Rural Alaska in Crisis – Update from Nunam Iqua
I’m receiving regular updates from Ann Strongheart, our Mudflatter and Food Drive coordinator in the small village of Nunam Iqua (formerly Sheldon Point) which is relatively close to Emmonak, and several other small communities in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Region in Western Alaska.
Here’s the latest news from Ann.
UPDATE from Nunam Iqua!!
Wow, y’all are definitely keeping my muscles strong! We received nearly 130 pounds of food donations today! There were 10 boxes today! As I was unpacking those, I saw the airline agent take three sled loads of boxes to the Post Office, of course they had already closed for the day but I am hoping that they were either for the food drive, or maybe even better, boxes directly to the “adopted” needy families here from individuals/families that are sending them boxes from all over.
Here is where today’s boxes came from:
1 box from St. Mary’s, West Virginia (had to look twice at that because we have a St. Mary’s here in Alaska too. LOL)
1 box from Houston , Texas
1 box from Medford , Massachusetts (Wow! Individual cups of coffee with cream and sugar built right in!)
2 boxes from Fairfax , Virginia
1 box from Alexandria , Virginia
1 box from San Diego , California
1 box from Anchorage , Alaska (Quyana JB)
1 box from Juneau , Alaska (Quyana Martha UnAK)
And 1 box from Albany , Oregon ( Mountain House Freeze Dried Goods)
I sorted and distributed them to 11 families. Everyone was so happy! I took the time to explain to them how to use the individual cups of coffee packets. Several couldn’t believe that the coffee had sugar and creamer built right in. One woman, who works at the school, said that they would be perfect to take to work, then she could just pour one in a cup and add hot water and not have to worry about the coffee pot being empty!
I did as the sender requested, and took a few of the coffee packets home and tried them. Wow, they were really good! Really strong, hearty coffee, although I did have to add more creamer because I use lots of creamer in my coffee, but they were really good!
Also everyone was amazed at the HUGE cans (large coffee can size) of freeze dried items. There were 12 cans in all including scrambled eggs with butter, seafood chowder, rice and chicken, spaghetti with meat sauce, instant white rice, beef stroganoff, noodles and chicken, wild rice pilaf and macaroni and cheese. Best of all they had directions on how to make just single servings or smaller portions!
Additionally, there were lots of seasonings in one of the boxes, and all kinds of other GREAT foods in all the boxes.
Quyana Cakneq (thank you very much) for all of your help!!! It helps me sleep better at night knowing that families and kids are going to bed with full tummies. And parents are able to wake up and have a cup of coffee! LOL!
Let’s see …what else is going on here in Nunam Iqua? Well, it’s very cold again; this morning when I got up it was 22 degrees below zero. Had to really bundle up when I went to the Post Office to pick up the boxes. My neck warmer/facemask was trying to freeze to my face. But boy did I work up a sweat carrying all of those boxes. It had warmed up to -13 when I went across, and I couldn’t believe that toting the boxes around could keep me that warm!
Oh my goodness, there are snowdrifts here that are just outrageous. More like snow MOUNTAINS. Some of them are over 15-20 feet high, but I did learn my lesson and scoped out the trails before I went to deliver boxes today!! Hubby was off today, so I was doing it during the day and not at night like last time. But now the drifts are high enough that we can go right over the water/sewer lines that they are building.
My poor 4-wheeler looks like an expensive frozen paperweight/popsicle right now. There is a 6 foot high drift pretty much surrounding it.
There is some big news brewing from a possible huge donor, but I don’t want to give too much away yet, until we get some stuff worked out and then I’ll let y’all know more. Supposedly Jon Moller, the new Rural Advisor, hired by Sarah Palin, is coming here either today or Thursday. I’ll let you know how that goes, assuming I get to meet him or hear anything.
Well, I think that’s all for today. My dish water is boiling so I am off to do dishes. Before I forget, I am working on another story about Native foods and what we traditionally eat here. Hope to have it done by the end of the week.
