Kenai Peninsula College | 1 (877) 262-0330 | www.kpc.alaska.edu | Located in Soldotna, Homer, Anchorage, Seward, & online
The University of Alaska is an AA/EEO employer and educational institution
Front: Ahtna Traditional Chief Fred Ewan
Back: Ahtna Heritage Dancers Isaiah Ewan & Daniel Pete
LEADER In All We Do
The well-being of
our shareholders
and a respect for
our history in this
placeis topmost
in mind as we
continually enhance
our strong financial
position.
WWW.DOYON.COM
First Alaskans FALL 2016 5
CELEBRATE
TRADITIONS
More than half of our patients at the Alaska Native Medical Center hospital
travel from outside Anchorage to access a broad variety of health services. The
Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium is pleased to announce the opening of
our new 202-room patient housing facility in early 2017, which will provide a
home away from home for our people traveling to Anchorage for care.
Diversifying
Alaskas Economy
DIVERSE JOBS AND LOCATIONS
Encouraging wellness in the individual, family and the way in which we live.
alaskaquitline.com
First Alaskans FALL 2016 11
FIRST ALASKANS INSTITUTE
Willie Iiagruk Hensley (Iupiaq) Joy Demmert (Haida/Tlingit) Jorie Ayyu Paoli (Iupiaq)
Chairman Administrative Coordinator VP & Organizational Advancement
Sam Kito, Jr. (Tlingit) Director
Heather Gatti (Haida/Tlingit)
Vice Chairman
Indigenous Research Assistant Andrea Akalleq Sanders (Yupik)
Valerie Davidson (Yupik) Alaska Native Policy Center Director
Secretary/Treasurer Dewey Kkoeyo Hoffman (Koyukon
Sven Haakanson, Jr. (Sugpiaq) Athabascan) Ella Sasuuk Tonuchuk (Yupik)
Leadership Development Director Leadership Development Coordinator
Albert Kookesh (Tlingit)
Sylvia Lange (Aleut/Tlingit) Elizabeth Laa.guen.gei, Kaa Tsas Darlene Paqpaluk Trigg (Iupiaq)
Medicine Crow (Haida/Tlingit) Social Justice Manager
Oliver Leavitt (Iupiaq)
President/CEO
Georgianna Lincoln (Athabascan) Emily Keneggnarkayaaggaq Tyrrell
Colin Tassaq Atauciq McDonald (Yupik) (Iupiaq/Yupik)
Byron I. Mallott (Tlingit)
Sustainability Assistant Sustainability Director
Senior Fellow
Morris Thompson (Athabascan) Kyle Dlaakaw.esh Wark (Tlingit)
In Memoriam Indigenous Researcher &
Policy Analyst
First Alaskans Institute is an Alaska Native non-profit organization. Our mission is: True to identity, heritage,
and values, Alaska Natives are informed and engaged in leading the decisions that shape the future.
wkjihthit | imagine
hozoo njinthat | focus 67 Ivory Blues
36 Becoming a Language Warrior How laws meant to protect African
Advice for an exhilarating, inspiring and elephants may end up hurting Alaska
highly emotional journey Native artists
40 nts
` njihtht / Opinion 72 shih / FOOD
A Love Letter to Second Language Autumn Recipes
Learners from Summers Bounty
You need nobodys permission to reclaim 74 Alaska Grown
your own words of your people. Growing nutritious food in Alaska is both a
42 ee / together challenge and opportunity
Material Traditions 81 A Tribe Called Red gives Intense
Teaching and documenting the use of Concert in Anchorage
cedar in Southeast Alaska
83 Etsy and Epic-ness
48 nts
` njihtht / Opinion
Inupiaq artist blazes trails on the tundra,
When the Alaska Justice System is the and online
Criminal
My time with U.S. Attorney General 85 Taking a Stand in Standing Rock
Loretta Lynch
this issues language: Section and department titles are in the Han Athabascan language.
Each issue of First Alaskans features a different Native language in this role. Thanks to Shyanne Beatty.
Renew
Natives is Good for the
World
Meet the people doing the
work of First Alaskans
Institute
28 wdk
/ Stories From Around AFN speakers Emil Notti and Megan Alvanna-Stimpfle
29 Birdman
By Richard Perry (Yupik/Athabascan)
Unangan man takes care of
his winged cousins
Keynote Speaker Emil notti
I
32 Traveling with Our Ancestors n the 1960s, Emil Notti (Koyukon Athabascan) was part of a group of Alaska
An eight-day canoe journey
from Kake to Juneau tests Native advocates from around the state calling for a convening of Alaska
strength, brings communities Native leaders from every region. That call was heard. The Alaska Federation
together of Natives was formed in October 1966, when more than 400 Alaska Natives
ALASKA FEDERATION
OF NATIVES CONVENTION
CARLSON CENTER / FAIRBANKS, AK
THURSDAY & FRIDAY
8:00 A.M. 5 P.M. OCTOBER
HOSTED BY:
JOAQLIN ESTUS,
KNBA NEWS DIRECTOR
SATURDAY
9 A.M. 3 P.M. 20 22
ANTONIA GONZALES,
NATIONAL NATIVE NEWS ANCHOR
BENEFACTOR SPONSORS:
3600 San Jeronimo Drive, Suite 480, Anchorage, AK 99508 / (907) 793-3500
healthy, culturally-connected Native transference of knowledge between our Scenes from the 2015
peoples does not happen in a vacuum; it Elders and our youth to promote the FAI Elders & Youth
must be grown, nurtured, and loved. growth and strengthening of cultural Conference. top left: Youth
Through the conference we strive to identity, language learning, statewide excitedly posing with the
operationalize these values and ignite cohesion and relationships. We encour- Anchorage and Alaska
this responsibility. We thank all those age deeper understanding of the issues historic proclamations for
who collaborated to come up with this and challenges of our time with a focus Indigenous Peoples Day.
