Happy New Year from TCC

Transcription

Online at www.tananachiefs.org
Vol. 36, No. 1
News for Our People
January 2011• The Council • Page 1
Dena’ Nena’ Henash ––Our Land Speaks
A Report to the Member Tribes of the Tanana Chiefs Conference
Happy New Year from TCC
Call to Convention 2011
January 2011
Celebration Potlatch held in Kaltag
By Agatha Erickson, TCC Communications Director and Council Editor
The 2011 Tanana Chiefs Convention and Annual Full Board of Directors meeting will take place on March 14th through the 17th, 2011. The
President will be elected by the Full Board of Directors, with the remaining
seat elections occurring at the Subregional Advisory Board meeting to fill
the following seats (tentatively) on March 12th (more information to come
on this in the future). Elected seats will be ratified at the full TCC Board of
Directors meeting. Each member village will receive a faxed official list of
candidates prior to the meeting.
TCC Executive Board of Directors
President................................................................Three Year Term 2011-2014
Upper-Tanana Subregion.......................................Three Year Term 2011-2014
Yukon Koyukuk Subregion...................................Three Year Term 2011-2014
Other Candidate Openings
TCC Health Board
Yukon Flats Subregion.......................................Three year term 2011-2014
TCC Education Council
Lower Yukon Subregion........................................Three Year Term 2011-2014
Yukon Tanana Subregion......................................Three Year Term 2011-2014
Interior Athabascan Tribal College
Upper Kuskokwim Subregion...............................Three Year Term 2011-2014
Upper Tanana Subregion.......................................Three Year Term 2011-2014
Interior Regional Housing Authority
Seat E....................................................................Three Year Term 2011-2014
AFN Village Representative..................................One Year Term 2011-2012
Time frame for Declaration:
February 3rd to March 4th, 2011
Requirements:
• Officers: must be a member of a member village of the corporation and eligible
to be a village director of a member village (Bylaws Article 5, Section 1).
• Director: Must be a resident of the State of Alaska and an Alaska Native member of a Member Village Corporation (Bylaws Article 4, sections 1&2).
• Employees (with the exception of the TCC President) Employees shall not be
eligible to serve as Directors or Officers (Bylaws Article 4, Section 2)
• Individuals must submit a written letter of intent to declare themselves a candidate for any TCC seat within the declaration time frame. Please mail, fax or
deliver to:
Norma Dahl, Executive Secretary
Tanana Chiefs Conference
122 1st Avenue, Suite 600
Fairbanks, Alaska 99701
Fax: 907-459-3884
Above: Members of the Kaltag Tribal Council, Native American Rights Funds
Attorneys, and the Sam family of Huslia who were the main plaintiffs in the
case.
Celebration Potlatch Held in Kaltag
During the first weekend of November
2010, tribal representatives from Fairbanks, Anchorage, Galena, Huslia, Koyukuk and Nulato converged in Kaltag to
attend a celebration potlatch for the landmark victory in Hogan v. Kaltag Tribal
Council, the US Supreme Court order that
was issued in October of last year. The
case centered on a tribal adoption case between Kaltag Tribal Court and Huslia Tribal Council. The State of Alaska questioned
the authority of the Kaltag Tribal Court to
carry out the adoption of one of its member
children, Natalie Sam, to the Sam family
in Huslia.
Last year, the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals upheld tribal court authority to
protect its child members in Kaltag Tribal
Council v. Jackson. Recently, in Hogan v.
Kaltag Tribal Council, the United States
Supreme Court declined to review the
Ninth Circuit’s decision, which effectively
ended the case and clearly reinforced the
rule that tribal courts have the authority to
initiate and fully adjudicate children’s cases. These cases represent a major victory
for tribal courts in Alaska.
Most significantly, three attorneys
from the Native American Rights Fund
(NARF) who had argued the case were
also able to attend the potlatch. NARF is
a non-profit law firm that represents tribes
and Native issues across the United States.
Natalie Landreth, principle attorney on
the Kaltag case, praised the Kaltag Tribal
Court for their meticulous record keeping
during the progression of the case. Landreth credited the tribal court as the main
reason for their landmark achievement.
“Cases like this are only successful if the
tribe has all the paperwork filled out,” said
Landreth.
The Sam family from Huslia was
also able to attend the potlatch. Hudson
and Selina Sam became foster parents for
Natalie in 2004. In 2006, the Sam’s filed
with the State of Alaska Bureau of Vital
Statistics to legally change Natalie’s last
name to Sam. When the state received the
paperwork, they told the Sam’s the adoption was not valid since Kaltag Tribal
Continued on page 3....
Page 2 • The Council •January 2011
Letters to the Editor
Letter from the Editor
Letters to Editor........................2-3
January 20th, 2011
Happy New Year!
I hope this newsletter finds you in good health
and happiness. 2011 has already proven itself to be a
year of change. There are many things that are in the
process of growth and transformation here at TCC.
Our Health Services, especially with the progress of
the new Super Clinic, has made many exciting steps
forward.
I would like to apologize for the lack of a newsletter for the past few months. I assure you that we
have been hard to work laying the groundwork to
streamline the Communications Department. Camai
Printing, a Native owned printing company in Anchorage, is now printing the Council. We are excited
to be working with them and are happy to be supporting an Alaska Native owned business.
In the next few weeks, we will be rolling out a brand new website design for www.
tananachiefs.org. The new webpage is designed to be a reflection of the Interior and its
people. It will also contain a page that is dedicated to the Council. It will serve as the
Council online, a blog-style online newsletter. Each article will be published online as
soon as we finish it and posted to the TCC webpage with pictures to go with it. Each
article will be linked to the Council Facebook page with an RSS feed. It will enable us
here at TCC to keep our tribal members informed on a daily basis and boost our online
presence (for those who are fans of the print version of the Council, don’t fear, we are
going to continue publishing the print version).
On another note, we are busy here in Fairbanks planning for our Annual Convention.
We already have an exciting and busy schedule in the works. Needless to say, 2011 is off
to a great start. We hope you are as excited as we are. See you in March!