Quyana caneq again to everyone! I know I’ve said it before, but I must say it again. If it weren’t for everyone here on Mudflats and Anonymousbloggers and various other websites, my community/village wouldn’t be getting the help we need!
Quyana, quyana, quyana!
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Food Drive
If you would like to help, or need more information please click HERE .
And don’t forget Ugashik and Pilot Point, the two villages I adopted and am helping them get a food drive going. Click HERE for details.
Spirits are lifting.
I noticed the donations from Virginia, and West Virginia. These states don’t have much themselves, so they are able to most appreciate the circumstance of the First Nation villages.
Californians are really hurting at the moment as well. God bless them and I’ll leave it up to God to deal with Sarah Palin.
She makes me too angry for words and being angry is not a good place to be.
OT
This has got to be stopped.
http://www.nypost.com/delonas/delonas.htm
Thanks for the update! It warms my heart to see the outpouring of support from all over the country, especially in a time where there is so much hardship everywhere! Keep up the good work anonymous bloggers!
Trust me Marth, Alexandria Virginia is a very wealthy area -right outside DC. My brother lives there and his income makes mine look like the change he’d find in his sofa.
Paula beat me to it. Northern Virginia is the richest “state” in the country. West Virginia not so much.
It is worth the effort to send the boxes just to get Ann’s updates. I can’t even imagine living there. The cold is unimaginable to me.
Speaking of WV, I really was moved by the 20/20 special last friday on Appalachia. There are still too many places in the richest country in the world where poverty is so prevalant.
The news from Ann Strongheart is wonderful, renews hope in the goodness of people everywhere.
Then the OT from Silverfox – How in the hell is this crap allowed to be published? this is beyond disgusting, this rag needs prosecuting.
BLIZZARD!!! hey but it’s warmer!! LOL 26 out today.
I commented on the sled loads of boxes that came in yesterday to the post office. Unfortunately, we are having a blizzard today and white out conditions so I don’t know if I’ll make it over to the post office today.
Will have to wait for the hubby’s ok before I venture across to the other side of the village to go check. But it looks like it might clear up.
Unfortunately, this means that there are NO planes today so no Jon Moller, SP’s Rural Advisor
But hey, maybe he’ll get stuck in Emmonak for a bit, being weathered in and get an idea of what we go through on a daily basis?? LOL
OK, gotta put wood in the stove!! TTYL
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Food Drive
c/o Ann Strongheart
P.O. Box 7
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com
Want to help? Visit… http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/how-to-help/
O.T. – Just had a good laugh at Jack Cafferty on CNN. Made reference to Palin’s taxes: “What’s this that the amount of taxes is private. That’s my tax money and she’s a public official. Where do they get off… There’s two words, one word starting with a B and the other….”
I would love to see Cafferty with a show. He’d mince it, slice it and dice it not caring who it is.
I was wondering that, too……..why is it to be public later, when it is under wraps now? It is not that she/they had no idea, it was just that they enjoyed getting away with it. uf-da.
Thanks so much for the updates AKM and Ann…
That truly warms the heart.
Quyana, quyana, quyana!
I have to laugh when I read about weather. Granted it’s warmer here than Alaska, but PA temps can range throughout the year from minus 20 degrees to 100 plus degrees plus 100% humidity. They say if you can live in PA you can live anywhere. Last week we went from the low 20′s to 71 degrees in about 48 hours. Temp is back down again to 30′s and we’re getting snow and sleet. Never know what to expect! Might be sunbathing the this weekend???
silverfox67 (12:09:18) :
Sick. Saw this over at HuffPo as well, almost 3000 comments already.
NY Daily Post is owned by Rupert Murdoch, you know, the owner of Faux News.
How many bets that Rupert Murdoch wins worst person on KO tonight?