powerful theme, especially our wonder- on solution-making and proactive engage- top right: Alaska Native
ful and committed Statewide Elders & ment, while serving our communities as Veterans leading the opening
Youth Council, FAI staff and youth from a leader in all we do. ceremonies. bottom left and
the community. Our theme is the cul- We utilize our cultures, languages and right: Dance groups share
mination of a collective effort to craft a ways of being as the medium for knowl- their songs and dances
compelling and resonating anthem that edge building. We invite our cultural to help strengthen our
sets the tone for the conference and leads practices, aesthetics and arts, knowledge conference learning with
our organizing efforts. and innovation to create a platform for cultural practices.
This gathering, which has occurred hands-on engagement. Our participants
annually for over 30 years, is focused on are the experts of their experience and
creating lifelong connections to our vi- lives, and we create opportunities to tap
brant and diverse Alaska Native cultures. their knowledge, voice, and vision for a
We do this through the intergenerational healthy, thriving Native future.
FAI STAFF
Dewey Kkoeyo Hoffman Joy Gudangla Demmert
(Koyukon/Swiss) (Haida/Tlingit)
Leadership Development Director Administrative Coordinator
Strengthening our Alaska Native Through my role at FAI, I get
families and communities through to support the incredible work
our cultures is my lifes work. being done to help strengthen
With their support, I learn to be our Native community across
a healthy living vessel for our life the state. Ive been given the
ways just as my Ancestors have. opportunity to work toward a
better future for our people and,
for that, I feel blessed.
SOUTHCENTRAL FOUNDATION
early morning send-off that began our just like our Ancestors did. Our Canoe Family
8-day prayer of grueling canoe pulling About three days into the journey,
and camp making. when the pulling made my muscles Tony Abbott, Skipper. Natalie
Some of us had done the journey burn and my back ache, when every- (Austin) Abbott, coordinator,
before, others were new to it, including thing inside of me wanted to give up, cook and puller. Mona Evan,
myself. Each of you will experience I paused and listened to the sound of health & safety and cook. Paul
your own journey, said Mike. Be the paddles lapping at the ocean. It was Rostad, safety boat captain and
helpful with each other, take care of then at those moments of pure ex- owner of the Christina Dawn.
one another. haustion that I felt my Uncles words, Arnold Skeek, safety boat deck
While our Kex Yaakw Kwan was Use their strength. hand and puller (may he rest in
only 18 people strong in number, we peace). Tyrone Paul, puller. Dan
were far greater in spirit. It was amaz- During the days, we experienced Willis, puller. Oscar Demmert,
ing to me how each person did their many moments of quietness; it was Sr., puller. Liz Medicine Crow
best, both in and out of the canoe. Ev- mesmerizing to feel the soft forward (author), puller. Dawn Jackson,
eryone worked hard to be helpful with- pull of the canoe, listening to the soft, puller. Jaqueline Bennum,
out being asked, to be kind, to notice rhythmic lapping of the paddles. And puller. Christine Bean, puller.
if someone needed something, carry then, suddenly, as if on cue, everyone James Jackson, puller. Shawaan
extra bags, get out of each others way, would start chatting and laughing Jackson-Gamble, puller. Skylar
and not let our own needs outweigh at the same time. We also had fun Ward, puller. Duane Brown,
the needs of the group. Squeezing 18 inventing new paddle styles which we puller. Burt Jackson, puller.
people into a small space might be a debuted in honor of our Veterans ca- Victor Demmert, puller.
recipe for high drama, but we all did noe. We called it the canoewalk, our
our best to take the advice of our com- ode to Michael Jacksons moonwalk,
munity we took care of each other. and those two funny ladies in Smoke we came into Juneau, it was exhilarat-
It also helped that we shared a col- Signals drove backwards in their rez ing, intense, and dizzying. Thousands
lective understanding of why we were car because it only had reverse. Wed of people and their songs rose up,
doing this. While we each carried our stroke together to go as fast as we echoing across the water long before
own reasons, we inherently knew that could, and then one side would hit the we could see them. After each canoe
we were not individuals on a sightsee- brakes as the other paddled forward paid respects to the waiting crowd,
ing tour through our own culture, but swinging us into reverse. Wed also we created a large flotilla of all the
rather stewards strengthening our do 50 good ones, jumping into fast, participating canoes, and one by one
ways of life and doing it for the love in-sync, strokes, loudly cadenced. This the landing protocols were done. Each
of our peoples. And that is an ancient was usually motivated by someone canoe called out to the local Tribe and
kind of love. sockeyeing (splashing) the person in told them where we were from, ask-
From day one, our canoe motto be- front of them or because one of our ing permission to come ashore. Each
came we eat whitecaps for breakfast, pullers just randomly decided to call canoe was welcomed with warmth and
because we hit some hard weather it out. And for no explainable reason, cheers from the shore.
crossing Frederick Sound. Our safety wed do it. After it was all done, our canoe
boats pulled us and the Copper Bird During the nights, wed set up our pulled into a slip at the Douglas Boat
canoe from Ketchikan into safety in tents just under the tree line of the Harbor. Everyone climbed out, greet-
Murder Cove. The swamped canoes beach to stay out of the way of the high ing our families and friends coming
were bailed out and brought onboard tides that time of year. In the evening, to meet us. But I couldnt. I sat in the
to get us through the unsafe condi- most folks would wander down to the canoe, by myself. I wasnt ready for it
tions to the first nights camping spot in beach to spend time with the other to be over.
