wind shifted a little and was coming from the east. My husband knew that there was a River Otter house close by and he walked over towards it. He found it all right because he fell through the snow as he stepped on its tunnel and ended up waist deep in snow. I laughed as he crawled out and then he asked me to come over and look. At first I hesitated thinking I don’t want to end up falling into its tunnel but then I followed his steps and walked over to look at it. The tunnel was huge and it was really neat to look at. The River otters here can reach up to 6 feet long and this ones tunnel was impressive.
We started up the snow machine and started again towards Nunam Iqua we saw a fox but no moose. Usually we see moose but because of the storm they were in the trees. (Ok when I say tree’s they are more like bushes, but the people here call them trees) We saw lots of moose, rabbit, and fox tracks along the trail. We arrived home at 6 p.m. Where we unloaded the sled and unpacked the groceries.
I made everyone sandwiches. CC was very happy that she got to have canned fruit and cottage cheese with her sandwich. And we were happy we got to have a break from moose and have a ham and turkey sandwich even though we couldn’t have lettuce or tomato on them because I knew that they would freeze on the way back down from Emmonak.
Well that’s what we have to do to get groceries here in Nunam Iqua. If you take into account that we had to use 12 gallons of gas to travel the 50 miles round trip to Emmonak then our total for the day was a little over $500. I hope that these groceries will make it several weeks and I hope the diapers will last until my COD order arrives from Fairbanks Wal-Mart.
I hope this gives y’all an idea of life here in the village!
Ann Strongheart
Photo from loweryukon.org
I do not know how they make it.
I will never ever again complain about grocery prices or about having to go to the store! The people who live in the villages are far heartier than I am. My hats are off to them.
Where, oh, where is Sarah when it comes to being even the least bit empathetic? She should try living out in the villages for a winter. It just might change her tune. Ah, but that assumes that she has the ability to empathize….
It is really difficult for me down here in Texas to even begin to visualize how tough living in the rural parts of Alaska must be. Thank you, Ann, for taking the time to record this shopping day in the life of the Strongheart family. Wow. What a tough, expensive way of life it is there.
Ok I will not complain about my trip to the strore any more. What a trip Ann and thank you for telling it. Glad you baby got the food she liked.
wow, won’t complain about the $200 trip to Fred Meyer in Anchorage yesterday. I filled 5 bags of groceries and had 3 bottles of wine! (Cheap-ish wine, but still).
Thank you AKM .
Thank you Ann-
Special fruit treat on the way for CC!
What is it with those thingys you folks call trees , anyway?
They always look like they are far away on the horizon, even when you are standing right next to them…
The people in your neighborhood are as strong and tall as the trees in my Southeast neighborhood though…
Be safe. be warm.
Thanks for sharing that. I’ll quit whining about having to hop in the car and drive a mile to the grocery store – and actually that’s a choice; there are two within a mile, depending on which direction I want to go. It was cold again here with a few snow flakes, but nothing like that.
Someone should send this to the governor, or better yet, to some of the TV stations outside Alaska. I just don’t think the rest of us really have a clue.
Wow, Ann & AKM, thanks for the day in the life of a Villager. So proud to know you and support you and the villagers anyway I can. So, want to do more, as I sit here watching Extreme Makeover, I’m thinking have they ever gone to AK? Wonder if they might like to do a villiage project next summer…something to consider? More emails and letters to write.
Dear Ann, Thank you so much for your account of a shopping trip. As a rural Alaskan, I empathize, tho I do live in a much larger community, and have better access to our Alaska Commercial Store. However, the prices are strangely similar, even tho we have better access to freight delivery.
The other side of the story: Why do you continue to live in such a remote place? I would love to hear your story. There is more to life and community than cheap goods, and obviously you know that.
I am outraged!! I know food prices have gone up but that is really out of hand!
Jiffy muffin mix for example, not even really blueberries in it. I remember they used to be like a quarter not sure what they are now, but I’m sure not that much. $13.40 —- 4 boxes of rice-a-roni ….and this list goes on!!!
And I’m sure Barbie going get ready for her frick’in vacation and you know she won’t be eating any rice-a-roni!!!
She should be made accountable and not leave until this crises is over. If it cuts into her vacation…. to bad! My heart goes out to the village people. Can they order stuff over the internet? Is that cheaper?
These prices are outrageous! Price gouging! And they have no choice, so is that why the prices are high…. I heard this is a Canadian owned store? Why is there not a Alaskan owned store/trading post store with reasonable
prices???
Ann, thanks for sharing your story, even though its got my blood boiling at the injustice you are being subjected too, by a good for nothing narcissistic, tattooed lip, lying Gov. Grifer!!!!!!!!
Please ALASKA….IMPEACH HER!!!!!!!
Gov. GRIFTER really should be held to task for this! NO VACATION! Her vacation should be having dud the “ironman” bring supplies up to his people! She is a digesting piece of work, totally disgusting!!!!
I am so made right now after reading this article and know that b*tch is going away on vacation while these poor people suffer and she does nothing. Impeach her A$$! The sooner the better. Its a sorry state of affairs up there.
Thanks too Ann! One thing I had wanted to ask, but NOW you fully answered! My former question was why don’t they wash cotton baby diapers instead of relying on expensive disposables? Didn’t ask because I didn’t wish to sound a smidgen judgmental in the asking.
NOW, I can appreciate if you have to go through such a struggle just to obtain drinking/cooking water, you sure don’t want to waste it washing diapers that would take forever to dry as well.
Finally, I’ve got my four boxes ready to ship out USPS flatrate tomorrow. I feel sympathy for the postal carrier, these dudes are HEAVY. Would have loved to send canned fruits, but given the small size of the box, you just can’t squeeze very many in there.
Ann, can you keep an eyes out for 4 boxes from Seattle – I plan to mark my boxes so that you open them at the same time. I split my stuff, just in case one box were to get lost (with my luck it would be the baby formula). But if you’re splitting things to share, you would find it easier than doing on different days since each box carries the same things. Except, each box carries a different type of dried bean/peas etc. Again, thanks for sharing!
May God have mercy on those that can’t travel that far for their necessities, I pray that the State will hear of this distressing devastation! My heart goes out to Nunam residents!
She is a digesting (should be disgusting) piece of work, totally disgusting!!!!
OK, my computer crashed and I lost my name and don’t even remember what it was. But here I am. I won’t complain about the 45 minute AWD trip to my grocery store any more. I shop at the priciest grocery store in CA and our prices are awful, but no where near as completely outrageous as yours. Those prices are completely out of touch with reality and what people have to spend. yes, I know it’s pricy to get the stuff there, but still . . .
@Pat, I tried to get King 5 to cover a story and they ended up having the story covered with the Anchorage NBC, station. That was a story that involved University of Washington.
I do know Komo might air this. I cant even imagine that shopping trip and paying that much for food. For me and my two children I spent $300 a month on groceries, and I had to catch a ferry to get that, even then, it isnt even that much compared to the yukon.
Any updates?
I knew it was difficult, but not that difficult.
I am planning on shopping again at Span Alaska, after I find out what Nunam Iqua needs. On pay into the shopping account mentioned on the Forum-
Jiffy mix 60 cents box today in Az. Remember when it was a dime, and if you lived in Chelsea Mi, next to the mill, you could get rejects free. After reading this I just shook my head and muttered “wow”. Strongheart indeed.