Hey, no knocking Northern Virginia…those of us that live here come from all backgrounds, races, religions, and socio-economic levels. This is a diverse, hardworking, well-educated population who put our money where our mouth is…bad enough that Nancy Phoofenfuffer (of the McCain campaign) called it “fake Virginia”, and Joe McCain called it “Communist Country”. This area has voted overwhelmingly democratic in the last 8 years, and has put two successive democratic governors and senators into office.
Thanks for the update! I still have one box to send, and the list from the other villages has given me ideas about what to buy to fill it. As for that political cartoon, I can only say that it is sad that some people are still so racist. With our freedom of speech here in the USA, people are perfectly free to print such things. But those of us who object can boycott them and refuse to read such trash.
silverfox67 (12:09:18) :
OT
This has got to be stopped.
http://www.nypost.com/delonas/delonas.htm
_______________________________________
OT OT: his web site is down today, and numerous papers/media have come out against this cartoon. I posted a complaint, on another site- of course, NY Post doesn’t allow complaints.
On topic-
Ann, I’ll email you to see if my stuff has arrived for my family…
I’ve taken up the challenge to purchase appropriate foods at good prices and ship them. It is amazing to me how much water we ship around for food stuffs. Water adds weight and bulk to increase shipping costs.
I’m a Registered Dietitian and have worked with many families on obtaining appropriate foods, but this is a new dimension. Powdered milk is an obvious nutritious food, but the vegetable and fruit possibilities require the added water. Dried beans are nutritious and probably will help. I’ve gotten a lot of food in easy to distribute sizes from our local Grocery Outlet stores.
Packing for shipping has called on my eBay experiences. I’ve been using USPS. The large and the regular size Flat Rate boxes are good for jars of peanut butter, milk powder, and some canned foods. I use regular boxes for sending less dense items parcel post. Toilet paper, instant coffee, and potato mixes are examples of low density items.
There is always the occassion of waiting in line in the store and the PO to share some of this with other people. I’m sure there are plenty of eavesdroppers who would like the idea.
I’ve always encouraged cash donations to food banks because they can purchase so effectively in bulk, but I am finding the participation in purchasing, packing, and shipping packages to help me identify with other people more than just writing a check. I’ve considered getting my grandchildren to help me with this.
I am hoping some of the Stimulus money will help with weatherization and other projects that the Alaskan natives need to continue their self sufficiency.
Thanks to Ann and all the bloggers for thinking of others.
sandra
arg……heads up…….last week the post office took 2 boxes no problem…..today, nope, the clerk said “they’ve been told if the flaps don’t fold down and meet where they are supposed to they won’t ship at flat rate…..the difference would have been 30.00 on top of the flat rate……so now I get to re-pack these 2 boxes so I “comply” even though there is nothing on the boxes that says anything about the flaps.
just wanted to let ya all know……..things inside the box are supposed to fit within the “conformity of the box”.
and that 30.00 difference was just for one box……
@-
Say No TO Palin In Politics (15:36:36) :
The $30 more says a LOT about what you managed to jam in that one rate box!
Good job!
Make them flaps touch!
silverfox67 (12:09:18) :
OT
This has got to be stopped.
http://www.nypost.com/delonas/delonas.htm
————
I posted against this at the Huffington Post. I am deeply ashamed of those who publish such an atrocity, in such bad taste.
I can only imagine what they’re saying over at Redstate and the like. bleckkk!
Good luck Ann and everybody! I can’t send a box off quite yet but it’s in the back of my mind when I do the bills- as soon as I can I will. Stay strong- you’re an amazing bunch of people.
WOW Ann, the update was awesome and the drifts sound ENORMOUS. I’m short so I would be lost forever, at least until spring. Do you wear really bright colors so that people can find you if get stuck in a drift?
Your Postmistress will either giggle or raise eyebrows when my little gift for CC gets there. I put BRIGHT duct tape all over it and wrote “I heart Rural Alaska” on the tape. I did the same thing for a box going to Ugashik / Pilot Point and that one looked REALLY bright. So you may have to pretend you don’t know me!