Chaik Bay where we met up with the canoe families drumming and sharing Months later, it is the quiet glide
SEARHC canoe out of Sitka. We lost songs around the fire. of our canoe through the water, the
about seven miles of pulling because of When we came into Angoon and closeness of our Ancestors all around
the weather and our whole canoe was Juneau, the two communities along us, and the sound of our cedar paddles
resolved not to be towed again unless the journey route, the welcoming lapping in rhythm through our waters
safety required it. From then on our ceremonies were incredible. Angoons that I miss the most.
safety boat idled in neutral when we hospitality, especially the energy of
had to come aboard for meals or bath- their children, was incredible, hum- Elizabeth Laa guen nay Kat Saas
room breaks. We often lost ground due bling, and reminded me of how much Medicine Crow (Haida/Tlingit) is
to the currents and tides, but it didnt our peoples used to love to spend time president/CEO of First Alaskans
matter to us. We were there to pull, visiting each others villages. When Institute.
ALASKA PERMANENT
CAPITAL MANAGEMENT
Registered Investment Adviser
ing
Participants of the Han Hwechin five-week language course at the
University of Alaska Fairbanks. photo courtesy of Shyanne Beatty
Lan guage
rior Advice for an exhilarating, inspiring
and highly emotional journey
By Shyanne Beatty (Han Gwichin Athabascan)
` njihtht | Opinion
nts
A Love Letter
to Second Language
Learners
You need nobodys permission to reclaim the own words of your people.
By Cordelia Qinaaq Kellie (Inupiaq)
ee | TOGETHER
Material
Traditions
photo story by Wayde Carroll
ee | TOGETHER
1 2
3 4
1. Annette Topham works at separating the outer bark from the 4. Jamie Thompson pulls off a
inner bark. 2. Shayla Kitson displays her roll of harvested cedar strip of cedar bark. 5. Workshop
bark. 3. Kandi McGilton makes an incision into a cedar tree participants guide bark through
where shell pull off a patch of cedar bark. a shredder to create the long,
narrow strips necessary for
weaving. 6. Naomi Leask at work
while her daughter Selina sleeps
peacefully.
1 2
3 4
` njihtht | Opinion
nts
WHEN THE
ALASKA
JUSTICE
SYSTEM
IS THE
CRIMINAL
My Time with United States Attorney General Loretta Lynch
By Cordelia Qinaaq Kellie (Inupiaq)
the attorney general is never going to from this to have a single mark. There
hear it. are some areas of the world where
I knew most people in the room indigenous people are so entrenched
were not going to understand me, but in similar issues and experiences for
I was taught to introduce myself in so long, you ask yourself, Where do
Iupiaq; in doing so, you are repre- you even begin the road to recovery?
senting the truest version of who you My great vision for our people is, in
are. My name is Qinaaq. My family 100 years, we will look back and think
is from Wainwright. I am Iupiaq. I how, in the entire timeline of our
was born in Anchorage. I come from peoples, this was that one weird thing
the Tagarook and James families. that happened to us that one time.
These are my grandparents and great
grandparents. I am so very happy to
be here. That was conceptually what I
I continued, Weve had the oppor- wished to impart. But there was also
tunity to hear stories about a number something tangible that I wished to
of different challenges that affect Alas- impart. It was an example that show-
ka Native people. Weve heard about cased the inequity too many rural
the trials of dealing with domestic families face.
violence, sexual assault, homeless- I told her a condensed version of
ness, suicide, poverty and all forms how, when I got to Barrow, my good
of abuse. Today I hope to bring a friend told me, All charges for crimes
big-picture perspective to all of this: It less than a felony have been dropped
never used to be this way. for a year.
We never used to know suicide. I asked how that could be possible.
We never used to know displace- Im not sure, but its been this way
ment. All these ways that to us now since the DAs office here shut down
seem so normal this is not normal. last summer, he said.
Somethink that these issues exist Like any place in Alaska, the North
because of who we are as Alaska Na- Slope is going to have its share of
tives, and that is not the truth; these challenges, and its not as if people
issues are due to that which hap- werent getting arrested for crimes.
pened to us, not very long ago. We I was the only person flying in from
never used to be this way. This is not the North Slope who would be in
normal. attendance. I knew I was represent-
I can see this in my own familys ing the challenges of our region, so I
line. My great-grandmother had her sought to do my homework. At every
challenges. My grandma wasnt okay. opportunity, I talked and asked about
And my mom wasnt okay. But Im crime and justice issues here. What
okay. And my nephew is okay. And were the shared sentiments? What
the cycle of generational trauma, were people saying? My friend told
thats how it ends. Everyone in my me some think those in the justice
lineage before my great-grandma was system feel like, Oh, Eskimos are
okay, and everyone after me, includ- forgiving, so we dont have to do
ing my nephew, will be okay, and this too much. Eskimos will forgive each
just needs to happen family by family, other, or Shell just go back to him.
and thats how whole communities Another friend told me of how she
heal. woke up to someone unbuttoning and
I think of the image of a grenade unzipping her pants. She chased him
going off in my mothers hand, an ex- out of her house, called the cops, and
plosion of the factors the other lead- nothing was done. I asked another
ers spoke of. I received the shrapnel, friend if she had heard about the
residual pieces of her experiences, dropped charges, and she said, Yes!
but my nephew is too far removed Yes, for a year! Ever since the DAs
Every night our state rate notions, it was the truth that was
more frustrating than fiction.