News For Our People..............3-12
The Council is a monthly report to the Member Tribes of the Tanana Chiefs
Conference, in accordance with agreements with the Bureau of Indian Affairs and
the Indian Health Service. Letters to the Editor, other written contributions and
photos submissions are welcome. However, space is limited and program-oriented
news has priority. We reserve the right to edit or reject material. Letters and opinions
are not necessarily the opinions of Tanana Chiefs Conference. Material submitted
anonymously will not be printed. Contributions and questions may be directed to:
Agatha I.Erickson, Editor
Tanana Chiefs Conference
122 First Avenue, Suite 600
Phone: (907) 452-8251 ext. 3570
Toll-free (Alaska): 800-478-6682
(Out-of-State) 800-770-8251
Fax: (907) 459-3884
[email protected]
IN THIS ISSUE
Health Services.....................13-15
Announcements.........................16
Agatha Erickson
Communications Director and Council Editor
Have an Event Occurring During
Convention Week?
Would you like to post your event along with the “Week at a Glance” calendar
of events for Convention week? Contact the Editor at the numbers or email listed on
page 2 to have your event posted for free and well in advance of the convention. Space
is limited and this is a first-come/first-serve offer. The Editor reserves the right to deny
a request based on content or applicability.
Address Update
If you have moved recently and would like to continue receiving The
Council at your new mailing address, please contact to update your
mailing address:
Doyon Shareholder Records
1 Doyon Place, Suite 300
Phone: 907-459-2040
email: [email protected]
Attention All Crafters!
Invitation to participate in the 2011 Annual Tanana
Chiefs Conference Convention Bazaar
Where: Westmark Hotel
When: March 16 & 17, 2011
For more information contact:
Adrienne Edwards at 1-907-452-8251 ext. 3257
Or [email protected]
Anna Maasee’
To the Editor,
November 29, 2010
The Fairbanks Mt. Edgecumbe
Alumni Association would like to extend a
big thank you to the organizations who donated to our fund raising dance during the
AFN convention. We raised $4000.00 to
be divided up among eight Mt. Edgecumbe
graduates who are going to college or vocational training programs next year. Many
of our Native leaders on the state, village
and corporate levels are the products of Mt.
Edgecumbe High School, so we are proud
to offer these scholarships to students to
better our state. Thank you to the following organizations for your generous donations: Doyon Ltd., Boatel Bar, Wright Air
Service, If Only Gift Shop, Warbelow’s Air
Ventures, Pikes Landing, Compeau’s, Boat
Shop, Northern Power Sports, Far North
Outpost, Harley Davidson, House of Art,
Tracer International, Bakery Restaurant,
Springhill Suites, Big Ray’s, Arctic Travelers, Elements, Regis Salon, Brewsters and
Westmark. They are all friends of AFN so
be sure to give these organizations your
business. Special thanks go out to TVC’s
Police Academy for providing security.
Brian Vanderbunt, Scott Stair, Joe Ruble,
Eula Rivers, Kevin Mepsted and Scott
Bandy; you did a wonderful job. Thank
you to the Nenana Unlimited Band for the
awesome music you provided. Thank you
to all the volunteers: Pearl Chanar, Tanna
Carter, Esther Hayward, Peter Captain Sr.,
Mike Evans, Linda Evans, Eileen Grant,
Harley Titus, Millie Evans and James Labelle. Thank you to all the people who attended this dance and made this event a
successful one to provide scholarship money for the students. Thank you from the Mt.
Edgecumbe Alumni Committee members:
Mitchell Allen, Harriet McCotter, Hanna
Carter, Charlie Titus, Ronald Brower, Lula
James, Violet Mayo, and Cora Maguire.
Sincerely,
Cora Maguire
Letters to theNews
Editor
News
for Our People
forand
Our
People
Celebration Potlatch Held in Kaltag
Continued from page 1...
Council did not have the jurisdiction
to make the adoption. In 2006, representing the tribe and the Sam’s, NARF filed
suit against the state in federal district
court. The district court ruled in favor of
the tribe, finding
that tribes have
jurisdiction over
adoption and
children in need
of aid. The ruling
determined that
tribal court decisions are entitled
to full faith and
credit by the State
of Alaska.
Over the past
five years, the
case has worked
its way up through
the State and Federal Court Systems. After the
Ninth
Circuit
Court of Appeals
ruled in favor
of Kaltag in the
spring of 2010,
the state petitioned the US Supreme Court for review.
The US Supreme Court declined to review,
which indicated they were not interested in
the case. Hogan v. Kaltag Tribal Council
is a landmark case for Alaska Native Tribal
Courts because it firmly solidifies Tribal
authority over their own members and their
member children.
At the potlatch, for three hours, tribal
leaders and community members from
Kaltag, Nulato, TCC, Doyon, Gana-A’Yoo
and other attendees of the potlatch made
speeches about the importance of this
case. One theme
that ran throughout the evening
was the strength
of the Sam family
to pursue such a
lengthy litigation
for the benefit of
tribal court sovereignty.
Jerry
Isaac,
TCC
President
spoke about how
this case was important to building the strength
of our tribes and
their
sovereign
ability.
Isaac
touched on the
history of TCC,
noting how far the
tribes have come.
President
Isaac
continued by stating reaffirmation of Alaska Native tribal
sovereign authority from the Ninth Circuit
and Supreme Court brings us hope that we
will be allowed to further the goal of health
for our people because only through being
accountable to our own communities and
institutions such as our tribal courts can we
August 2010
visiting. I gorged myself on snack foods
and tried not to extend my belt notch. We
had a blast playing Yahtzee and Scrabble.
We also told stories and laughed until our
stomachs hurt. The Correctional staff here
was very sympathetic to us as they understood we were a loud and happy family.
The memories of that time I will cherish
forever.
This gathering would not have
been possible without the support of some
wonderful people. To all that contributed
time and/ or resources in helping my family travel down here I thank-you with all of
my heart. And I give a special thanks to:
Annie Kriska, Debra Barbie, Faith Peters,
Kathy Roberts, John and Brenda Ambrose,
Dale and Shirley Honea, Don and Annie
Honea, Orie Williams, Terry Sunnyboy,
Allen McCarty, Rio Smith, Vina Bilow,
Tim Scannell, Shirley Lee, Josphine Roberts, Bob and Leda Dobbs, And Janet Flaherty. Once again I/we thank all who have
helped us with not only this trip, but in our
fight for freedom. You are special people
and may GOD Bless You All!