Kind of OT: Are the Salmon in Alaska “King” salmon?
If so here is a article from my local paper, they are low numbers in spawning AGAIN this year!
Feds: Calif. returning chinook salmon a record low
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/02/18/state/n103918S47.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
I need to vent here. Sorry but you guys wouldn’t believe the grief I have gotten for wanting to help. and for trying to get others to help. I have been told I am hurting those I am helping and that I am selfish for helping. and that i pitty the villagers. How can people take something so good and say it’s wrong?
Oh and this is a person that voted for Palin…and thinks the government shouldn’t help them but I guess we shouldn’t either. Ugh…anyways I needed to vent never ment anyone so hate filled. All day at the post office with my seven boxes i just heard how kind it was with these hard times. Well I can’t be having a hard time if I have food and heat for my children. Ok thanks for the vent.
And great job people….
charise820:Oh and this is a person that voted for Palin…and thinks the government shouldn’t help them but I guess we shouldn’t either.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This doesn’t really surprise me….the good “christian” people who voted for GINO believe in helping THEMSELVES ONLY, and giving THEMSELVES TAX CUTS, but do not believe in helping their fellow man, especially if non-white. Oh its OK to practice republican welfare and give to their PACs but don’t give your “hard earned” dollars to people who really need it. It is the ultimate hypocrisy!!!!!
OT—That disgusting cartoon is making the rounds on Alaskas Graigslist too. People on there are disgusting anyway, filthy talk, nasty pics , very racist people in Alaska, on that site anyway!! Makes you feel very afraid for Pres. Obama’s safety.
Oh, I forgot to mention, these same people were probably only to happy to send gov. grifter a gift for her “NEW” grandchild….like she can’t afford to buy stuff for her “NEW” grandchild. Hypocrisy!
@ charise820
You could print out Republican Senator Fred Dyson’s article from a couple of days ago:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/691657.html?mi_pluck_action=comment_submitted&qwxq=2783254#Comments_Container
And Bob Poe’s response here at Mudflats.
And there are many great articles from ADN, The Tundra Drums, & Bristol Bay Times written by Native Alaskans. I like this one by Renee Crow:
http://www.adn.com/opinion/story/675784.html
If reading /discussing articles like those don’t help – just kick ‘em in the butt and tell them they are selfish people, all Grinch-like. Tell them their hearts will never be uplifted by the random acts of generosity and respect toward those who they do not know.
Yeah it really bothers me. I didn’t have much but I took a good chunk of my taxes and plan on sending more. I mean don’t we all hope if we were in that place someone would help us….it’s just being a good human.
@ charise820
Better yet, print some of Ann S’s updates and see if those don’t melt those frozen hearts!
I just emailed my comment re: the cartoon to the Post, but I doubt it will make any difference. It’s going to be shuffled off with, “Oh, we didn’t mean it THAT way; we never THOUGHT of that.” Yeah, right. There is nothing we can say to change the minds of those who are fed by hatred, racism, and fear, but there is something we can DO. We can continue to show love to our fellow human beings in the many ways that are available to us. We are doing that when we send food to Alaska, and we are doing it every day when we smile, say hello, or hold the door open for a stranger. Do not let the haters get you down; just smile and walk away.
I’m in the “waiting for moderation” alternate reality – oh no!
Martha when i posted the one about ann’s shopping trip and life with out water she just said time to move…that’s been this persons reply to everything move oh and how do you know palin isn’t doing anything…and I am just out to get the woman.
charise820No Gravatar (17:57:40) :
Martha when i posted the one about ann’s shopping trip and life with out water she just said time to move…that’s been this persons reply to everything move oh and how do you know palin isn’t doing anything…and I am just out to get the woman.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Charise, it does no good to argue with them! Some people have even suggested extreme right wingnuts are mentally ill, which I’m inclined to believe. LOL!
Just know you are doing the right thing helping your fellow man out, even Palin herself GINO has adopted a “let them eat cake” attitude. Its not surprising her followers say the same nonsense..