The representative spoke of the bud-
leadership goes to sleep get cuts I had been hearing about and
how they were affecting his office. He
them to know that a man there was a glut of cases that werent
moving, and felonies werebeing classi-
fied as misdemeanors with prosecu-
unzipped my friends pants, tion coming out of Fairbanks, at least
he can oversee systemic standards
WE ARE
Contact us! CITC
907.852.1823 Interdependent. Resilient.
Barrow, alaska
Accountable. Respectful.
ilisagvik.edu
ADVERTISE
Changing
Tatiana Ticknor (Yupik/
Denaina/Tlingit) and Lt. Gov.
Byron Mallot (Tlingit).
61
Indigenous studies center
envisioned for UAF
A Compromise for
Hands
Protection
Finding balance for Alaskas Lieutenant Governor discusses ANCSA
traditional Gwichin land with young Alaska Native leader
62 nts` njihtht
/ Opinion By Richard Perry (Yupik/Athabascan)
PFD Automatic Voter
T
Registration will atiana Ticknor and her mother, Jean Sam-Kiunya, are waiting
Empower Alaska Natives
outside a government office. The day before the interview it was
64 nts` njihtht announced Ticknor would be honored as one of the 2016 Class of 25
/ Opinion
Under 25 Native Youth Leaders with the United National Indian Tribal
In Need of Allies:
Protecting our Ways of Youth, Inc. (UNITY). She received an award from Champions for Change,
Life and even met President Obama. Today she will meet, and talk about the
I didnt know I
Mallott: shes an East High School ANCSA was a historic settlement
junior (now senior), 17 years old, involving nearly $1 billion and 44
Yupik, Denaina, Tlingit. And shes million acres of land. Few expected
ready to gain perspective about
ANCSA from a man who was there at was. I was just the level of successes some of the
regional corporations have had. But
the beginning.
Im 73. I have granddaughters saying what there are other important things to
consider.
I feel about
older than you! says Mallott. It gives me hope that, almost fifty
Born in Yakutat, and attending years after ANCSA has passed, all
a boarding school for many of his of our corporate boards could have
younger years, Mallott was a young
man in the sixties when ANCSA things and divested the land and distributed
hundreds of millions of dollars to all
discussions began. For a year, he
served as a special assistant to a U.S. speaking my the shareholders, Lt. Gov. Mallott
said. There has been only a small
language.
Senator in Washington DC. He was infinitesimal amount of Native land
only a few years older than Ticknor at lost. This is because our boards, over
the time. the years, have kept the ownership of
I was there during the develop- the land.
ment of ANCSA, he says. I have been But what is next? When asked about
involved in every decade of Alaskas the future of ANCSA, Mallott adds,
Tatiana Ticknor
history since statehood in some way. I would like to see corporations,
What I am most proud of is being Clan over time, to keep lands that are
leader. clearly of economic value. And
He is the currently Clan leader of breaking up of our lands into the perhaps create a process where the
the Tlingit Raven Kwaash Kee Kwaan [regional] corporations I went to other lands are transitioned into
Clan of Yakutat. the conferences in D.C., and so many some kind of ownership maybe
Mallott wants to know how Ticknor of the lower-48 Native people seem Tribal or something else, for use by
managed the meeting with President to live on mostly dry land and cant shareholders and descendants, but
Obama. She shared how she worked make a living off of it. Back home I protected from being taken by others,
at the Alaska Native Heritage Center think its maybe easier. or us as individuals. It must be kept
as a cultural ambassador and was Ticknor is from Nondalton, where for future generations, free from the
on the Youth Leadership Council at her family spends time whenever they terror of having our Native lands
school. She received an award from can. We get our land and resources. taken. Because I think we know that if
the Center for Native American Youth, Ticknor said. I like saying that we we dont, that ANCSA will be a failure,
who created Champions for Change. have our own land. We go fishing, if money alone dominates.
I got this award because apparently but we have to get a license, and I For now, Mallott finds encourage-
I am a leader, said Ticknor. I didnt dont know why. Its our land. But I ment in the young lady who has
know I was. I was just saying what I think were really lucky to have these accomplished so much in only 17 years
feel about things and speaking my corporations instead of reservations. of life.
language. ANCSA was never about regional I am hopeful, meeting you,
She was the youngest to join the corporations, Lt. Gov. Mallott replied. Mallott says to Ticknor. You
Champions for Change, and, as part It was about keeping as much land recognize whats important. When
of the program, she was invited in Native hands as possible, for future you become a leader, it is in your
to the White House Tribal Nations generations. Like anything in public hands, and I feel good about that.