To the Editor,
Hello, my name is Marvin Roberts and I am an Alaskan Prisoner incarcerated in Colorado (due to over-crowding.)
In 1997, George Frese, Kevin
Pease, Eugene Vent, and I were arrested
and charged for murder. Later on; despite
no physical evidence, we were all convicted in trial.
To this day, like all days, we fully
profess our innocence. Serving time for
something you did not do is a nightmare,
to say the least. There are few joys to be
had in prison; one of them is having your
family visit you. And in the second week of
May I was blessed enough to embrace my
loved ones once again.
My mother Hazel Roberts, Sister
Sharon Tan, Brother Marvin Mayo, and
aunt Dee-Dee McCarty flew many miles to
visit me. Also there on that first day were
my cousin’s; Grace Nakamoto and her
baby Sherman. Grace helped our family
get acquainted with Colorado as she and
her family reside here.
Yeah we had a great week of
Sincerely,
Marvin Roberts
Above: TCC President Jerry Isaac speaks at the Potlatch
Left: Natalie Sam, and NARF Attorney Natalie Landreth
progress as a people.
Natasha Singh, a Stevens Village tribal
court judge and TCC’s General Counsel
stated, “The high statistics of Alaska Native child abuse and neglect make it imperative that tribes have the ability to protect
their children. The state of Alaska OCS is
not funded adequately to address the needs
of our children. Taking care of our own
children is something tribes have done in
this land for thousands of years and in order for our tribes to continue to exist we
must continue caring for our children.”
The night concluded with fiddle
dancing in the tribal hall. Josephine Malamute, TCC employee and Doyon Board
member said of the entire evening, “ It was
good to be in Kaltag to celebrate with everyone for such a momentous occasion.”
TCC would like to extend its thanks
to the NARF attorneys for making it out
to Kaltag to join in the celebration with
the tribe and the entire Sam family. TCC
would also like to thank Doyon and GanaA’Yoo, Limited for helping fund the potlatch and the travel for the Sam family to
fly between Kaltag and Huslia.
GED Program
Available
Now to
Alaska Natives
If you are Alaska Native missing the high school diploma and living
anywhere in the Doyon/Tanana Chiefs Region including Fairbanks or
North Pole, and at least 18, you could be eligible to earn that missing GED
Diploma under the REAL (Rural Education For Adult Learners) GED
program offered by Adult Learning Programs of Alaska. REAL offers all
the necessary GED instruction and do all the testing that you’ll need to
earn the GED diploma. And, they pay all the costs. Your GED will cost you
nothing but your own hard work.
Call Jim today at ALPA 452-6434 X232 or 1-866-452-6434 for
more information about how to apply. This is a splendid opportunity to
earn the missing diploma. You will greatly improve job training and employment and career opportunities, and, at no cost. Call now. Apply now.
News for Our People
Sign up now for the Alaskan Growers School!
By Heidi Rader, Tribes Extension Educator
Have you ever wanted to learn how to
grow your own food? What about raising
chickens or livestock? Have you thought
about starting a small business and marketing Wild Tea or mushrooms? If so,
then this program is for you. The school
is absolutely free! After you complete
the course, you will have the know-how
to grow enough food for your family and
10 other families! It will also provide you
with the skills to explore a variety of other
endeavors such as raising bees, marketing
value added products, and accessing grants
and programs from the US Department of
Agriculture, and starting a small business.
The course is tentatively scheduled to
start in March 2011. The Beginning Alaskan Growers School is 3 months long
and so is the Advanced Alaskan Growers
School. If you complete the course, you’ll
have the chance to attend a week long,
skill building workshop at Calypso Farm
& Ecology Center in Fairbanks with absolutely no cost to you. The course will
be delivered predominately with distance
delivery methods such as correspondence,
online, teleconference, and video conference, but there will also be a class taught
face to face in Fairbanks. When you apply,
you’ll be asked which methods you can
take the course.
For more information or to apply for
the course, please visit www.uaf.edu/ces/
tcc. You can also go to www.tananachiefs.
org where you’ll find a link to the “Alaskan
Growers School.” If you have any questions, you can call Heidi Rader at 1-800478-6822 ext. 3477 or email Heidi.Rader@
alaska.edu. This is a unique opportunity for
you to learn skills that can help you and
your village improve your self-sufficient
lifestyles and for economic development.
Apply NOW as space is limited!
The Alaskan Growers School is a new
program funded by a grant from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA) and the Beginning Farmer and
Rancher Development Program (BFRDP)
Fairbanks Sustainable Agriculture Tour: July 30 to August 13, 2010
By Heidi Rader, Tribes Extension Educator
Heidi Rader, Tribes Extension Educator
and Ryan Maroney, Natural Resource
Conservation Service with Council of
Athabascan Tribal Governments were
both awarded a grant from Western
Sustainable Agriculture Research and
Education to bring in several people from
Ft. Yukon, Ruby,
and Minto. The tour
focused on food
system models that
could easily be used
in a remote village. The first stop
of the tour was the
home of Kathy Bue
(TCC Agriculture,
Extension Program
Assistant) to see
their large livestock
operation. The kids
showed tour participants their rabbits,
chickens, goats,
and reindeer. The
kids are in charge
of raising their own
livestock including
the cost of their care. In the fall, the kids
also reap the benefits by selling some of
their livestock at an auction at the Tanana
Valley State Fair. They participate in an
Extension program called 4H and through
this program learn about leadership,
economics, and caring for their animals,
among other skills.
The next stop was the Agriculture and
Forestry Experiment Station at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Research is
down at UAF AFES on crop varieties, season extension techniques, raising reindeer,
and much more. The goal of this research
is to help Alaskans achieve a variety of
goals whether it is increasing subsistence
food production or
a for-profit farm
operation. Tour
participants especially enjoyed the
Georgeson Botanical
Garden which was
in full bloom and
has a large diversity
of vegetables and
flowers. Next stop
was the Tanana Valley Farmer’s Market
where we ate an
Alaska Grown lunch
and tour participants
picked up some
vegetables to bring
home. Then we
toured three school
gardens at Effie
Kochrine Charter School, Wood River
School, and Upark school. Youth work
during the summer at these school gardens
which feed at least 5 families. Then we
went to the Fairbanks Community Garden
which is composed of 80 individual plots.