Good grief,it seems like it would be cheaper to buy groceries here in Louisiana and ship them there !! My daughter calls me the coupon queen,so my idea of prices may be a little low because I only buy with coupons when things are on sale,and stock up.I had sent a small donation last week,I think I will do the flat rate box thing.
@ CO almost native
I think AKM was going to repost that info the Span Alaska account for Nunam Iqua here in the blog. I’ll check back when I’m home and repost it here if I don’t see it yet.
I feel so lucky! Ann S called me today and we had a great talk about village life & a tiny bit of local politics. I have decided that even living in Alaska, I am a MAJOR WIMP compared to the villagers.
I hang my head in shame that I was even mad last week when my SUV doors froze shut – I had to tug and kick and I thought it was the end of the world.
Martha Unalaska Yard Sign (21:48:22) :
Thanks! I found it on the Alaska thread on the forum, but it would be nice to put it here, so other mudpups might use it. I emailed Ann to see what would be best for them…
I hit up more friends at church, and have enough to go “shopping ” at Span Alaska again:-) My church is helping support some Africans who are settling in …Alaska, Anchorage, I think (lol)- but others were willing to donate for the cause. Humanity is basically good-
@CoAlmost: What is the ETA for Span Alaska shipments? If it is barge and transfer or flown in sure makes a difference. Even Mail will take 2 weeks at best. Did Span give you a delivery date?
I drive 66 miles to glennallen to food. gas here is $3.50. It just dropped from $5.00. My heating bills are high too, but I conserve.
I am wondering why they aren’t using cloth diapers, and why not do case lot shopping. is there no meat hunted and stored for the winter. We pick berries, dry or can them. most bush teachers pack in all their suppys in for the year.
There is a cost and a choise to living in a rual area. We do it because we love it, but it is not city life, and should not be compared to it.
God be with you…I would send you these groceries myself but they probably would charge just as much for the postage!!!!
I have been scanning the boards and the news for reports on how other villiages beside Ann’s are doing and haven’t see much, wish i could remember the names but may found reports of one or two other villages. Has any of the other AK bloggers gotten any more news?
There was a way to donate through Span Alaska posted, don’t know if it was here or at Marg&Helen. Mailing the boxes is time consuming and expensive for what I can fit in them.
Martha and Alaska Pi, as you visit both blogs, please repost the info.
I just want to use what money I can in the most efficient way and get the goods to their destination.
holy shit!…Texas is looking better and better to me/
Thanks AKM and Ann for making what is taking place in rural Alaska a reality to those of us who cannot even begin to conceive of the harsh realities taking place there. My husband and I have already sent monetary donations but more is needed. We will be sending food boxes and my daughter has warm children clothing and adult clothing she will be donating.
I too feel ashamed for complaining about going a few miles up the street in nice weather conditions to shop for grocery. Never again will I complain. At the same time, I will be able to send food because I scour the sales papers for deals and cut and clip coupons. My children, who are adults, used to laugh because I would go to three or four different grocery stores to get the best deals. But now they do the same thing. I only have my nephew who I am raising and as a creature of habit, I still shop the same way.
I will be using Ann’s grocery list and the list given on the Forum to fill the boxes with and I hope it helps.
But I cannot believe that Sarah Palin has the audacity and the unmitigated gall to be going on a vacation when many people in her state are in dire state of emergency. It’s bad for all people but there are children and elders that are suffering. The side of me that I rarely reveal would like to make Sarah Palin suffer the same consequences as the village people are going through. That woman makes me sick!!
@ CRFlats:
SpanAlaska used to use by-pass mail. I haven’t lived out in the country for awhile, so don’t know if that has changed. Their website says they’ll use by-pass, if that’s the easiest way to ship something.
The prices Ann listed are impressive. I thought Eagle, Alaska was high, but they’re on the road system during the summer. I used to drive over to Dawson City, Yukon to grocery shop, when the ice was out and the ferry was running.
OT but perhaps Mother Nature is trying to give SP a sign or too. Yesterday an earthquake, now Mt. Redoubt’s likely to erupt. Let’s all hope AK politics get a little shake-up and blow-up soon too!
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/kenai/story/667576.html
@AKaurora, let’s be very careful what we ask for, SP’s administration can not handle the village emergency, she wouldn’t have a clue how to handle a diaster in urban AK this time of year. And if it happens while she is on vacation, doesn’t that sound like Bush during Katrina.
CRFlats (22:03:48) :
@CoAlmost: What is the ETA for Span Alaska shipments? If it is barge and transfer or flown in sure makes a difference. Even Mail will take 2 weeks at best. Did Span give you a delivery date?
____________________________________________________________
When I ordered the first time, they told me two weeks; I can check online tomorrow-
empish (22:32:52) :
There was a way to donate through Span Alaska posted, don’t know if it was here or at Marg&Helen. Mailing the boxes is time consuming and expensive for what I can fit in them.
Martha and Alaska Pi, as you visit both blogs, please repost the info.
I just want to use what money I can in the most efficient way and get the goods to their destination.
__________________________________________________________
Martha has posted the information on the Forum, the Alaska thread. You can scroll down through the comments and find it easily.
Evening Everyone,
First off AKM, WOW you are quite eloquent!! Loved the lead in with YOUR trip to grocery store!!!
Secondly, I noticed that some of you are requesting information so here is the information about getting food here. For those of you who notice the address change DO NOT PANIC if you already sent a box to the previous address I will still get it. This just makes it easier and keeps the City Office free of any pile up of boxes.
Thirdly, I also added the SPAN Alaska information. Well I would love to chat more but I have to work in the morning at the School and then godwilling I will have to pick up boxes from the Post Office and start sorting and distributing. Good Night all, and QUYANA (Yupik for THANK YOU!!) for all of your help and hard work!! Ann Strongheart
OK, I complied a list of everyone here in Nunam Iqua. I spoke to every 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:
NUNAM IQUA FOOD DRIVE
c/o Ann Strongheart
P.O. Box 7
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 PAPER (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.
To DONATE TO THE SPAN ALASKA ACCOUNT…..
Here’s how to do it:
• Call Span Alaska, toll free at 1.800.367.9833 if you want to use a credit card over the phone
• Ask for Efton and tell him you would like to make a donation to the “Nunam Iqua Village Aid” account
• * OR * mail a check or money order to: Span Alaska Sales, PO Box 878 Auburn, WA 98071 (be sure to include the account name for Nunam Iqua and your return address for a donation receipt)
• * OR * fax your credit card info to Span Alaska at 1-425-483-2460 (be sure to include the account name for Nunam Iqua and your return address for a donation receipt)
• They will mail you a receipt for your payment with the account name on it for your tax records
• If we add other villages later if they desire and have a coordinator, SPAN Alaska will set up a separate account with the village’s name & coordinator.
• They are CLOSED on the weekend, regular hours are Mon-Friday 7am – 5pm PST
I think this will greatly help the people who can’t afford the minimum order at Span Alaska to send to the village, and also some folks don’t know what you need the most and really want to help in the most efficient way
Alaska Pi set this up: I pulled this from Margaret and Helen’s blog
Helen-
Thank you, thank you! We were all trying to get nice right away cuz there’s so much work to do.