Conference in Washington D.C. She policy, we dont operate alone. Then,
learned just before arriving she was and now, in politics the result is about Richard Perry is a Yupik/
going to have the opportunity to meet compromise in many ways. No one Athabaskan writer and playwright
and speak with President Obama. gets everything they want. with a bachelors degree in
When asked about ANCSA she Many ANCSA corporations are philosophy from University of Alaska
said, Im just learning about ANCSA, doing very well financially, he Anchorage. Richard can be reached
really. ANCSA to me was about continued. In the early seventies, as atrichardperry770@gmail.com.
grandmother did is what you see big building with the help of the Troth Yeddha Legacy initiative.
here. Evidence from other institutions shows that creating
That hinted at a greater purpose than picking a welcoming, scholarly center can help.
troth. John then elaborated. During the past decade, some of the grass roots
Our great-great-grandfather plant that eagle effort surrounding Troth Yeddha went into restoring
feather on this hill here so that the younger people its rightful name.
today could go to school and try to learn the true Above a bluff on the easternmost point of the ridge,
meaning what the Athabascan Indians were. Thats archaeological excavations from the 1930s through
not written in history, but you young people is there the 1990s found more than 9,000 artifacts. Many of
to accomplish that goal today, he these artifacts are thousands of years
said. old, testifying to an occupancy that
According to anthropologist David offers a source for the stories passed
Krupa, who spent a decade studying down by Elders and told by Chief
the Minto chiefs teachings, the eagle Peter John.
feather represented social integration Robert Charlie, also a fluent Dene
to John. The feather symbol came speaker from Minto, first suggested
from a story that John often told the idea of formally adopting the
about two Tribes that reconciled. traditional name for the full ridge.
In his 1999 doctoral dissertation, Charlie, Professor Emeritus James
Finding the Feather: Peter John Kari and Rural Student Services
and the Reverse Anthropology of the Director Annette Freiburger
White Man Way, Krupa wrote about campaigned for the name change.
Johns ancient storytelling tradition. The UA Board of Regents and the
[I]n making story, he hopes to To learn more about the Troth Alaska Historical Commission
script a world that, once made, can be Yeddha Legacy initiative, please authorized this request and, in 2013,
stepped into and lived as a proactive contact Evon Peter, UAF vice the U.S. Board on Geographic Names
experience, Krupa wrote. chancellor for rural, community and agreed.
Johns script for Troth Yeddha Native education, at 907-474-5860 In 2008, the UA Board of Regents
reading between the lines would or Emily Drygas, UAF director of also approved the creation of Troth
make it a place for Alaska Native development and alumni relations, Yeddha Park between the University
people to find success in their at 907-474-2619. of Alaska Museum of the North and
educational endeavors. the Reichardt Building. In 2010,
For decades, UAF has offered the architectural firm Jones and
programs on Alaska Native languages, Jones, working with a park planning
culture, art and government, as well as summer committee, completed a development plan designed
sessions to introduce village students to campus. to recognize and honor Alaska Native peoples.
In a recent promotional pamphlet produced for the With advocacy from the late Bernice Joseph,
Troth Yeddha Legacy initiative, former students vice chancellor of rural, Native and community
testified about the value of those programs. education, the committees concept then grew to
Rhonda Pitka, who is now the first chief of the include the Indigenous studies center a statewide
Beaver Village Council, met President Barack Obama academic hub for the study of Alaska Native cultures.
in 2015 when he visited Alaska. She shared with him In 2014, the committee launched the fundraising
her thoughts about the importance of Tribal rights. campaign to build the park and center.
I owe this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet As a ridge where Dene people gathered and
the president to the Tribal management program, watched the landscape, Troth Yeddha offers a
which has opened doors and given me the chance to natural metaphor for UAF.
network with people that I wouldnt have had as the The university, after all, also brings people
chief of a small village, Pitka said. together to study the surrounding world for insight.
Despite such praise, the percentage of Alaska The institutions role is rooted in the legacy of the
Native students who complete a degree is still far too place just read between the lines.
low, university officials say. The Fairbanks campus
has not always felt welcoming, according to some
students. Sam Bishop is a longtime Alaskan journalist, and
The university and supporters hope to change is now a writer and editor at the University of
that and strengthen the overall academic program Alaska Fairbanks.
SUBSCRIBE
check aga
Same dri
It just
more awa
Hand-knitted by over Unique that ther
subscriptions@firstalaskans.org 200 Eskimo knitters Alaskan Gifts
doing the
The R
installed
Exclusive May and
Qiviut garments in Nation
Alaskan village patterns Eight times warmer save 12 pe
It show
Will not shrink than wool time, he
see the bi
education
All th
you cons
equalizati
(907) 677-1700
500 kilow
each mon
first 500 k
21 cents
though, y
per kilow
This
OOMINGMAK
Downtown Location Corner of 6th & H
how muc
month,
approach
Little brown house with musk ox mural
604 H Street, Dept. FAM, Anchorage, AK 99501 Gettin
(907) 272-9225 (888) 360-9665 www.qiviut.com remains a
Of Ala
the defin
Oomingmak FAM AD_4.787x4.787_4C_56754.indd 1 8/29/12 3:28 PM percent o
are serve
:Delivered
While
a year to
Quyanaq, Gunalchesh, Quyansinaq, Quyan, Chinan to: energy so
Donors Team Members lot of fun
efficiency
Board Members Community Members That co
to make
the energ
A special thank you to CIRI for their sustaining vision and themselve
support of our mission for 30 years! If you
languish,
and low f
Heres to many more years of assisting our these effic
people to change their lives through After a
influence
cultural knowledge and education. efficiency
do somet
www.thecirifoundation.org 907.793.3575 Im as
this in ev
A little snow cant stop us, and shouldnt stop you. Minto pla
CONNECT WITH US / 800.727.2141 / www.nac.aero
.aero /
for Protection
gives their communities life.