Gardeners share tools, a fenced in area,
water, and don’t forget advice! Thanks to
Ginger Placeres for giving us the grand
tour of the Fairbanks Community Garden.
The following day, Calypso Farm and
Ecology Center gave the group a tour of
their organic farm which feeds 60 families. This is a non-profit, educational farm
that is supported by customers, members,
and grants. Calypso Farm raises a large
variety of vegetables and flowers as well
as chickens, sheep, and goats. We also
participated in a composting workshop
which was
geared towards what
is available
in villages
like fish
guts, fireweed, and
leaves. The
final stop
of the tour
was Rosie
Creek Farm
where Mike
Emers gave
us a tour of
his forprofit, Certified Organic Farm that feeds
160 families. The farm is innovative and
makes use of a variety of smart technologies such as drip-irrigation, high tunnels,
landscape fabric, and a tractor which
improves the efficiency of planting.
Thanks to everyone that participated in
the tour, Western Sustainable Agriculture
Research & Education, and to all of those
who gave tours! It was an educational, fun
tour and we hope to do it again next year!
This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service, U.S.
Department of Agriculture, under Award
No. 2009-41580-05332. Any opinions,
findings, conclusions, or recommendations
expressed in this publication are those
of the author (s) and do not necessarily reflect
the view
of the U.S.
Department
of Agriculture. The
University
of Alaska
Fairbanks
Cooperative
Extension
Service programs are
available to
all, without
regard to
race, color,
age, sex, creed, national origin, or disability and in accordance with all applicable
federal laws. Provided in furtherance of
Cooperative Extension work, acts of May
8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with
the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fred
Schlutt, Director, Cooperative Extension
Service, University of Alaska Fairbanks.
UAF is an AA/EO employer and educational institution.
News
People
News for
for Our
Our People
New Employees, New Faces
Cultural Programs Director: Dixie Alexander
Dixie Alexander recently
started working for Tanana Chiefs Conference as the new Cultural Program Director at the Morris Thompson Cultural
and Visitors Center.
Dixie was born in Fort Yukon
and raised with her 12 Gwich’in brothers
& sisters. Her parents are the late Silas Alexander, Sr., of Fort Yukon and Charlotte
Douthit of North Pole. She has one
daughter Rita Jewel who is 30 and
son Silas Walter who is 21 years
old. Over the past 30 years she has
worked with many local business
and organizations as an independent
contractor. You may have seen her
working in the summer months on
the Riverboat Discovery for the last
20 years where she shared our rich
Athabascan history and lifestyle.
Dixie loves to teach and will share
our culture by teaching workshops
like: beadwork, caribou hair tufting,
porcupine quill work, sun catcher,
caribou hair and porcupine quill dying, willow root baskets, quill work
on birch bark, birch bark sewing basket, mask making, moose & caribou
tanning, drum making, doll making,
canvas boots, caribou leg skin boots,
snowshoes, fish skin baskets, canvas
canoe, birch bark canoe, fish wheel,
tool making, carving wood, ivory
carving, racing sled, freight sled, toboggan, gun case and frames for drying furs.
She’d love to hear your thoughts
and ideas, and invites you to contact her
at 907.459.3740, [email protected], or drop by to check out what
TCC has going on across the street at the
Morris Thompson Center.
Quality Management Director: Jennifer Eden
Please welcome
Jennifer Eden
Quality Management (QM) Director. She has
as TCC Health’s new
been working as Information Systems
Quality Assurance Specialist for the TCC
village electronic health record (EHR)
implementation project. While working
on this project, she had the opportunity to
work closely with various departments to
map out current processes and identify ar-
eas where improvements to these processes and patient care can be made.
After transitioning into the QM Director position, and over the next year,
preparing TCC Health for the Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory
Health Care (AAAHC) and Commission for Accreditation of Rehabilitation
Facilities (CARF) will be her primary
focus. As part of this preparation, Jennifer will continue to work closely with
each department to identify and prioritize areas needing improvement in
order to meet the goal of accreditation.
Improving patient satisfaction, standardization of processes and quality of
care will also become priorities for the
QM department. Jennifer has a BS in
Health Care Administration and a Masters degree in Public Health (MPH),
both from Oregon State University.
Her most recent work experience prior
to TCC includes being Interior Community Health Center’s Operation Officer
and Quality Improvement Manager. She
grew up in Eugene, Oregon, and moved to
Fairbanks eight years ago. She spent two
summers previous to her move working
in Denali National park, where she fell in
love with Alaska. Jennifer is looking forward to leading TCC ‘s Quality Management Department, and can be reached at
extension 3181.
Early Intervention Specialist: Gina Pope
Gina Pope
began as an
Intervention Specialist
Early
for the Infant Learning Program on November 17,
2010. She comes from the coastal area of
Southwestern Alaska and has two daughters, Heather and Geneva, both of the
Dena’ina village of Nondalton. Gina recently finished home-schooling her youngest daughter through high school and is the
grandmother of her older daughter’s sevenyear-old. Gina’s parents are Gene Pope of
Kokhanok and Teresa Prince of Old
Pastolik. Her paternal grandparents are
from Ohio and her maternal grandparents are from St. Michael’s and Unalakleet.
Gina fully believes that parents are
a child’s greatest teachers and hopes to
learn much from the families she works
with. She has worked in the field of
early education for 18 years and holds
two bachelor degrees in both elementary and secondary education from the
University of Alaska Fairbanks and an
M. Ed. in early childhood education
from the University of Alaska Southeast. As a state-certified teacher, Gina
hopes to use her skills in education to
support relationships with families and
to provide quality services for children
birth to age three in the TCC region.
Gina moved to Fairbanks to be
closer to the Interior culture, traditions, and families. She enjoys berrypicking, preserving local food, and participating in outdoor activities. Gina was
published in June of 2010 after her stories
written as an undergraduate were chosen
for the book “Purely Alaska: Authentic
Voices from the Far North” (Epicenter
Press) edited by John Creed and Susan Andrews, available at Amazon.com. Gina can
be reached at extension 3176.
