Letter to the world from rural Alaska
Alaska Native village hits the media, flashes through the blog world and brings Alaska state officials to the scene
By
Neva Reece, Today correspondent
Story Published:
Jan 30, 2009
Story Updated:
Jan 29, 2009
Earlier this month Nick Tucker of the Emmonak village in the Yukon River Delta wrote a letter detailing conditions for families in his community; he spoke of choosing between food and heating fuel, parents skipping meals to ensure children are fed and borrowing milk for infants one can at a time.
On Jan. 12 his letter was published in the Bristol Bay Times and on the Alaska Newspapers Inc. Web site. It was quickly picked up by bloggers, the Alaska Public Radio Network and the Anchorage Daily News. The bloggers started a fundraising campaign to send reporter Dennis Zaki to Emmonak and surrounding villages to get the story.
In a matter of hours, funds raised through the blog sites not only paid for his trip, but reportedly raised more than $4,000 in additional funds for fuel oil and other necessities. In Anchorage, food was collected to be flown in to the village.
On Friday, Jan. 16, Alaska Department of Commerce and Economic Development Commissioner Emil Notti, a former president of the Alaska Federation of Natives, facilitated a conference call with villagers from the Yukon Delta region and state officials. Several of those officials then went to visit Emmonak and other nearby villages to assess the situation. The officials included representatives from Health and Human Services, DCCED and the state’s Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs. They spoke to villagers and had a community meeting in Bethel.
According to news reports, Tucker and others, the letter was just the most recent of a series of requests and warnings about conditions in the Yukon Delta region where Emmonak is located. A poor fish run, a missed fuel shipment and other conditions have been in play for months and it was anticipated that this year would be particularly harsh. Recently a spokesperson from Notti’s office said that none of the previous correspondence requesting help had been located.
Whether the correspondence reached state officials may be up for debate, but news reports mentioning the impending crisis can be found dating back at least six months. In July KTUU, an Anchorage TV station, ran a story on the poor fish runs and its impact on the Yukon Delta and on Emmonak residents. On July 12 departing Public Safety Commissioner Walt Monegan wrote a letter to state officials asking them to pay special attention to the looming crisis in rural Alaska.
In August, Senator Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, held the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs field hearing in Bethel to discuss burgeoning costs in rural communities. In September, the request for help for rural Alaska came from former Anchorage Mayor (now U.S. Senator) Mark Begich, D-Alaska, and School Superintendent Carol Comeau. In October, the Alaska Federation of Natives passed resolutions requesting the state address the rural crisis.
On Dec. 11, KTUU ran another story, this time on Emmonak’s missed fuel shipment. In part, the report stated, “The icy Yukon River blocked their attempt to barge in the winter’s supply of fuel. The villagers say the fuel they have now will last them until January, at best.” Subsequent fuel shipments were flown into the village at much higher costs.
Though these warnings seem to have gone unheard or unheeded, there is no mistake that Emmonak now has the attention of the state of Alaska, and beyond. Zaki sent video footage that has since been aired on KTUU and the state officials say they are working on solutions. Private citizens and faith communities are extending a helping hand. Food, diapers and other necessities are being shipped in from Anchorage and funds earmarked for fuel costs have been sent to village offices for distribution to those in need. Tara Jollie, the state’s Community and Regional Affairs director has suggested fuel vouchers. And, the Federal Subsistence Board and the Alaska State Department of Fish and Game granted a month-long extension for moose hunts for Emmonak residents.
In a press conference after the state officials’ visit Notti said one difficulty in accessing help for the area is that the income levels are above the federally mandated amount to qualify for federal disaster relief. He said the state is determining whether there may be some flexibility that would allow them to factor in rural Alaska’s unusually high cost of living. In the meantime, the state is making sure village residents are aware of all services available to them and said they will be prioritizing area residents applications for the new state heating assistance program.
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Monica said on Friday, Mar 20 at 12:07 AM
People need jobs more then hand-outs. Unfortunately most have to leave the village to find good paying jobs. As for those who stay in the village any little bit helps, like selling hand craft items in public places.
18296632tanaruk said on Monday, Feb 23 at 6:05 PM
On Tuesday of this week, I became aware that my son his significant other and their 4 children had been out of stove oil for abuot 10 days. He was too proud to call me and finally someone did. I made a call and bought him 30 gallons of stove oil. Price $238, they live in Kipnuk, a coastal village on the coast of the Yukon Kuskokwim Delta region. The same part of SW Alaska as Emmonak. There are no winter jobs, it's tough going for the people of bush AK. Palin helping? Maybe for camera's..........
16979172Yukon Delta-er said on Monday, Feb 23 at 4:03 PM
I haven't seen sh@t yet - and I live in Mountain Village! This is a village just as big as Emmo. Our number of subsistence users is the highest on the Yukon and we have the second largest amount of Commercial Permit holders! Emmonak got 20,000 lbs of food/donations we got 2,000 lbs. Same population and just as dependent on the salmon of the Yukon as any other village!!!
16972287Anonymous said on Sunday, Feb 22 at 11:19 PM
Fuel prices exceed 6.00 per gallon, some remote rural communities pay 10.00 per gallon.
16943297Red Bear said on Wednesday, Feb 4 at 9:07 PM
The Whiteman(Wasicu) cant find an answer to his own behavior. We all suffered for it. When we tell the TRUTH he incarcerates us or persecutes us etc. No More monkeying around...with Grandmother Earth..Red Bear Wilma jo
16030484AIMee said on Wednesday, Feb 4 at 1:55 AM
Is Palin not helping because she is still too concerned with people in the deep South such as Georgia? Perhaps she needs to quit acting and pay attention to people back home.
15972784Helen said on Friday, Jan 30 at 4:09 AM
The communities are getting help now, but it's not from the Palin administration - it's from caring people all over the country.
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