And today- the ghastly gov can kiss some moose hiney. We are NOT letting up lady-
Can’t parade your poor kids around AND call em off limits…
Can’t use Alaska to progress yourself forward AND ignore so many Alaskans.
Passing on email from my lil sis here. We have not heard from Ann yet but contained in here is a GOOD way to help Nunam Iqua and other villages if a reliable contact can be found.
“Hi Ann,
I just talked to Efton at SPAN Alaska in Washington. We have set up an account called “Nunam Iqua Relief Fund, c/o Ann Strongheart” that people can call and make any amount of payment into. We figured then YOU could do the shopping when there is a decent balance in there for the items the villagers most need.
Will this work for you? Efton remembered you and that you ran the youth programs, so he thinks this is a great idea and cleared it with his accountant and everything. They made it very easy!
So I will post on Mudflats, and Alaska Pi will post this info on Margaret and Helen’s, and we will add this to any other site we come across that wants info on how to help.
If other villages step forward and have a coordinator, then SPAN Alaska can set up a new account under that village’s name and so on.
Here’s how to do it:
Call SPAN Alaska, toll free at 1.800.367.9833
Ask for Efton and tell him you would like to make a donation to the “Nunam Iqua Village Relief” account. They can take credit card info over the phone.
They will mail you a receipt for your payment with the account name on it for your tax records
If we add other villages later if they desire and have a coordinator, SPAN Alaska will set up a separate account with the village’s name & coordinator.
They are CLOSED on the weekend, regular hours are Mon-Friday 7am – 5pm PST
Also Ann, Efton said you guys can stay in touch via email to keep track of the fund amount so you know when you can order. He receives email at Info@SpanAlaskaSales.com.
Doesn´t anybody walk to the shop anymore or take a bike…. Gee I am lucky. I can do all of these things. I live in a village, which has become a suburb of Frankfurt in Germany. For big shopping I still take the car, but the shops are all within 5 minutes drive and I was thinking of buying a trailer for my bike, so I could avoid the car altogether. Some of my stuff gets delivered too.
And with all the competition, with so many shops around, prices are good (After we took the Euro hit that is a bit relative of course. At the switch prices doubled, but nothing compared to what you are putting up with in rural Alaska)
@ JuneauJoe
Hello and welcome again! Thank you for posting the info here. I updated the list I gave Alaska Pi right after she posted it, including a mailing address for checks and a fax number, too. I’ll post back here when I get home and get the info.
Good to see you here!
See “Struggling_in_Nunam_Iqua” for current list of how to donate to Nunam Iqua. As of now, Nunam Iqua is the only village that has an account set up at Span Alaska. We hope other villages can follow suit as they can.
Gosh you guys are quick – Ann’s post right above this has ALL the correct and current info. Sorry we didn’t get that info right off the bat.
Info is in the Bedtime Thread! AKM
Here’s a thought:
MOVE TO THE LOWER 48!
It’s cheaper and a much better place to live.
Earthquakes and erupting volcanoes are pretty normal around here and are not considered natural disasters, if the quake is mild or the volcano doesn’t dump an ash layer measured in feet, like Katmai did in 1912.
Having a governor that displays willful ignorance is new.
@amy(00:28:23) :
Here’s a thought:
MOVE TO THE LOWER 48!
It’s cheaper and a much better place to live.
—
Many of us grew up in the small states, which is why we appreciate Alaska so much. The Lower 48 is too hot and too crowded and it’s full of people like you.
—
@ lettersfromeurope(00:03:59) :
Doesn´t anybody walk to the shop anymore or take a bike…. Gee I am lucky. I can do all of these things. I live in a village, which has become a suburb of Frankfurt in Germany.
—
It isn’t like Germany here. There isn’t a village every few km. Each village or town isn’t set up with shops you can walk or bike to. I used to drive 112 miles one way to go grocery shopping or to call my mom or to take a shower and do laundry. I didn’t live in Bush Alaska, just out in the country a ways in a gold mining camp.
Alaska gets loads of tourists from Germany every summer. I used to tend bar at the Chicken Creek Saloon and got to talk to lots of them. We had a map of Germany on the wall, so people could show us where they lived. They pointed out to us that Germany is full of villages and people, and that’s why Germans love Alaska so much — because we have so much open space here.
I sit here in germany with tears in my eyes. I couldn’t live like that. I feel bad for these people and wish I could help. Being unemployed for two years has left us so far in debt, it will take us years to get out from under it. I can’t assist financially, but I can wish you well and lend you a cyber shoulder. Thank you for sharing this story with us.
@ grewingk
I, too love your stories. You are full of information and light, thank you!
Kotlik and Marshall have both spoken up.
If coordinators can be found in those villages
the SpanAlaska Sales thingy can be used to send things there too.
Ann,
Thanks for sharing your story of your shopping trip. Don’t know how long it will take to get there — but package is on the way USPS.
Here was my shopping trip:
A couple of miles to the local supermarket — gas here is about $1.39/gal.
2=1/2 gallons of powdered milk = $7.95
Store brand Oatmeal = about a buck.
Cocoa = about the same
Top Ramen Noodles — 6 pkgs. $1.00
Tea Bags — already in the pantry (from my house to your house)
To those of you who say it’s cheaper to ship it in — it is. Cost of the box of food and Flat Rate Postage — about $20. Flat Rate shipping on the box was $10.35. From Texas to NunamIqua.
Go to your local post office — get “Flat Rate” boxes. They come in two sizes. One looks like a shoe box. Good for canned stuff. The other is oblong. Good for dry stuff. Shipping is the same — regardless of weight.
It is more cost effective to ship it in.
My income is Social Security. I can do this about twice a month. Just start them going, and keep them going — Mudflatters. It’s important not to let our fellow Americans down.
We have hungry and homeless in my city. The big difference here is this: There are churches with “soup kitchens”. People can get a free hot meal. There are even more churches with food pantries. There is a city wide food bank. People have easy access to register for food stamps. Hop a bus and go. We have many more resources than folks in Alaska do.
It takes a little time. It takes a little money. It makes a big difference.
It’s that “shared sacrifice” thing we heard about on Tuesday.
This should be required reading for those … almost used a naughty word, let’s just call them unfortunate uninformed persons who prattle on on some other blogs about all that pfd handout money they got and “what did they squander it on? They should just be more fiscally responsible!”. Grr.
As others have said, I knew it was expensive, but I really couldn’t imagine it being THAT expensive. Thank you for helping us learn.
@Miemaw in Texas (05:48:08) :
It takes a little time. It takes a little money. It makes a big difference.
It’s that “shared sacrifice” thing we heard about on Tuesday
———————–
Yes, it is. Thank you neighbor. Yes, it is.
Thanks so much for sharing this. As I read, I could relate to that cold, being a northerner myself, but never having to worry about getting in a car and running to a store when needed. These people have real unique gifts, perseverance, a strong mental endurance to have to live day-by-day without anxiety or worry, like so many in North American who get stressed out by everyday problems and now seems like everyone is on some anti-depressant.