Coordination Instructor with the Community Health Aid
Program: Caryn Scott
Caryn Scott recently accepted
a position working with the Community
Health Aide Program. She will be working
as a Coordinator Instructor with
the villages of Ruby, Galena and Huslia as
well as a community Health Center MidLevel Provider for the TCC region.
Caryn moved to Alaska from Eugene
Oregon where she has worked as a physician assistant for the past five years in
private practice. She enjoys outdoor activities such as hiking, camping and snowboarding.
She looks forward to working and living in the interior of Alaska and serving the
TCC region. Caryn appreciates the opportunity to be of service and would like to
thank TCC and the CHAP program. She
can be reached at extension 3013.
News for Our People
Native Business Spotlight: HYDZ
By Ricko DeWilde, Founder and Owner of HYDZ Clothing line
My name is Ricko DeWilde, I am the
founder and owner of HYDZ, a clothing company that strongly emphasizes on
my Native American cultural roots. I am
from the North Fork of the Huslia river,
100 river miles from Huslia, Alaska. I was
raised and schooled by my late mother and
father, Amelia and Lloyd
DeWilde.
They
taught
me everything
from beaver
snaring under
the ice, making
fish nets from
twine, arctic
survival, to the
ability to pass
my correspondence studies
from
k-12th
grade.
In
June
of 2007 my
family had a
memorial potlatch in honor
of our mother
and
fathers
passing. They
both lived a
rich traditional
life and raised
all fourteen of
their kids to do
what it takes to survive in this life. At this
potlatch, I handed out 25 hooded sweatshirts that I had designed in their honor
with the help of Clinton Williams (artist)
and Roger Watkins (graphic designs). My
sweatshirts were quick to grab the interest
and respect from anyone that took a glance
at it. From a large demand of sweatshirt
requests, I decided to sell some at the 2007
AFN event in Fairbanks, Alaska. The sales
were quick, so I continued to pursue more
designs and sales. I named the clothing
line HYDZ because of the fact that animal
hides played such a large roll in keeping
me warm while growing up and ensured
the survival of all Native American people.
In the last three years, being an entrepreneur has been quite the adventure. I have
had times when it seems too tough, but I
continue to try and achieve my dream. My
customers who appreciate the designs and
rock the gear is the greatest reward to me
and keeps me wanting to drive for something great. Some of the toughest things to
me in doing HYDZ, is the legal jungle that
I must learn to navigate through. Trademarks, lawyers and fees, business licenses,
inventory, sorting designs and colors, ordering garments, vendor applications, different state tax papers, advertising, marketing, and communicating with my cpa
are some of this treacherous terrain that I
must navigate through to try and reach my
goals.
Dealing with people and learning who
is the right person to be talking to is key
to my survival in this game. I been approached by several clean cut guys who
run companies
and was promised all kinds of
great rewards if
I would work
with
them.
Several
of
these people
have lead me
on for a couple
of months and
then in the end
when it comes
to cutting a
deal, they want
most of the
company and
want to change
everything that
HYDZ represents. This has
happened to me
twice and both
times it was
hard to accept
because of the
long journey
that I walked
with this person. Accepting this is hard to do, but the best
thing is just to accept that I went the wrong
direction, turn
around,
and
start back over
in the direction
that I believe is
the best destination for HYDZ.
I have been
blessed
with
many
great
people
who
have helped me
over the years
and would like
to thank at least
some of them.
First and foremost I would
like to express
my appreciation
to all the people who have
bought
and
rocked HYDZ
from Alaska to
New Mexico.
Thanks for the
support
from
Clintion Williams, Roger Watkins, Tony
Ward, Tony Delia, Don Shircel, Tanana
Chiefs Inc. Dan the MadHatter, Odin Peter, Patti and Ken Ziegler, Anderson Law
office, Mary Scannel, Erica Meckel, Chalisa Attla, Adeline Folger, Amber Vaska.
I know that there are far more people then I
can list that have contributed, so thank you
too and forgive me if you might feel left
out.
Ta n a n a
Chiefs
has
been a huge
blessing
to
me this year
with support
in sales and
also providing
reliable workers
through
the ASAP program.
They
have provided
me with the
ability to train
employees in
retail, inventory, marketing, etc. This
program
of
Tanana Chiefs
has also provided me with
the knowledge
that is required
to hire and train
my employees.
Especially in
the areas of workmans compensation and
employee payroll. If anyone wants to work
with HYDZ in
marketing, retail,
vendor
shows,
etc,
please feel free
to contact Don
Shircel
with
Tanana Chiefs
Conference.
I
believe
that
anyone
who has a great
idea should not
talk too much
about it, but put
enough
work
into it and test
it. If it seems to
work then give
it all you got
and hope that
it might start
to work out. If
it doesn’t then
just know that
people will respect you for
giving it your all
and no one will hold it against you. I believe that if one is to achieve the ability to
become a successful entrepreneur, there is
no greater reward than this one dream, the
American dream.
My plans for HYDZ right now is to
continue to produce designs that show the
heart of Native American strength, beauty,
and culture. It was very tough for me when
I first moved to
the city from
rural Alaska.
The feeling of
not relating to
the rest of the
world and having to let go of
my accent and
cultural roots
was
almost
overbearing.
I produce my
HYDZ designs
with a tough
and clean representation of
the beauty and
strength of Native American
culture. I take
my designs serious, to show
the world what
has kept our
Native
values and pride
strong
from
our ancestors to
today. At this time I am also gearing up for
the annual Alaska Federation of Natives
arts and crafts show which is October 2123. I plan to do a pow wow or conference
show in Minnesota sometime in September too. Also on my agenda of concerns at
this time, is the coming months of holiday
shopping. I am getting set to invest some
of my capital in advertising to help boost
my websales. Native Peoples and Alaska
magazines are a couple of my targets for
placing these marketing ads.
If you want to see the designs and the
stories on them or shop online, then go to
www.hydzgear.com. I am currently collaborating with the MadHatter and we have
opened up a store in the Bentley Mall in
Fairbanks, Alaska. The MadHatter also
has two locations in Anchorage, Alaska in
the Fifth Avenue and Dimond Malls. Aside
from HYDZ clothing, we also carry a lot
of other designs in T-shirts, hoodies, sweatpants, winter coats, sno-go winter gear,
bibs, helmets, beanies, caps, decals, purses, etc. We are receiving a large shipment
of stock for men and especially women in
different designs such as, Skin, HMK, Affliction, Fox, SRH, Metal Mulisha, Hostility, Ed Hardy, Arctiva, and more.