The Draanjik River region extends from the
Yukon Territory into an undisturbed wildland that
includes 2.4 million acres of public land managed by
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). The vast,
pristine region includes watershed tributaries of
Finding balance for traditional Gwichin land the Yukon River and encompasses the traditional
territories of the Draanjik and Gwichyaa Zhee
By Suzanne Little, Gwichin. In a world where nature is increasingly
The Pew Charitable Trusts diminished and threatened by human activities, the
Draanjik is that rare place with room to breathe. It
looks today much like it did at the end of the last ice
age about 12,000 years ago.
Entirely free from mining, logging, or oil and gas
development, this land matches like a puzzle-piece
with contiguous protected areas across the Canadian
border and is subject to two international treaties:
one for salmon and one for caribou. The intact forest
and wetlands support more than two dozen species
of mammals, including the porcupine caribou herd
that requires large and isolated tracts of intact habitat
above: Photo by Michael DeChant of The Pew Charitable Trusts.
Draanjik region. For nearly a decade the Tribes encour- ` njihtht | Opinion
nts
aged BLM to create a final plan that would preserve
the regions hunting, fishing and harvesting resources,
watersheds and the habitats upon which people depend.
The Tribes have been passionate in defending the tradi-
tional homeland of the Gwichin Athabascan peoples to
PFD Automatic
ensure the lands and cultural resources are sustained
for future generations. Voter
The Tribes have been
passionate in defending
Registration
the traditional homeland of
the Gwichin Athabascan
will Empower
peoples. Alaska Natives
A compromise of 623,000 acres is contained in the
proposed Salmon Fork Area of Critical Environmental Its a simple change, but if we vote
Concern (ACEC) in Alternative E. It is of great concern to
the Tribes to maintain this designation. Over the years,
for this modernized system, every
the Tribal governments have invested their limited Alaskan would substantially benefit.
financial resources and staff to travel from rural villages
to Washington D.C. to educate federal decision makers By Cindy Allred (Inupiaq),
on the significance of the Eastern Interior region and to Get Out The Native Vote
support the Tribally nominated Salmon Fork ACEC to
protect fragile and irreplaceable subsistence and water
resources.
Tribes believe the current plan provides balance
that goes a long way toward fulfilling the BLMs trust to
federally recognized Tribes. The Tribes support BLMs
F ifty years ago, the Alaska Federation of
Natives was formed, creating a powerful voice
for the Alaska Native community. Since its inception,
decision to recommend both the Salmon Fork ACEC and Alaska Native leaders and organizations have
important watersheds remain closed to development worked together to ensure the rights of our people.
through Alternative E. When our community coalesced to take charge of
While the plan does not include all of the protec- our political power in the state, we were able to fight
tions the Tribes sought, the Gwichyaa Zhee Gwichin for ANCSA and pass major federal laws that protect
Tribal Government and the Chalkyitsik Village Council Native interests. Our leaders work tirelessly against
acknowledge the plan is a compromise that strikes an all adversity to represent our community and work
appropriate balance between protection of important together in protecting Native interests on a state and
areas of traditional use in the Upper Draanjik River federal level.
Subunit and development in conformity with the BLMs Yet, when we look at our current Alaska
multiple use mandate. Legislature, we dont see that same cooperation.
The Gwichin people believe they are inseparable Instead, there exists constant conflict, dormancy
from the land because of their sacred connection, and hostility between elected officials that are
because of their sacred responsibility to look after the supposed to represent our interests. Recognizing
land. The Gwichin people want to protect the Draanjik our government is currently in a fiscal crisis, and we
because they are part of it, says First Chief Nancy James do not even have a comprehensive budget passed for
of the Gwichyaa Zhee Gwichin Tribal Government. the year, we cannot sit idly and continue to let this
Without the land, she says, people cannot survive. happen.
Our community has immense power in Alaska
Suzanne Little is a U.S. Public Lands Officer with politics, and countless Native leaders have worked
The Pew Charitable Trusts. to influence policy that protects the rights of
entire Alaska Native register an Alaska resident, if they are eligible to vote
according to state and federal law. New voters will
receive mail that will request them to either declare a
community voted in political affiliation, or opt-out of the voter registration
process entirely. And, traditional paper voter forms
the general election. will still be accepted, if preferred.
Its a simple change, but if we vote for this
Every government modernized system, every Alaskan would
substantially benefit. By using the information from
official would have the PFD application, voter fraud will be even less
likely, due to the PFD Divisions strict fraud detecting
a great incentive to system. Voter registration forms will also become
accurate, as every PFD recipient will have his or her
fight for indigenous voting address updated annually. Also, the State can
reduce bureaucracy and save money, as the majority
rights when they are of registered voters will have their information
submitted electronically, instead of depending
threatened. on clerks to manually process handwritten voter
registration forms. The Division of Elections estimates
that, if this initiative passes, it would register 70,000
new eligible Alaska voters within the first year.