Not saying that the bush way of life is easier on them, but it tells me that these great people have a load of life instructions to offer the world, and in any event of a natural disaster, these would be the ones are educated in survival skills knowledge and being the kind folk they are, would pass that along to anyone. These are gems, diamonds and should be handled like care by the Government of Alaska. They deserve the respect and concern – am really hoping these Native Alaskans are vindicated finally and given due respect by all communities.
I recently moved to a small town in Northern MN from Kansas City. I will never complain again about having to drive a half hour for Target and the mall…at least I drive on clear roads in a warm car, not a snowmobile with a cart.
Maybe the writer should order more things from Amazon.com, Omahasteaks.com and the like?
YIKES!!!! May I ask how much you guys EARN up there if groceries cost the equivalent of an arm and a leg, and a gallon of gas the equivalent of your first-born???
I will never compalin again about the cost of groceries here (well – at least not until I get to the store next time…:/ )
Kath the Scrappy from Seattle (20:53:29) : What are you talking about? Where do you send boxes? I would like to help, too. Anybody that can send me to the right site, with a list of items needed as well as a snail-mail address, I would appreciate it!
Never mind my last post – I found the info…
BTW: Does all this help just go to Nunam, or also to other villages, like Emmonak?
I have a real question, and I mean no disrespect by it. Why are people living out there in these remote, unsafe, difficult situations? Are these people who have always lived out there and their life has been modernized to the point that they are use to live like people in large cities with affordable access to modern consummer products and no longer know how to live off the land? Are they people who moved out there for economic opportunites that have turned sour recently?
I ask these questions because it is important to understand what is really going on. I feel sympathy for them, but they choose to be out there. It is very hard to supply remote areas like that, especially in the brutal winter conditions of Alaska. Short term, I don’t want to see them suffer, but the long term answer to this situation may involve relocation.
Really fascinating. I also am wondering what do people do up there for employment?
I know some haters are posting to move and get out…but the question does seem to need to be answered…why do you stay? The type of township there is a hybrid of sorts that doesn’t seem to be working very well for anyone. They are not reflective of traditional town development with clusters of residents around facilities nor are they reflective of native, nomadic living arrangements of the past. To me it seems reminiscent of the Appalachians or the Ozarks in the Depression. People didn’t have anything and just lived. It wasn’t until the government developed the Rural Electrification policy, mandatory school attendance, and other government programs designed to move people out of ignorance and poverty into a productive society that people were able to survive. Even then, folks had to move near a bigger city to make it work or at least be close to one to drive back and forth.
The only other place that I know of that is Alaska’s equal to having remote towns and villages, would be Iceland. (possibly other Nordic Countries as well) The majority, 80%, of the population there lives in and around Reykjavik. The smaller villages in the outlands are for the farmers (sheep and lamb) and fisherman mostly. A big difference is that the Icelanders are very highly educated; one of the most educated populations in the world. This does not seem to be the case with the remote regions of Alaska.
Iceland had a more proactive government, but really if you can’t work in the outlands, you have to move closer in whether you like it or not. It’s not for everyone, but they seem to make the most of it.
I also don’t know why the gas and fuel is so expensive in AK. It seems that part of the lease agreements with the oil companies should include a subsidized gas supply for the locals. I know they have the permanent fund dividend, but Exxon Mobil alone just posted record profits of $20 billion plus. Some of that has to be from AK no?
I too am grateful for the story and am sad things must be this way in 2009.
However, I have one reservation and I’m even hesitant to mention it. When the goodwill of strangers saves the day, I fear our government (at all levels) then shirks its responsiblities to its citizens– to regulate, oversee, and provide.
When we take care of each other– whether by funding our local public libraries by donations or by feeding those among us who are hungry– our leaders point to this as What Works and What Counts. Then they walk away.
I want a government that solves problems. When we solve the problems individually, by our charitable efforts, are we letting the system and the leaders off the hook?
Anybody have an answer for this?
Ann,
Your story really paints a picture for us!
My family and I live in rural eastern Colorado, and for 12 years we were actually 25 miles from the nearest gas station and grocery store. However…we were almost always able to drive there when we really needed to. It was just a quick 30 minute trip by car, and although I tried to focus on not forgetting to pick up the essentials when I was near the grocery store, it was never more than an inconvenience if I forgot. (Okay, there was that one time when there was a blizzard coming and I neglected to buy toilet paper!)
Although blizzards on the plains of eastern Colorado are impossible to travel in, they are generally short-lived and we’re on our way again quickly.
Hearing your story makes me feel pretty spoiled. Thanks again for sharing, and for shedding some more light on the situation that you all are facing there in rural Alaska.
grewingk (01:07:29) :
@amy(00:28:23) :
Here’s a thought:
MOVE TO THE LOWER 48!
It’s cheaper and a much better place to live.
—
Many of us grew up in the small states, which is why we appreciate Alaska so much. The Lower 48 is too hot and too crowded and it’s full of people like you.
*******************8
Yes Grewink!
I think alot of people should pull out their maps before they make dumb comments about Alaska and small villages! In the lower 48 we take many things for granted, and this SHOULD be a slap in the face, how lucky we are, and lend a helping hand to those in need instead of saying stuff, like gee, what don’t you walk to the store, or what kind of work do you do up there? Surviving is work up there!
The Natives that live there have ALWAYS lived there. Why should they have to relocate? It is not their fault commercial fisherman came in and over fished the waters! There should be regulations put in place to prevent this, but at this point in time, with Barbie in charge and the repubs, I doubt it will happen….It is not their fault extra cold froze the barge that was bringing them oil.
The extra cold, and lower level of Salmon is not just a “freak” happening, it is the result of the global environmental damage that repubs like to say is BS/MS. Read RFK jr. book “Crimes against Nature” to see what Bush has done to us.
This screwy cold and scarcity of fish/crabs etc. is but a part of it.
Just another thought here. I am from Canada and the other day, I found out some grocery chain stores throw out some expired food items out because the cost to sell donate them is too high. I also heard that the reason some seasonal foods, like Christmas candy, etc. are not donated to local shelters is because they fear being sued, in case the food item might make someone sick. Food chain stores are afraid to get sued, which prevents good food from being used by needy. Wish someone would propose to legislate some kind of protection for grocery stores, so they could donate all this wasted good food, even expired stuff like dry spaghetti goods and such…….wonder if contacting
the right officials to get help from local groceries that may be throwing good food out in dumpsters, that could go towards needy?
Thanks Ann for that vivid rendition of your day. You madam, live up to your beautiful name.
Call me a troll all you want to, akm. The point is still on the table. Who guaranteed that huggies would be available at wal-mart prices in a remote village (or rice-a-roni, for christs sake)?
There is an element of choice of where you live here, deny it as you will.
RE:Food chain stores are afraid to get sued, which prevents good food from being used by needy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Excuses are the refuge of cowards.
It has nothing to do with fear of being sued. It has to do with the fact that a Corpration is about the shareholders bottom line.
You don’t make PROFIT by giving your goods/services away. That would go against the reason a Corporation even exists and then they would be a charity.
This may be Lame Ass Reason number 1 that they use, but it has nothing to do with caring for anyone other than the shareholder.
Please don’t believe the legal mumbo jumbo speak. It is not factual. (inafactual?)