They are idiots, plain and simple.
Just keep on doing what you know in your heart is good. Forget about them.
they are selfish, vile people. Look what the Republican Taliban is trying to do to this country???
True that is what I have been doing and plan on doing….question has anyone sent things to people that wasn’t food? like coloring books for kids? or something? LOL I sent tons of food but I feel the need to send more. and other things as well.
clarise, there is a shopping list link on this page. They need disp. diapers, TP (take the cardboard out so you can squish it down) I beleive other things like soap, toothpaste/brushes, laundry soap, all that kind
of stuff is welcome.
this site will help you:
http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com/how-to-help/
Thanks crystalwolf.
Your welcome, and Welcome to mudflats!
Thanks for your help, people like you are bringing smiles to the village people!
@ charise820
I would think coloring books and crayons would be fun, too! I’ve sent light bulbs and batteries for non-food items – your idea sounds like way more fun! Also you can post a question to Ann S and I’m sure she’ll see it here (or at Anonymous Bloggers on the side bar).
And yes, like I said before – her heart will never be uplifted by her own actions until she can give without condition, so she is the loser in this scenario.
http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/node/39456
I have a weird feeling about this since Mike Connell was killed in a plane crash in Dec. 08. Check out all the youtube videos on his death.
Now Sarah Palin has hired his sometime partner for her PAC??
I haven’t posted here since the election. I do check in to see what you good people have been up to. Nice to know there are still plenty of good people in the world. Peace and Love
Crystalwolf – King salmon is one of the five species of salmon commercially harvested in Alaska. The following webpage is a summary of the 2008 Alaska salmon harvest showing the different species:
http://www.cf.adfg.state.ak.us/geninfo/finfish/salmon/catchval/blusheet/08exvesl.php
Crystalwolf aka caligrl, I think you’re right about selfish people who can’t see the need of the rural villagers, or the need to help them — that those people must be mentally ill in some way. I can’t think of any other reason why they’d be devoid of empathy.
Sandra in oregon, you were saying how dried beans are nutritious…. My sister is a nurse, and she told me ‘way back when I took over the cooking for our family (we share a household) that the beans/corn/rice mixture most often seen in Cajun and Mexican style cooking is most nutritious because all together they form a complete vegetable protein (all 9 amino acids).
From Self Reliant Sisters Blogspot (not me or my sister
) — “There are other combinations as well. Beans and seeds, beans and nuts, and beans and grains You can combine the following vegetable proteins to make complete proteins.
Beans and Rice is a great way to get a complete protein when meat is scarce. Other examples are Peanut butter on whole-wheat bread, Whole-wheat bun with Humus, Rice and Bean soup and a roll, Rice cakes with peanut butter, Tofu-vegetable stir-fry over rice or pasta.”
But you probably already knew all that….
Uh, correct me if I’m wrong, but all those AK governers, pundits, legislators, and business people (as well as those in the other 49) that aren’t doing anything to help rural AK, oppose govt assistance, oppose the stimulous package, and say they’ll refuse to take any $$ from the stimulous package are all well paid, well fed, employed, and have health insurance.
Anyone heard of anybody that’s become unemployed that opposes help to the needy–whether in rural AK or anywhere else? Even if they don’t agree with the whole stimulous package or spending $$ flying the governor’s representative all over the place, don’t they believe in helping others? If you know anybody in dire straits that doesn’t want help, I’d sure like to hear about them. They should be on the endangered species list.
charise820(17:57:40) :
Martha when i posted the one about ann’s shopping trip and life with out water she just said time to move…that’s been this persons reply to everything move oh and how do you know palin isn’t doing anything…and I am just out to get the woman.
___________________________________________
You might remind this charitable woman of Jesus’ words: when you do this for the least of these, you are doing it for Me. That might shut her up- although she might not believe in the Golden Rule. aargh.