Imagine if the entire Alaska Native community
voted in the general election. Every government
official would have a great incentive to fight for
threatened indigenous rights. We would have a major
impact in voting for representatives that support our
interests, rather than ignoring our concerns. We need
to advocate for policies that will advance the civic
every Alaska Native individual. However, every engagement for the Alaska Native community because
individual in our community should take charge of we hold vital ties to the state. We must to continue
our own political power. Currently, the Alaska Native pushing for simple, effective policies that promote the
community is at a loss for voter engagement: Alaska political voice of the Alaska Native community.
Natives comprise of 16-18 percent of the population, Every election following November should be
yet hold only 6-8 percent of the voting electorate. integral to our lives, as each elected official should be
There are thousands of Alaskans who are eligible a voice for Alaska Native people and our rights. If PFD
to vote but are either not registered or have outdated Automatic Voter Registration passes, our community
voting addresses. Its all too common for Alaskans will have the ability to vote effectively, accurately and
to move around the state and forget to update their often. Vote Yes for PFD Automatic Voter Registration.
voting addresses. According to Get Out The Native
Vote, there are thousands of Alaskans who are Cindy Allred (Inupiaq) has led the Get Out the
registered in rural communities, yet are actually Native Vote initiative in Alaska for many years.
living in urban areas. Additionally, villages outside
of the Railbelt do not have access to common voting
registration sites, such as the DMV. There needs to be
a better way to update voter registration.
We endorse an initiative that will empower the
voting potential for Alaska Natives. This November, Publishers Note: The views of this writer are her
vote Yes for Ballot Measure 1: PFD Automatic Voter own and do not represent First Alaskans magazine
Registration. The initiative will be an easy, reasonable or First Alaskans Institute. This space is for the
update to the voter registration process. When an sharing of viewpoints, meant to catalyze thinking
Alaska resident files for the annual PFD application, and deeper dialogue on important issues that
he or she will also get registered to vote at the impact the Alaska Native community.
In Need of Allies:
Protecting our Ways of Life
We are working to ensure the rights and
concerns of Alaska Native peoples are respected
in relation to our use of marine mammals.
subscriptions@firstalaskans.org
MATTER.
(907) 677-1700
POPULATION 25,000 POPULATION 13,000
Ivory
A carved ivory bear that,
while legally obtained and
carved, will be illegal or
difficult to sell under current
Blues
legislation.
72 shih / FOOD
Autumn Recipes How laws meant to protect African elephants
from Summers Bounty
may end up hurting Alaska Native artists
74 Alaska Grown
Growing food in Alaska is a By Mike Dunham / Alaska Dispatch NEWS
challenge and opportunity
81 A Tribe Called Red Gives
Intense Concert S upposeyou own a sculpture by SiberianYupikartist
BeulahOittillianmade from walrus ivory, whalebone and polar
bear fur. And suppose you bring it toLos Angeles, where someone
83 Etsy and Epic-ness
Inupiaq artist blazes trails offers to buy it from you.
on the tundra, and online Can you sell it to them?
85 Taking a Stand in Once upon a time, the answer from those familiar with art and law
Standing Rock would have been an unequivocal yes. The Marine Mammal Protection
Robert James
knife show trail in the Lower 48, he nia law raises unanswered questions: under existing law.
said. Id spend the entire time argu- How will they enforce it? Who will be While existing federal law allows
ing my case. punished? Under what circumstanc- Alaska Natives to sell traditional ivory
Pardueis not alone. es? he said. I dont know. art, it makes no mention ofdocumen-
We used to do the Marine Show in Neither does anyone else. tationrequired for finished arts or
San Francisco but didnt do it this year crafts. Nor does it address the sale of
and likely never again, said Robert Show your papers legalivory art by one buyer to an-
James, manager ofMaruskiyasof Sen.Gabbardsbill has exemptions other.
Nome.The shop on Front Street car- for Native Hawaiians pursuing tradi- Thousands of walrus ivory figures
ries work by many of the leading ivory tional crafts, though like the laws in and jewelry pieces are sold in Alaska
artists in Northwest Alaska. other states it makes no mention of shops and at craft fairs every year.
Parduesaid he encounters confu- work by Alaska Natives.Gabbardin- Few come with any documentation
sion over ivory from potential buyers. sisted the state law would not override aside from the Alaska State Silver
Tourists get off the boat believing federal law. But when pressed about Hand sticker, often applied to the
misinformation theyve heard from whether ivory art legally made by an price tag rather than the art work
the ivory activists, he said. Ive had Alaska Native could be transported itself. The Silver Hand, used by many
hundreds of visitors walk up to my to or resold in Hawaii, he suggested but not all Alaska Native artists, shows
table and say, I thought ivory was there would be conditions. that the work is by an Alaska Native.
illegal. If the individual is specifically Gabbarddid not specifywhat he
James said the mere speculation authorized to sell the product under thought proper documentation might
about ivory bans has put a damperon theMMPAand can document that au- consist of. He did say that the onus
sales. thorization, they would still be permit- should be on the seller to provide it.
We have seen a downturn in Cali- ted to sell the item, he said. If they Its the responsibility of the seller
fornians buying artwork in the past are selling items without documenta- to show they are compliant with all
couple of years, he said. The Califor- tion, they are selling items illegally state and federal laws, he said. Its
cause some Alaska Native arts and hundred dollars. Sculptures by Su-
crafts to fall outside the exclusions of sieSilookare regularly advertised for
the federal law. $10,000 or more.