I haven’t stopped crying since Jan 20th.
I’m not sure what is up. It’s not all just President Obama at the helm.
I read about Alaska, about the bloggers, about the people who DO give a shit enough to do something, and it just won’t stop.
Does anyone know how long this is going to last? I’m not used to this stuff…I think it is called, non negative emotion.
SillyWhabbit (11:58:23) :
I’m not used to this stuff…I think it is called, non negative emotion.
—–
Over here, we call it “joy”, “relief”, “exultation”, “celebration”.
here is an idea to knock around………..villiages that have no stores could perhaps buy in co-op amounts that could be purchased well in advance and stored for these harsh winter months.
no one needs to make a profit, as in a retail store ownership, a co-op is run by everyone……….seems like a back to basics village concept, where the group all works together and helps provide for each other.
They would just need a safe place to store their village supplies.
Here again (and please, these are just ideas to knock around, I personally do not live in these extremes)…….if gasoline fuel prices are so high and too expensive to run snow machines even to go out and cut firewood………what is the answer to that problem?
going back to dogs for transportation does not seem logical, what about converting to battery operated snowmachines, with gas back up? is that a possibility? I know solar charging in winter would not work, but summer light is very long, could stationary bikes charge a battery enough? they do have electricity running to the villages, right?
or could they, the state, provide wood gathering assistance during summer months? surly there are clearing or thinning operations happening or what about creating a wood pellet plant and basic low cost pellet stoves?
In MO some have outdoor wood burning furnaces that pipe the heat (some underground) into the homes…….with trees plentiful, fast growing and some even left to rot in the woods or pile burned, this is a very inexpensive source of heating fuel. I know the smoke is not the greatest thing for the environment, but trees are a renewable resource and until more advanced methods are developed it does work in a pinch.
Besides, what kind of fumes does burning heating oil produce and what does it do to our environment? are these villages using propane or gas? (they used to use whale fat, is this right?) I think they need to perhaps go back and look at what worked for their ancestors, (not the fishing) but what worked as housing.
I do not believe people should have to leave their heritage or their land in order to survive………there are answers, we just need to find the right people to put them in place.
Littl’ Me
Right now the account is for Nunam Iqua but Efton will set up accounts for other villages if they have someone like Ann to coordinate it.
I put all the information I’ve found and a few suggestions on a page at anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com. It might be easier to direct people to it rather than scroll back through the comments here.
http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/how-to-help/
Thanks,
jane in Miami
I
say no-yeah. tell that to the dust bowl okies.
People have been living in remote Alaska for thousands of years and getting along quite well. Dealing with the cold, stocking in meat and especially fish, using dogs for travel (and without GPS!). Certainly it has always been hard, and way different than has ever been done Outside, but they did it. And, still do. Subsistence is still a big part of it, tho ACC helps.
Thank you Ann for you story in the day of. It is very sobering to see all the steps it takes to do a simple task such as grocery shopping. First thing that caught my attention was you buying water. It never dawned on me about the water. As I was reading the grocery list, I think my mouth fell open a little more with each item, then when I got to the fruit cocktail I had to call my dad. I always associate him with grocery shopping since I take him to the store and listen the whole time about the prices, especially what his loaf of bread cost.
Bless his heart, got to love him, listened intently and didn’t say anything. Yo daddy are you there, daddy can you hear me now, then he finally said something, with what he said I can’t type but I am sure ya’ll can get the gist of the conversation. I asked him would he like to go to the village to buy his bread,(hehehe) he told me hell no we were going to walmart in the morning to buy vittles to send to Alaska. To let ya’ll know those words were not many, but boy howdy do they say a lot.
Thank you Miemaw in TexasNo for the info on flat rate shipping I will be checking that tomorrow. Also I guess my question is to Ann Strongheart does it take longer for a check to clear (waiting period) if we send them or anyone can answer? I thought maybe doing both. On the first side if we send a check they will be able to buy what they want and need. But on the other side I was trying to figure out maybe some of these people might not be able to get to the store as you and your husband. For whatever reason due to transportation or the elderly or the weather.
Personally it is a sad day, to be reading all these comments on a blog site NOT a newspaper site and some people have the effrontery to come here to put these people down for not wanting to give up there way of life. I can’t for the life of me figure out why some people think they are superior to others. Doesn’t it say all men are created equal. Here goes a fact to some of the nay sayers, they aren’t. If they were these families would have the same amenities as the rest of us. Helping hands, not a new concept, bless my people(american indian) we started it long ago, by showing people how to survive the elements. But some of us don’t want to help others, very shameful, but I don’t have to live with that you do. Don’t forget mantra 10x fold. Keep up the good work all, pride is the only thing people can’t take from us.
She paid what for diapers!!!???!!!
The rest of the stuff is mostly way over price for what I pay at the store, a few things are almost close but still over my price. But the diapers just floor me! Holy smokes!
I don’t really care if you want to factor in shipping/handling costs here, that is gouging above and beyond anything even approaching an imaginary acceptability. Out freaking rageous!
Sorry I could not read one word beyond that diaper price. Whoa!
I also thank you, Ann Strongheart, for taking the time to share your day with us.
And I do appreciate the many suggestions for co-ops and other actions that from
outside the situation seem like remedies, lots of good ideas, but it seems that the
people in Emmonak and Nunam Iqua have specified what they believe they need:
temporary supplies and oil aid, the port and tanks, etc. And it sounds like maybe
some changes in the hunting and fishing regulations.
I dont think one can assume that the people in the villages need their lives re-done
by outsiders, just because they are in need now for a concatonation of events that are not in their control. And, as someone said earlier, there are lots of reasons why people stay
where they are, even when difficult.
I am moved by the generosity of spirit and pocketbook of most of these writers,
and i wish the critics would read more carefully the kind and non-judgmental
writers, as there seem to be only Ann Strongheart and Nick Tucker who are
directly speaking from their experience in the villages with the great difficulities.
thank you Ann for sharing it.
make your grocery shopping much easier by using printable coupons at clickmucoupon.com.
I lived in the Y-K delta for over 20 years and have never heard of Nunam Iqua. Is that a new name for Sheldon Point or ? Where is Nunam Iqua?
Yeah, it’s Sheldon Point.
The locals in English Bay, on Kachemak Bay, recently went back to the traditional name of Nanwalek. Confused the hell out of me for a couple of years every time I heard it.
They should seriously consider baking their own bread. 2 loaves for $11 bucks?!!!
Thanks. I figured it had to be either Sheldons or Kotlik. Back in the early 80′s many of the Y-K villages used to run out of fuel nearly every winter, usaully about March. We used to fly fuel from Bethel for weeks at a time, 600 gals a load. Even then it was very expensive. As I recall, the State kicked in much of the emergency transport costs, so where’s Barbie and the State now?
After seeing that I drive 120 miles a day to work, and it costs more than 2.40 a gallon. I realize how unprepared the villagers have let themselves get. They are looking for a handout. I don’s feel sorry for them. Anybody in the lower 48 who has lost their job does not get this attenton, like the villagers are getting right now. It’s appalling.