News
People
News for
for Our
Our People
Henshaw Creek Weir
By Laura LeBlanc, TCC Fisheries Education Specialist
TCC’s fourth annual Henshaw Science a different theme. All themes were tied the end of camp.
on the Refuge using radio collars (telemeCamp was a great success. Based on the together with the idea of cycles and interFish Day was our second day of camp. try). A discussion on wildlife management
feedback from participants, the students dependence within the ecosystem. Elder The activities consisted of fish identifica- was tied back into what the students had
had a great time and learned more about lessons were incorporated with the science tion, the salmon life cycle, setting and learned the previous day at the weir about
their natural world. The elders enjoyed the lessons to strengthen the connections be- checking the net, and a salmon dissection the purpose of fish counting and sampling.
camp and were impressed by the organizaStudents also had a mini-research project
tion and lesson quality. The camp encourthat involved creating a casting of an aniaged sustainability and waste reduction by
mal track and doing research on that aniusing only re-usable dishes, utensils, and
mal using in-camp resources (nature guide
water bottles. The meals were great, the
books and the wildlife section in the Stutransportation was relatively hassle-free,
dent Manual). The information learned
and the lessons were taught with enthusiabout the animal was summarized in writasm and expertise, forming a well-integrating on the back of the track cast and was
ed curriculum.
presented to the elders, instructors, and
The camp is a joint effort between TCC
students at that evening’s camp fire.
and Kanuti NWR, and is funded through
On the fourth day, we focused on fish/
a Cost-Share Agreement (TCC and USgame management and understanding
FWS). Working under the motto “Where
stream health. The day began with a lesson
western science and traditional knowledge
on beaver adaptations and uses, co-taught
come together”, the goal is to create a supby a TCC instructor and Elsie. The stuportive learning environment where elders,
dents then played a fish management game
students, and staff all gain more informain which they discovered the challenges of
tion and greater perspectives of fisheries
the balancing act between managers, subscience, wildlife ecology, fish and game
sistence harvesters, and commercial fishmanagement, and traditional skills. The
ing to achieve annual escapement goals.
camp is offered to 6th-12th grade students
The elders enhanced the students under2010 Camp Participants (L to R): Gary Todd, Elsie Bergman, Kenneth
from the communities of Allakaket, AlatBergman, Daryl Gray, Logan Dugay, Megan Henry, Sarah Henzie, Lor- standing by sharing their experience with
na, Evansville, and Hughes. The camp was
and knowledge of changes in fishing reguraine Solomon, Delores Saunders, Kristin Reakoff, Moe Saunders, Isaheld at Henshaw Creek Weir, upriver from
lations and fish populations during their
bellah Hamilton, Laura LeBlanc, Pollock Simon Sr., Julia Simon, De’von lifetime. The afternoon consisted of lesAllakaket, on July 26-30.
Saunders, Monique Beetus.
This year, we had 7 students, ranging
sons on aquatic invertebrate (bug) collecin age from 8½ to 12 years old from
tion and identification and water quality
Alatna, Allakaket, and Fairbanks. We
sampling to determine the overall health
were privileged to have the company
of the stream.
and teaching of four elders from AllakaThe final evening, we reviewed the
ket (Julia and Pollock Simon Sr. and
lesson topics and activities covered durKenneth and Elsie Bergman). Science
ing camp. The students referred back to
instructors included staff from TCC
their journals to help summarize what
(Laura LeBlanc and Brandy Berkbithey had learned. Each student was then
gler), Kanuti NWR (Kristin Reakoff,
given the assignment to come up with
Allyssa Gabriel, and Mike Spindler),
one or two questions inspired by what
and a volunteer from the Friends of the
had been learned at camp. The quesRefuge (Gary Todd). Delicious meals
tions were written up and combined with
were cooked by Monique Beetus, the
decorations on the Poster of Knowledge
children were well-supervised by chap(which was sent to the Allakaket Tribal
erones Floyd Saunders Jr. and Delores
Office for display). Later in the evening,
Saunders, and efficient transportation
we had a campfire in which the camp
was provided by two skillful boat drivparticipants shared their most memoers, Walter Bergman and Lindberg Berg- Students ready for aquatics studies (L to R): Logan Dugay, Lorraine Solomon, rable camp experiences and the elders
man. This year’s two youngest attendMoe Saunders, Isabellah Hamilton, Megan Henry, Sarah Henzie, Daryl Gray and students told stories. Thank you
ees were Isabella Baker, Brandy’s baby
gifts were presented to elders and staff
girl, and De’von Saunders, 3-yr-old son
and awards were given to each student
of Monique and Floyd Jr.
to recognize accomplishments and deThe students arrived into camp mid- tween traditional knowledge and western lab. Julia and Pollock showed the students fining qualities.
day on Monday, July 26th. They were science. Lessons on the water cycle and traditional fish cutting and drying methods.
We had a wonderful group of kids and
introduced to the instructors, camp rules topographic maps were taught on the first Elsie and Kenneth taught about traditional staff this year. The camp would be even
and systems, and were given their per- day. In the evening, the students learned fish net floats and sinkers. The students better if there were students from more
sonal tote bags. The tote bags contained from Pollock and Kenneth about building a also visited the fish weir, learned about fish villages on the Koyukuk River. If you, or
educational materials including a journal, traditional fish drying rack and Elsie taught counting methods and had the opportunity your students, are interested in attending
Student Manual, Student Workbook, metal them how to make beaded leather pouches. to take scale samples. In the evening, all next year’s science camp, please contact
clipboard, water bottle, and two resource At the end of the evening, the students took camp attendees made fish print T-shirts (an Laura LeBlanc (laura.leblanc@tananachbooks: Alaska’s Wild Salmon by ADF&G a few minutes to write in their journals. annual tradition).
iefs.org) or Kristin Reakoff (kristin_reakand Middle Koyukuk River of Alaska: An For the rest of camp, the students wrote
Day three was our Wildlife Day. Stu- [email protected]).