The statement advocated encour- These big-ticket customers tend to
agingdialoguebetween the states and consider how much their purchase
the indigenous artist community. may be worth in the future. Will they
If this is not successful, the state- make more when they sell it than they
ment continued, preemptive legisla- spent to acquire it? Will ones heirs
tion could be formulated. be able to liquidate ivory artwork like
any other asset in ones estate?
A year in jail For the time being, Harris, the
State bans on walrus ivory attorney for the Ivory Education
saleshave the potential to reducethe Institute,doubts anyone would be
income received by carvers, especial- prosecuted for buying an ivory piece
ly inroadlessareas of the state. in Alaska and bringing it to California.
Its not like theres a lot of cash in Thought the law is vague about what
these villages, Brown said. constitutes intent to sell, it doesnt
The average per capita annual seem to target simple possession.
income in Alaska is $30,000.InGam- But inside California, Harris said,
bell,SavoongaandToksookBay, the buyer wouldnt be able to sell it.
where several celebrated ivory artists
live, its less than one third of that.
The law defines selling to include
trading, bartering for monetary Autumn
Beyond the villages, the ban could
create headaches and depress sales
for art shops in Alaskas bigger cities
ornonmonetaryconsideration,
giving away in conjunction with
a commercial transaction, or
Recipes from
and tourist hot spots.
Its going to be a nightmare, said
giving away at a location where a
commercial transaction occurred Summers
GinaHollomanof Anchorages Blue.
Holloman Gallery, who often has to
help customers navigate inconsistent
at least once during the same or the
previous calendar year.
So what could happen if you parted
Bounty
laws when they want to ship an art- with thatOittilliansculpture using By Erika Stone (Iroquois)
work purchased from her. any of the above transactions in Los
So much Native art uses material Angeles? Harris cited the penalties in Many Alaskans spend much
from animals that could be deemed at the California law: one year in jail and of their summers hunting,
risk by legislators in one place or an- a fine of $40,000. fishing and gathering local
other that its hard to know where to The art itself will be confiscated. plants and berries. Indeed,
start,Hollomonsaid. She pointed to It may begiven to a museum or one of the benefits of living
a decorated tusk by PeterMayacfrom other authorized repository. Or in this state is the abundance
the1940sor 50s, a whalebone carv- the statemay smash and burn it to of natural foods that are
ing by contemporary sculptor Nick destroy any value of the ivory on the available for harvesting.
Evan and a traditional basket that black market. Spot prawns and halibut are
uses seal blood as a dye. Could happen. But will it? relatively abundant throughout
It could get dicey,Hollomoncon- There are questions, the warmer months, and
tinued. Its going to be a nightmare if wroteMurkowskisstaff. blueberries seem to grow in
it gets enforced. Its a classic gray area of the law, lush patches on every bush.
Most items carved from walrus saidBrown. Autumn is the time to enjoy
ivory in Alaska are miniatures sold Who wants to be the first one to this bounty. Here are some
to tourists. But a small yet important find out? saidHollomon. recipes that make use of a few
part of the market consists of col- of the wonderful foods Alaska
lectors who are drawn to larger and Mike Dunham writes about culture, offers up when the days are
much more expensive pieces of sig- arts and Alaska history for the long and sunny.
nificant artistic merit. A simple pair of Alaska Dispatch News. This article
ivory earrings can cost less than $100. first appeared in the May 21 Erika Stone (Iroquois) is cur-
Larger pieces by BeulahOittillianor issue and is reprinted here with rently studying to become a
FredKingeekukwill cost several permission from the ADN. holistic nutritionist.
Al ask a
GrowN
Growing nutritious food in Alaska is both
a challenge and opportunity
By Erika Stone (Iroquois) / photos by the author
G r ow i n g M i c r og r e e n s at Ho m e
A Tribe Called Red performed at a benefit concert on July 13 in Anchorage. The show incorporated stunning visual
artistry, like indigenous people in pop culture, into the performance. Concert goers filled up the Williwaw in downtown
Anchorage. Photo by Angela Gonzalez
in Anchorage
Native Heritage Center. One of the
organizers, Steven Blanchett of the
Alaska Native Heritage Center, said
getting the performers to come
up to Alaska was five years in the
By Angela Gonzalez (Koyukon Athabascan) making. The planning team from
all three organizations worked
together to pull off a successful
concert.
Concert goers got an opportu-
We Are
nity to get photos taken by Andre
The Halluci
Horton of Dre Foto red-carpet
Nation
style. There was a VIP reception
A Tribe Called Reds before the concert, held at Wil-
newest album, We liwaw in downtown Anchorage,
Are The Halluci one of the citys newest concert
Nation, dropped on venues.
Sept. 16. Concert-goer Carol Wren said,
I went to the concert because I
wanted to hear how A Tribe Called
A Tribe Called Red incorporated Alaska Red blends traditional Native
Native dancers in the performance. songs with contemporary music
Photo by Angela Gonzalez and I loved it! I also enjoy sup-
Etsy and
Epic-ness
Inupiaq artist blazes trails on the tundra,
and online
By Trina Landlord (Yupik)
with talking to Elders. That winter, something happened that initially seemed
unfortunate.
I went ice fishing and tore a muscle in my back. It was
the most painful feeling and the clinic kept giving me pills,
Rainey Hopson Rainey said. In consultation with Elders, she discovered that
alder and willow have natural pain relievers.