After they ( each villager) have received 3200 dollars in Oct and Nov. They can’t support their way of living. After seeing the cellphones, xboxes, flat screens, and all the other crap that was bought and sent back out this winter in the bush orders, they want me and you to support their “lie” style they are living now.
It seems just like the guy standing out on the corner, with the sign ” Homeless, Need food, or job” and when you offer him work @ 15 bucks a hour, he states,” I make more money here doing this.”
We/You aren’t seeing the real picture.
Hi AKM. Could you please pass this on to Ann? My name is Baden. I am from Eagle River right here in Alaska. I have found a way to help you. I now purchase 90% of all my groceries online. It is free to ship anywhere in the US, up here, even to the bush. Wherever you get your mail you can get your groceries. You can check out my website at http://www.householdmine.com. If you have any questions, fill out the comments section and I will get back to you ASAP. If you have access to the internet, it is the easiest way. I can also send you a catalog with most of the items in it and you can call your orders in. On the website, go to the Home tab, then to the cupboard link under Categories. Also, you can get set up on an auto ship program. I love it, and I know that you could save money this way.
I live 2 miles from the airport. AvGas for skydiving was 5 dolllars 3 months ago. Last night gasolene was 1.59 after church. I did not go to the market but walked at noon today during a blizzard here in Kansas. The market is 1 block away and not worth driving the car. The market had many specials for $1.00.
I enjoy Alaska but could not accept the winter. I think the gov is fantastic and I also realize she is NOT responsible for chosing where people live. I enjoy this blog and will try to send some money to one of our pentecostal preachers/district superintendents in Alaska so he has more to give away when he visits villages.
I’m relatively new in Alaska. About the only place I’ve been to is Anchorage and Girdwood. I’ve heard of life in the bush and I had my doubts about if the stories were true or not. I came up here from California to see my son graduate from high school and enter college here. My ex-wife is Inuit. I hadn’t seen him in 17 years because she decided she didn’t want me to be a part of his life even though I was probably one of the best husbands and fathers you could ask for. (She’s now under psychiatric care.) So I drove up here in June. I was a long drive but a beautiful one. I passed many cities, towns and I guess what you would call villages and was surprised at how few grocery stores and banks there seemed to be. Well I got here and the first few days went fine but then my ex forgot to take her pills or something and I ended up leaving. I ended up driving around trying to find someplace to park for the night. I found a place where they keep the sea planes and one had a for sale sign on it and I thought that would be a good spot. WRONG I woke up at 3AM with a dozen police cars surrounding me with guns drawn. I was really shocked. I couldn’t figure out what I had done. I asked if there was a mistaken identity and they said no it was just against the law to park there and because of the national security act I was treated as a potential terrorist. I couldn’t believe it. I spend 24 years in the military and retired and became ill and disabled. My ex wife gets 1/2 of my retirement income so I have very little money. I borrowed enough to get up here to see my son. Well, they took me to the county jail and they said my public defender was on vacation and wouldn’t be back for three weeks. Then it took another three weeks to go to court. In the mean time they’d towed my car and my disability and retirement checks stopped because I was in jail. They finally realized that I wasn’t a threat and what had happened and I was set free after almost two months in jail. My car of course had been towed away. I had no money. It was August now and already the weather was miserable. I eventually got my income back but it took me months to get back on my feet. It is winter time now and there’s no way I can travel back home in the winter. So I have to wait until this next summer. I’ve had plenty of time to read about and learn about Alaska and its people. Alaska is so different from any place I’ve ever been and having been in the Army for 24 years, I’ve been to a lot of places. When I heard about the bush people I didn’t believe the stories. I’ve read many news articiles and the blogs about people putting down the people who choose to live in the bush. It’s easy to say, if you can’t afford it, move to the city. Like that would be so simple and cheap to do! What would they do for income? Housing? Etc. I don’t think there are that many jobs in Anchorage or Fairbanks to handle a lot of bush people coming to the city to live. They’d be worse off than they are now. The article above makes you realize how difficult and expensive it is to live in the bush. Sure the government helps support them. What else can they do? We, the white people or whatever came here and changed their ways of life forever so we can’t blame them for wanting the things we have. They’ve lived in the same place probably for generations. I think it’s like a Catch-22. Now about them spending the PDF checks on LCD TV’s and such, I don’t know if I believe that too much. Sure, some may have done that but I don’t think the majority of the people did. If they did, they aren’t too bright. Anyway, I’ll stop my rambling. I won’t complain about gas or food prices again while I’m here. I’m just thankful my son didn’t live in a bush village!
Mkay, I know how it is living in the village. I’m from Napakiak, Alaska and it is about 15 miles strait from hub city Bethel. Even living 15 miles from Bethel is expensive. If you wanted to order your food and house hold stuff you still have to pay for shipping costs. If you don’t have rent or a mortgage to pay there are other things that the money will go to like stove oil or gas to get wood for the wood stove. The natives of Alaska have a privalage of subsistance hunting and gathering but we still have to buy hunting gear for the winter and summer seasons, rope, tarps, oil, gas for the snow machine or outboard motor, extra parts for the snowmachine or outboard motor, tools to replace the parts for new ones, etc. The employment rate in Rural Alaska is very low and sometimes people can’t buy most of this stuff including gas and/or stove oil. Besides all the “stress” of providing, traveling in beautiful Alaska is the best feeling ever! It’s like a stress reliever. Thanks Ann for the reminder of traveling during the winter time! Dangerous but fun. God bless and take care.
Once this story gets out, people will be outraged, but they will be outraged that we support people who choose to live in these conditions. Where did the over $500 that was spent on this day come from? Someone else made the comment “why do you continue to live in these conditions?” If you want help from people who work, move to a place where the money will go further. There are places I would love to live, places where my grandparents could afford to live that I can no longer afford to live. Will somebody give me enough extra money so I can afford to live there? Please start sending the check, I know this great place on a lake next to where my grandpa grew up.
I live in rural AK (near the road system though). I have spent time in Nunam, Emmonnak, most of the the Lower Yukon and YK Delta villages and although I feel for the hardship some are experiencing out there. I agree with alot of what AKbychoice and others are saying.
The time is coming soon when those who have the “help me” attitude will no longer be able to sustain themselves in the bush and will have to leave. Those who stay will be the folks who are willing to go thru the hardships associated with traditional village lifestyles: subsistence and suffering when times are tough. Its great that some are willing to help on a private level, but the time has come to STOP the subsidies for a non-sustainable lifestyle that has become the norm in alot of villages.
I mean come on now, you have subsidized power ala AVEC and PCE, you have (ridiculously) subsidized postal rates, and the list continues. It is time for those Native Corps who are posting record profits to start helping their own regions and those around them.
Sorry for the rant. I love bush alaska and its people, but government is doing them a disservice by subsidizing a non sustainable lifestyle!!!
Know what I would buy with that $500? A damn plane ticket out of there.
To everyone who complains that villagers should move somewhere “more sustainable” I ask: “where might that be?” Los Angeles? Las Vegas? Phoenix? Detroit?
We’re ALL living a non-sustainable lifestyle. It’s just that in most places the costs of what we do are covered up. At least in rural Alaska the true costs of living are clear and must be continually reckoned with.
Those of us who live in comfort elsewhere delude ourselves if we think that we don’t depend on phenomenally expensive and unsustainable complexes of machinery to keep us alive.