Atlas of Fishing Places and Traditional in their journals at the end of each day on dents learned about habitat and carrying
Enaa Baasee’ to all the elders, instrucPlace Names by YRDFA. The tote bags a different given topic related to the pre- capacity in relation to moose popula- tors, staff, and boat drivers. You helped to
and included materials (except for the clip- ceding lessons. The journal entries would tions. Mike Spindler, Refuge Manager make this one of Henshaw’s best science
boards) went home with each student.
help each student contribute to the Poster for KNWR, made a guest appearance and camps!
Each day at camp was designed to have of Knowledge that we planned to create at taught the students about tracking moose
News for Our People
OMFRC: Traditional Counselor Program
By Donald E. Charlie, Primary Counselor, OMFRC
Old Minto Family Recovery Camp has
recently hired a new Traditional Counselor.
Steven Ketzler from Nenana, and he hit
the ground running.
The Traditional Counselor position is
a new addition to OMFRC. Clients learn
about the traditional lifestyle from our region in the Interior. This is provided to all
clients who have lost parts or all of their
tradition/culture due to substance use, geographical displacement, attending boarding home schools, and even the addiction
of parents who were not there to teach their
children.
Traditional activities consist of cutting
and hauling wood, hauling water, trapping,
hunting, and learning traditional life skills,
such as making potlatch. However these
activities are not all work and no play. The
Traditional Counselor also provides fun
activities such as Mask making. Not only
is it a fun activity, it also serves as a therapeutic tool. All clients were instructed to
design their masks showing how their lives
evolved to the present time. Each design
has a meaning, for example a tear drop
would indicate a grief period in their life
usually due to a death in the family. Feathers would indicate the number of family
members. The masks had meaning even
to each color. Dark colors would indicate
their lives were down in the dumps while
bright colors would indicate a happy time
in their lives.
This project was a big hit and a huge
success with all the clients and their children. There were children from age 2 – 9
and each participated in some way by help-
ing paint and learning from the class. At
least 3 children made their own masks.
During the second week of treatment
clients present their life story to the group.
They write about their life from their earliest memory to the present time and present it to the group. The therapeutic gain
in mask making is similar to presenting a
life story to the group only this time it is a
visual life story.
Future projects will be sled building,
and making a canoe, paddles, trapping
fur animals such as beaver, marten, mink,
fox, lynx and an occasional wolf to setting
snares for rabbits. All traditional activities are consistent with life as it was in the
old days. The trapping provides food and
money, while making tools and implements
to use while trapping helps clients gain the
self esteem they had lost not knowing how
to trap, make tools such as a canoe, dog
sled and paddles.
Last spring while working as a camp
laborer, Steven built a fishwheel. He acquired the assistance of several clients on
that project as well. While most clients are
Alaska Native some have little or no experience in fishing with a fishwheel. They
Old Minto Family Recovery Camp has recently hired a new Traditional Counselor.
Steven Ketzler from Nenana, and he hit
the ground running.
The Traditional Counselor position is
a new addition to OMFRC. Clients learn
about the traditional lifestyle from our region in the Interior. This is provided to all
clients who have lost parts or all of their
tradition/culture due to substance use, geo-
graphical displacement, attending boarding home schools, and even the addiction
of parents who were not there to teach their
children.
Traditional activities consist of cutting
and hauling wood, hauling water, trapping,
hunting, and learning traditional life skills,
such as making potlatch. However these
activities are not all work and no play. The
Traditional Counselor also provides fun
activities such as Mask making. Not only
is it a fun activity, it also serves as a therapeutic tool. All clients were instructed to
design their masks showing how their lives
evolved to the present time. Each design
has a meaning, for example a tear drop
would indicate a grief period in their life
usually due to a death in the family. Feathers would indicate the number of family
members. The masks had meaning even
to each color. Dark colors would indicate
their lives were down in the dumps while
bright colors would indicate a happy time
in their lives.
This project was a big hit and a huge
success with all the clients and their children. There were children from age 2 – 9
and each participated in some way by helping paint and learning from the class. At
least 3 children made their own masks.
During the second week of treatment
clients present their life story to the group.
They write about their life from their earliest memory to the present time and present it to the group. The therapeutic gain
in mask making is similar to presenting a
life story to the group only this time it is a
visual life story.
Future projects will be sled building,
and making a canoe, paddles, trapping
fur animals such as beaver, marten, mink,
fox, lynx and an occasional wolf to setting
snares for rabbits. All traditional activities are consistent with life as it was in the
old days. The trapping provides food and
money, while making tools and implements
to use while trapping helps clients gain the
self esteem they had lost not knowing how
to trap, make tools such as a canoe, dog
sled and paddles.
Last spring while working as a camp
laborer, Steven built a fishwheel. He acquired the assistance of several clients on
that project as well. While most clients are
Alaska Native some have little or no experience in fishing with a fishwheel. They
learned a lot from that project from cutting
poles, to building the fish wheel, to setting
it up for operation, to preparing and preserving the bounty. This particular project
helps clients restore some of their lost customs. for example. Fishing with a fishwheel is paramount to survival by preserving food for the family as well as for the
sled dogs during the cold winter months.
The Traditional Counselor program
is extremely beneficial to the clients of
OMFRC. The projects offered at OMFRC
help to fill the Gaps in the lives of the Clients who have lost their culture/tradition
due to geographical changes to different
parts of the US for further education, or
Substance Abuse and Drug Addiction.
Youth Gain more than Just Knowledge at the TCC Education Summit
By Rachel Perkins, TCC Youth Employment Specialist
TCC brought in 10 youth from
tribal member villages for the 2010 TCC
Education Summit for the second year in
a row. It was a successful event allowing
the youth delegates to experience and learn
new things. TCC Youth Employment Services (YES) enhanced the event by putting
together a separate agenda which started 2
days earlier, affording youth the opportunity to learn more about various careers.
This wasn’t the usual meeting where they
just sat and listened to speakers, they had
hands-on experiences with 2 tours: one
with the Fairbanks Pipeline Training Academy, and the other with Chief Andrew Isaac
Health Center. They were educated about
being effective leaders and the importance
of role modeling to peers through 2 dynamic speakers: Kailey Jo Erickson (college student) and Alaska State Trooper Jon
Semeon stationed in Anvik. Other activities included workshops in resume-writing
and budgeting, job awareness with Doyon,
and each completed career assessments to
help them identify career pathways.