We have become disassociated and self centered as a society. Due to urban sprawl , people live further apart from their neighbors. In many households both parents are workers who aren’t home all day. Many of them don’t even know their neighbor’s names. Case in point, a man 2 doors down from the plane crash in Buffalo last week didn’t know the man who died in the house. As a result, people don’t “connect” with the suffering of the folks in rural AK or the folks losing their jobs and homes.
I wish for God’s blessing for all those who extend their hand, even if it is something as simple as praying for these folks or indicating support for President Obama’s efforts to straighten out the mess we are in.
CA dreamin of AK (20:48:40) : A quote for you.
“Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity, nothing exceeds the criticisms made of the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well warmed and well fed.” ~ Herman Melville
(didn’t know Melville knew Gino!)
@charise820 (17:36:29)
:’… but you guys wouldn’t believe the grief I have gotten for wanting to help. and for trying to get others to help. I have been told I am hurting those I am helping and that I am selfish for helping. and that i pitty the villagers. ”
———————————–
I believe the grief you are getting .
I tell those grief-making folks that I have been invited to the table at my neighbors’ place in Western Alaska this winter and since I’m a crummy cook I’m the one bringing the grub.
I also say PHHHT!! to a lot after I tell ‘em the only folks I pity are them…
Life is short.
I’m less patient with the PHHHT!-folks every year.
Dingbats who act like there is plenty of time to debate the whys and wherefores and should-oughtas DO NOT see our neighbors in Western Alaska as human beings.
So they are not going to listen to you…
Blaze on by them.
Maybe your tailwind will flip em in the ditch and bonk some sense into em…
Check in your rearview mirror, but keep on going.
We’ve got dinner to get on the table at our neighbors’ place in Western Alaska.
Let’s roll.
Alaska Pi (22:00:42) :
Ditto from me- great sentiment. Off to duct tape another large Flat Rate box…
@ charise820
You know what? Those icy-hearted people will never know what Akutaq tastes like or even what it’s made of. Nor will they ever know that there is a lovely tasting white fish, Sheefish, that is only found mostly in the YK Delta. They will never know the resounding fear at the sound of cracking ice, nor the joy of sledding down 20 foot snow drifts!
They will never know of, or hear of, the many unique, interesting and amazing things that our northern rural Alaskans experience and live every day. I’d rather be ME than THEM any day, and everyday, because my life has been enriched with stories from a faraway land…
Bless your STRONG heart, Ann! (and your back too)
Glad things are improving for your village and others.
We will all be wearing t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops by the time the stupid governor reacts to this crisis!
I have sent books and coloring book for my family’s child…. I have a box of treats heading your way Ann, for the kids in your youth center. Will try to mail it out priority Thursday.
If Ann could maybe answer this.
I see coffee on the list, but a a dedicated Tea drinker, I don’t know what that means. Is it the beans, the kind you need for coffee machines or instant? My husband only drnks instant.
what about hot chocolate!
To Ann and AKM:
Your stories reflecting daily life in the Alaskan bush and even in its cities are fascinating, as was Fred Dyson’s article about the historic accomplishments of Alaska’s indigenous people.
It occurred to me that, very likely, all the families who are receiving packages from around the country might also have interesting stories to tell about their own lives and family histories and heroes. Also (now I can’t even use that word without thinking of Palin!) I bet they could give others around the world who are struggling in this economic downturn their tips and techniques for saving money, “making do”, staying warm, hunting, fishing, trapping and the like. (Just how does one “field dress”a moose?).
Blog entries, or even a proper book, with such stories would serve to preserve their cultural history, share it with the world and perhaps even provide some royalties for community projects there.
I don’t know whether Ann, as she makes her rounds delivering boxes, could simultaneously collect short stories and survival tips for the blog from the recipients, but, if not, perhaps there is someone in the villages who would have the time to do this. Alternatively, perhaps some U of Alaska students would be interested in taking on the project.
Aloha and saludos, from a former Hawaii resident, now living in Venezuela.