Here in Phoenix I have a WalMart grocery store less than a mile away, and three SuperWallMarts with in 5 miles, no to mention Albertsons, Safeway and Bashas all within the same area. Oh, and a Coscto, but thats usually for gas and other bulk purchases.
I live in NYC… I’ll have to re-read this whenever I’m tempted to complain about the A train running local on weekends!
I just made a donation, Efton was very nice. I will remember you everytime I complain to myself about running errands and having to go to the store. I’m disabled and it hurts to do it…but I live literally a few blocks from the store in warmer CA and can drive my car. They said they will post it today, I will do more when hubby is paid on Friday. I cannot imagine doing what you do. What do people like me do in rural Alaska? If you have disabled/elderly is there more of a community that pitches in? I’d love to make a little something for your Cecelia (before all handmade, custom boutique items become literally contraband on Feb. 10 thanks to our brilliant Congress, read here if you’re interested) Thanks for being an inspiration. I’ve been throwing myself a pity party about my disability & my kids & my business being killed by Congress, I literally couldn’t manage what you do, I’d break down and cry I think. A question you don’t have to answer since it’s personal, but how can you afford such exorbitant grocery bills? We couldn’t do it! God Bless!
Noelle
Any chance you could order from Amazon? I don’t see a surcharge for standard shipping to Alaska, but there is a $10 surcharge for 2 day shipping to Alaska. I watch for grocery sales on Amazon and buy alot of non-perishables that way. I don’t know if you have internet access, but if you have cell phone access you should be able to get online to place orders. Another good place is bulkfoods.com, good prices on alot of non-perishable groceries.
I’m sure many of you won’t like this, but if Huggies were that price, I would have had my child either a) in cloth diapers, or b) potty trained well before needing size 6. Also, who chops wood in a extreme cold climates in the dead of winter? In our neck of the woods where temps often are below 0, we cut and stack our wood before winter. I would think that given the situation, people would exert a little more self reliance and common sense.
Tom, I dont think you fully comprehend what you are implying. How are we ALL living a non-sustainable lifestyle? I agree those in urban areas are non sustainable in the long view. The pavement loving folks may have to pay their dues at some time when things go really south. But I’m talking about right now! THis bankrupt nation cannot continue down the path of handouts. The regional Native Corporations own title to vast tracts of land all over this state. PRIME WILDERNESS HABITAT. As a resident of this great state, I am not allowed to visit these places or even cross them to access public wilderness. It is time at least for some quid pro quo…if you want the support then give the people who are paying for it something in return!!
Where should villagers move? NOWHERE!! Those that are willing to compromise and perservere should stay and make a living as best they can! Those that can not or will not should not be supported artificially by those who live where they do to find a JOB!
“At least in rural AK the true costs of living are clear and must be continually reckoned with” … I agree they should be reckoned with, each must choose his personal path and free will and self reliance should return to the way of life. Trouble is, it is being reckoned with, by many, in the form of a beggars cup. What happened to the tough and independant way of life that they traditionally held? I think the Mauris (SP) of New Zealand are a good example for what native people are capable of when they decide to be proud of who they are and stand up for their heritage and their traditional skills and decline the dole.
Again, if private folks want to send help to the bush, that is great, it really is!! This country is built on a heritage of helping others when you can. It just is not the governments job!!
@AZITDad:
But who pays for the water you consume in Phoenix? You don’t imagine it’s FREE, do you?
It was an interesting, sad, and moving story, but I do not understand why people would want to live in a place like that. Why don’t they move?
@Ruralite
Well said! You truly get it.
Oh, I see a bunch of posts in response to others who advocate moving. The point of moving is that, once there, it is more efficient and thus sustainable per-capita. That is, being around other people make it more efficient to survive as people tend to help each other. I read somewhere that, per person, New York city is one of the most environmentally friendly cities around — the reason being that there are so many people (the denominator in the equation is very large). Living up in Alaska is expensive and environmentally unfriendly because it is inefficient – if everyone in the world did that, then at a constant world population, the cost of survival would be *much* greater than it is now, and the cost on the environment would also be much greater than it is now. As dirty and smelly as cities are, it is surprising that per person we are seeing some of the cleanest places on earth.
“Why don’t they just move?” has been discussed on this blog before. Remember that the “original way of life” of Alaska Natives was not to put down roots in one spot. When the government required residents to attend schools and put in infrastructure, normally adaptable people were forced to stay in one location all year, every year, despite conditions.
Also, hunting and fishing regulations, and over-fishing by commercial interests have hampered a normally more sustainable way of life.
If everyone in these villages were to move to urban centers, acclimation would be VERY difficult. Culture shock, lack of preparation, and racial prejudice would create far more problems, and ultimately “cost” us all more.
And there’s something that doesn’t sit well for me in telling a people that has been living in a land for 10,000 years, whose culture is bound up in that land, and whose way of life has been radically altered by “outsiders” to just move.
In addition, having a population base in rural areas who rely on the land acts as a safeguard to point out when there are problems with pollution, over fishing, poor game management and a host of other problems that might go unchecked without people living nearby.
The problem is complex, and doesn’t have any easy solutions, but relocating Native Alaskans from a 10,000 year way of life to the big cities, isn’t the answer.
Just my 2 cent ramble.
AKM
How much was the Alaska dividend check last year? It is moneys built into the oil that comes from Alaska and is consumed elsewhere. No other state pays it’s residents to live in the state. California is broke. 2007 was around 1600 dollars per person. I am headed to Carnegie Hall to listen to my teen perform. It will make me want to move to Alaska.
Fran: I have a real question, and I mean no disrespect by it. Why are people living out there in these remote, unsafe, difficult situations?
Me: I have lived in a remote Alaskan village for most of my life. I would not have it any other way. I grew up here, my family is here. My friends that I have known all my life live here! I choose to live in a CLEAN, SAFE and remote village then to live in a city.
I seriously get PO-ed when ignorant people make comments that we Alaska Natives should go back to our old ways of life i.e. burning whale oil, mushing dogs to travel and live in sod houses. Or that were just looking for a handout. To AlaskanByChoice: I invite you to come live here and see how it is! Not very many people have jobs and you want to know why? There aren’t enough jobs here. So please come open a big chain store so you could employ us then you’ll know how to make choices between buying groceries for the week or buying fuel to heat your home.
Potty training your daughter would be like getting a raise.
akmuckraker I love your 2 cent ramble!!! you are so right.
Akchick: I’m sorry that your ” people ” have chosen to live the way you do. But you can’t both ways. You look for the state to support your “lie” style, but when asked why did you do not prepare yourself for the winter. You say we are just ignorant, race-haters. I haqve been out in the villages and throughout ALaska. Why doesn’t the real picture get shown. The child abuse,Sexual abuse,domestic viol,and the other awful things that are hidden. Yet we are told to stay out of it.
If you can’t get a job where you are at down in the lower 48, you move. If you can’t, you starve.
Here in AK, you plead and beg for more money to live the ” lie” style.
um, why dont you move where to a place where there are supplies?
To attempt to force the native people to adapt to others ideas of what is the “right” way to live; i.e., put down roots in one place, establish infrastructure on the model of the people displacing them, etc., is the height of arrogance.
The traditional way of life of not only native Alaskans but of the native peoples of most of north and south America has been destroyed out of the European’s belief that only cities and monuments constitute “civilization” and that a nomadic way of life is somehow primitive and inferior. ENOUGH!
Cities, and western civilization, may well be some form of monument to what mankind can accomplish. But wisdom lies not in doing all that one can; rather wisdom lies in doing what is right and just. There is no righteousness in locking a nomadic people down to fixed, impoverished lands and expecting them to either survive or decide to join “civilized people” in their cities. There is no justice in making their right to live dependent upon hunting and fishing regulations designed to make it impossible for them to survive.
The cities may well soon die as fewer and fewer are able to survive in an essentially non-human environment. Who will be there to teach them how to live off of the land? Who will show them the way back to balance? Who will be left?
Umm why is everyone blaiming those that live there an not asking why people in alaska pay the most for oil when it comes from there land? Why are we not more mad about the prices of things and Ca. companies taking advantage of these people. If they don’t have the money to feed their people, or heat there house…how are they going to move. Who is going to buy there home? are you saying they should just give it up because you don’t like there way of life?
How are they going to move if they have to fly everything there or shipped it out they can’t get out unless they leave everything. Oh they could sell it but nope wait no one has the money to buy it. They can’t drive out (of some town from what I understand) because there are no roads….hmmm whos job is it to build roads?
just because you don’t l like someones life style doesn’t me that it’s you job to tell them to move…when they can’t or don’t want to move. i presonally don’t get how people can live in a city with all the noise the smells and violence. I think you should all move to the country and there should be space between everyone. doesn’t make me right. it’s just what I think. and if I am not mistake the natives are tied to there land not just by family and history but is there faith to like the native’s in the lower 48?
Well that’s my two cents.
Jim Myers….great post! who indeed. How much have some forgotten with the modern stuff out there. Think about the things our own grandparents did.
To Ann; I live in Marshall and if we want good food we will have to go to Saint Mary’s or fly to Bethel. If we go to Saint Mary’s we will have to go about 70 miles one way and was like about 20 gallons of gas round trip. and for that price we will get like 2 boxes of food. A lot of times people just stay home and hope for good food via bypass. There is times there may be good stuff like eggs and what not but will be gone the next day even if they order a lot. That’s the first to go. So I understand whats going on in village life. If people do go to Bethel it is like 250 round trip, then and the price of food, diapers, toilet paper, paper towel, etc. A lot of times there is people that can not get food, fuel or anything and will be lucky they have family or friends that will help them out.
Well said Ann. I live @ Maserculiq, Ak. its sad to hear about food prices and heating fuel when its cheap down lower 48. I was born and raised here. After high school made my living here. I too had to make my choice to buy heating fuel over groceries. Heating fuel here costs $5.97 a gallon plus tax which brings it up to $6.20.
Not to diminish your tough workout of a shopping day, but I see right off the bat ways for you to possibly save some money:
1. Stop using disposable diapers, or use them only at night.
2. Make your own sausages – its easy, especially the “fresh” (uncured) type, like Italian fennel sausage or kielbasa. Certain basic cured meats such as ham and bacon are also very easy to make at home and you can save a bundle. You can make many months supply and freeze it for later use – cheap cheap cheap.
Please check out this website for recipe: http://lpoli.50webs.com/Sausage%20recipes.htm#AFRICAN-STYLE%20SAUSAGES-FRESH
3. Avoid store-bought “mixes” like the muffin mix you bought. Make you own bakery products whenever possible.
4. Not sure if its economic or not in your area (it appears to be just about everywhere else), and it totally depends on your price for milk, but you can EASILY make your own cottage cheese using milk, a bit of vinegar, and little heat. Many simple recipes on the internet, which you apparently have access to.
5. Make (and dry if you like) your own noodles out of flour and water – add eggs for egg-noodles. Make pasta out of semolina flour if you can find it. Many easy recipes on the internet. You don’t really need a pasta machine, but having a hand-cranked one can make the process more convenient and more uniform.
6. If you can get tomatoes, onions, garlic, and dried herbs (and the prices are advantageous in your area compared to canned sauce), make your own pasta sauce – easy!! And it almost always tastes better if you do it right. If you’ve never made pasta sauce before, after a few times, you’ll have it down – and you can even can it yourself as it is naturally low in pH.
7. Coffee creamer? Yech!! Please consider buying quality coffee and learn to drink it black. Good coffee doesn’t need to be “smoothed” with cream. However… and I imagine real cream might be quite prohibitively expensive there… If you must, just add a splash of whole milk. If you can find cheaper bulk milk, know that milk can be frozen and stored – you can drink it, use it for coffee, and make cottage cheese.
NOTE: When canning, its handy to own a pH meter (always test a sample at room temp 72F) – otherwise many recipes say to add vinegar or lemon juice to lower the pH “just to be safe”. But I find most of the time it is not necessary to sour the sauce with vinegar or lemon. Basically, you are looking for a pH of 4.2 – 4.5 for spaghetti sauce. Higher pH than that is not safe for a 10-min pressure cooker cycle at 5-psi. Lower pH is no problem, but will only taste a bit more tart. Actually, you really don;t even need a pressure cooker if you got the pH right – you can just bathe the filled and sealed jars in a boiling water bath for 10-minutes.
Heck, I do all the above living in Thailand, where food is cheap (as are disposable diapers) – but it is a matter of availability for the food items I have learned to make at home. The disposable diapers – we use cloth diapers except at night, in an effort to reduce our environmental impact.
Well, I hope this is helpful.
Red Feet: You are proposing that someone in rural Alaska make their own spaghetti sauce using fresh tomatoes in January? Are you completely insane? It’s not cost effective or environmentally friendly for me to do that in January, and I live in Seattle. Plus, did you miss the bit about not getting tomatoes because they’d freeze on the way back home?
That said, I do think it’s pretty silly to live in the bush. Echoing a point above, _I_ don’t get to live where I grew up (SF Bay Area) because it’s too expensive for me. So why should you get to live where you grew up, if you can’t afford it?
And yes, there are just too many people in the world to really be sustainable, but we can choose to live in relatively sustainable places. Seattle has a mild climate, so we don’t need much for heating and we don’t need AC at all. Plentiful water supplies, good farmland nearby, an ocean port. So I chose to live here. (And for those who like solitude, there are many places near Seattle, in the Cascades, where you are quite isolated. If you really need to be more isolated than that, well, you have issues.)
I am sorry, I don’t get it. Why would anyone deal with this insanity unless they really had no choice (i.e., in prison or the like) or were willing to accept the inconvenience. Since the writer does not state or imply the former, I assume the latter. In other words, why not move to Oklahoma or Texas where cheap land and labor thrive and you don’t need a snowmobile to go to the walmart/sam’s club? I suppose the absence of good opportunities may be the reason, but hey, this is the land of opportunity, look at the how far that dimbulb governor Palin has gone!
just asking, salient facts have obviously been omitted for the sake of a good story.
Good heavens. Why would anyone live up there. I thought living in Maine was rough in the winter. This is just extreme. She thinks it’s “too hot” in the lower 48? Maybe in the south.