Merida,
I hope that after the recent events in Venezuela you will be OK.
I would like to link to the original post on the life here for these Natives. Is it somewhere on the sidebar and I’m missing it?
@Hmmmmm
Ann’s coffee was graciously shipped by the folks at Clockwork Commerce in Medford, MA. The brand is Trung Nguyen (pronounced ‘choon wynn’) and the product is a 3-in-1 instant coffee called G7. It comes with cream and sugar (or black). I guess you could say it has ‘one cream’ and ‘one sugar’, so you might have to add a little more cream if you like really white coffee like Ann does [grin].
It comes in little ‘sticks’ and is so easy to stir up with 5-6 oz of hot water. This instant coffee is not brewed before it’s freeze-dried, and has a gourmet taste and aroma; yet, it only costs about 19 cents a stick.
You can read more about it here:
http://www.trung-nguyen-online.com/g7-gourmet-instant-coffee.php
Sometimes it’s the little things like coloring books and good coffee that make us feel like we’re thriving ~ not just surviving.
@ Bonnie
If you go the the CATEGORY button on the side bar, right below RECENT COMMENTS, you can select “Native Issues” from the drop down and all of the articles will be available that way. Thank you!
@Bonnie (07:25:01) :
A bunch of the information from Ann Strongheart is available at the “Anonymous Bloggers” link under the “Alaskan Blogs” section on the righthand side of this blog (up there somewhere). There is also information on how to help the families in the “Village Aid Shopping List” link a bit further up on the righthand side with the graphic of a kid’s face. Hope this helps.
It’s so gratifying to know that so many people are helping in such important ways and I do enjoy reading Ann Strongheart’s descriptions of her community. I just wonder, however, what is happening in all of the other villages in Alaska. Nobody has talked about how people are doing in Tooksook Bay, Mekoryuk, Kwigillingok, Quinahak, Kipnuk, etc. etc. Are all of the villages in Alaska getting the same kind of support?
Kajo:
I’m always ready to discuss nutrition. Thanks for the interest.
You have nicely outlined the idea of complementary proteins. This was well developed by Frances Moore Lappe in “Diet for a small Planet.” The mixing of the foods is a good idea in a vegan diet.
I don’t think this is too critical for the Alaskan natives because they seem to have access to meat and fish. Legumes (beans and peanuts) provide other nutrients (e.g., vitamins) and calories that seem to be missing from these diets.
sandra
Mary Purvis,
Please visit http://anonymousbloggers.wordpress.com
There are many stories there and also other villages that I have “adopted” and am helping them get their own food drives started. In fact I received an email last night informing me of another village and I emailed them and asked if I could help promote their food drive. Via anonymousbloggers website. I am waiting to hear back from them.
I have a list of other villages that I received with that email last night. The list is a list of villages that declared the salmon fishing last year a disaster.
Jim B. if you are here reading this maybe you could post the list here. I’ll try to find that email and add the list here or maybe better to put it on Anonymousbloggers, where it won’t get lost in all the posts.
Merida, let me look into putting up stories from people here. I am working on a story about native foods and am also being asked to do a story about fishing. Hope to have the native “traditional” foods story done soon.
I encourage everyone to visit anonymousbloggers webpage listed above and see ways we are working on long term solutions and various other discussions. There are several pages on that website so make sure you look around the various links
I have dial up internet, which ties up my phone line, so I am not online as much as I’d like to be. Well that and having a toddler makes it hard to be online much when she’s up. But you can always email me directly also. I am pretty good about answering my emails throughout the day.
Quyana,
Ann Strongheart
Nunam Iqua Food Drive
c/o Ann Strongheart
P.O. Box 7
Nunam Iqua, AK 99666
nunamiquayouth@yahoo.com
P.S. ooh CHARISE email or IM me when you get a chance please!!!
ooops..the category is Rural Issues, not Native Issues. And thanks InJuneau for pointing to the anonymous bloggers link – there are some fun and interesting conversations going on over there.
Unlike Palin, President Chavez really cares about his people.
A commenter above expressed concern about my being in Venezuela. I want to assure that that the government programs which President Chavez, who is a democratic socialist, not a tyrant, has put in place are really, really helping people. That is why he is so popular here. It is only the minority — the very wealthy — who oppose him.
You see, President Chavez has provided free medical, dental and eye care to millions of people who never had access to such things before. He has set up subsidized food markets whose low, low prices make a big difference. There are also cheap government subsidized restaurants where you can get a good, 3 course meal for a $1.00.
Here, there are subsidized mortgages for first time home buyers, along with low and interest free loans to start up worker owned cooperative businesses and small private businesses, not to mention job training programs and free education to the doctoral level, along with living expense stipends to students.
The Chavez government is also helping other countries in South and Central America escape from the tyranny of the International Monetary Funds loan requirements by helping other countries to get out from under IMF loans and giving them loans which don’t require them to cut social services and raise prices.
As for democracy, it is in full bloom here and constantly being expanded. His 2000 Constitution supports putting all decision-making on projects and improvements at the community level, through community councils, which vote on their neighborhood’s priorities for improvements, then apply for interest-free grants and technical assistance to help carry out the projects.
My apartment complex has its own community council, and these government grants are putting in new plumbing for our project as well as funding the construction of a new fitness center for our young people. All the decision-making is done at monthly community council meetings, where there passionate discussion about common problems.
I am part of a newly formed cooperative of language teachers, which will be carrying out projects to teach community members English and hosting skills so they can host foreign visitors who will come to take Spanish lessons at our school.
President Chavez is a real grass-roots democrat who also has a vision for creating a truly human society that puts the quality of life ahead of the profit line. The U.S. press demonizes Chavez because they afraid that Americans will wake up and realize that it is possible to organize a society that really cares for its members. If he were a tyrant who kow-towed to the capitalists, they would be praising him!
Interesting comments about Chavez. I been hearing info from a different perspective.
I would caution that even a “benevolent” dis=ctator is still a dictator.
There have been 15 elections in Venezuela since 1998, when President Chavez was first elected. He and his supported have won 14 out of the 15 elections. Those elections have been monitored by international observers, including the Carter Center, and have been approved by the international teams as being fair and open.
The February 15, 2009 referendum on amending the Constitution was likewise found to be orderly, fair and extremely efficiently run by international observers, who stated that Venezuela should be a model for the world in running elections. They have electronic voting machines, isolated from outside interference, which provide paper ballots for voters to review before placing them in the ballot boxes, which are preserved for automatic recounts of a certain percentage of the votes. Voters also have their own receipts to prove their votes. Voters are fingerprinted upon registering to vote and are fingerprinted again upon voting to assure identity.
There is a National Assembly which functions like our Congress. Chavez has a huge majority in that Assembly due, in part, to the fact that the opposition parties boycotted an election they were likely to lose by a substantial margin anyway. The organization which runs the elections is an independent constitutionally created body, which has won acclaim for its democratic procedures and has made a number of decisions against Chavez as has their Supreme Court.
Chavez has invaded not other countries, he has not kidnapped or tortured anyone nor held persons without charges or trial. He even pardoned those who were responsible for the illegal coup against him in 2002 which, by the way, was supported and at least partially funded by the U.S. government. Do these sound like the acts of a dictator or a tyrant?
No, Chavez is not a dictator. He has been called that by the U.S. government officials who fear him because he is a successful socialist leader who is working to provide excellent programs for his people. These are the same type of programs we Americans desperately need to survive the economic catastrophe created by our greedy, capitalist bankers and politicians.
When poor people in the U.S. could not afford to purchase fuel, our U.S. oil companies were asked to help. They refused. The only company which provided cheap fuel to poor people in communities in the U.S. was Citgo, the company that is owned by Venezuela. Chavez routinely provides similar aid to other countries in South and Central America.