During the 2-day Education Sum-
mit, youth delegates sat in on meetings The 10 youth delegates were very appreciawhile mingling with Effie Kokrine students, tive of the event, saying they had fun and
leaders, school administrators and teach- some were even sad to return home after
ers. They worked on their public speak- the week. The delegates were impressive
ing skills and gave a short presentation, with their listening skills, though when
answering questions on their views of high asked to speak, they were very much on
school dropthe shy side.
outs.
One
All had deyouth
excided on capressed
he
reers; from a
had already
pediatrician
dropped out
to a Heavy
last
year.
Equipment
He
shared
Operator,
with
the
and most exother youth
pressed interdelegates
est in attendthat it was
ing college
a hard lesafter
High
son learned,
School.
and he is
Youth
Above, Left to Right: Dawn Sims, Alyssa Wulf, Madnow back in
participation
eline Semone – all from the Holy Cross subregion.
school comin the Educapleting his setion Summit
nior year. He has identified a career, which from the TCC YES program has become
is to become a welder.
a trend in recent years, though the rural
school districts often brought in students
on their own in the past. The summit is
a great venue for the TCC YES program
to reach out to more youth, helping them
reach their career goals, and partner with
the TCC Education department.
We hope to continue bringing in rural
youth to participate in future summits.
The next big TCC YES event is the Annual
Convention in March, where youth attend
the meetings, but also participate in activities surrounding job readiness. We will
be recruiting starting January. Applicants
must write an essay and have 2 letters of
recommendation from community members who are not related.
For more information on the
Youth Employment Services, contact Rachel Perkins at: rperkins@tananachiefs.
org.
Youth delegates: Tiliisia Sisto, Tori Carlo
and Darrick Ambrose with TCC Youth Advisor to the eboard, Mike Ambrose (middle).
News
People
News for
for Our
Our People
Honoring a History of Service: Special Award Celebrates
Alaska Natives and the Air Guard
By Victoria Barber for the Arctic Sounder
This article first appeared in the August 2010 issue of the Arctic Sounder. It has been reprinted here with their permission
The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium recognized Alaska Native Air
Guard members with special awards last
month at the Kulis Air National Guard
Base in Anchorage.
“When someone is doing something incredible we don’t often have an opportunity to acknowledge them publicly,” said
Valerie Davidson, senior director of legal
and intergovernmental affairs at ANTHC.
“Alaska Natives are quiet people. Our
villages are so remote people (elsewhere)
often don’t notice that a disaster is happening. But the Air National Guard is always there, without us asking. Whether it’s
flooding or another kind of natural disaster,
we know we can count on them.”
Davidson presented one award to the
176th Wing’s Alaska Native Outreach
Team and another to Staff Sgt. Wanda
Solomon. The Outreach Team is a group of
about 35 Guardsmen and women, the majority of them Native, who travel to villages throughout the state to promote training
and job opportunities with the Air National
Guard.
But that doesn’t make them a typical recruiting team, said Lt. Colonel Travis Penrod, chief of the Alaska Native Outreach
Team. Their goal isn’t so much to increase
the total number of people enlisted in the
Air Guard, he said, but to promote Native
leadership within those ranks.
Alaska Natives have a strong history of
military service, but make up only 2 percent of enlistees in the Air Guard, Penrod
said. So far the Outreach Team has visited
villages in Kodiak, the Aleutians, Bethel
and Kotzebue, the North Slope and Southeast. Since they’ve started, the percentage
of Natives enlistees in the Air Guard has
roughly doubled.
Service with the Air Guard offers jobs,
training and educational benefits, Penrod
said. In return, having more Alaska Natives in the Air Guard can promote a better
understanding of Native culture.
Penrod’s team selected Solomon for the
individual award because “you can’t get
a person who’s more into reaching out to
Alaska Natives than Wanda,” Penrod said.
He said that people in villages are almost
immediately comfortable with Solomon,
a Native woman with a gentle, thoughtful
manner.
Solomon has worked with the Outreach
Team since it formed in 2005. She joined
the Air Guard in 1997 at the encouragement of her father, who had a career in the
Army National Guard.
“He said how much it gave him the
skills and ability to be a leader. And it gave
him honor to serve his people,” Solomon
said, who also has a degree in Business
Administration from University of Alaska
Anchorage.
Solomon is from Kaltag, a Native village of about 300. She says that she’s
noticed youth in villages sometimes are
more at ease approaching her than her colleagues. When they talk with her, she tells
them about what the Air Guard has to offer. Like all the Outreach Team members,
her participation is basically on a volunteer
basis, but she finds it personally rewarding.
“It gets these kids on a good path, and
can be a positive influence in their lives,
a chance to better themselves with skills,”
Solomon said.
But she’s also honest about the hard
1st LT. JOHN CALLAHAN / COURTESY PHOTO
Staff Sgt. Wanda Solomon of the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing accepts an
award from Valerie Davidson of the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in Anchorage, July 18. Behind Solomon is Command Chief Master Sgt. David Streit, the senior
enlisted member of the 176th Wing.
parts about being in the military – like the
possibility they’ll get deployed overseas.
“I tell them, you always know what
you’re signed up for. There was a point
where I didn’t want to go, but they train
you for what you need to do,” Solomon
said. Solomon served in Afghanistan from
2005 to 2006, where she worked as a public affairs specialist and worked with embedded media in Afghanistan.
Solomon said that the military has been
a productive way for her to better herself.
She said she wants people from villages
like hers to know that it’s a path that’s open
to them.
“I want them to see, if I can do it then
they can do it, too,” Solomon said.
Victoria Barber can be also reached at
907-348-2424 or 800-770-9830, ext. 424.
Providing Books for Your Community
For the Joy of Reading
To order books online go to:
www.literacycouncilofalaska.org
LCA is a member agency of the United Way of the Tanana
Valley, and an accepted affiliated of Pro Literacy America
News for Our People
Restorative Justice Circles have arrived in the Interior
By Mishal Gaede, Tribal Court Facilitator
There are changes in the air. We, as
Alaska Native people have a unique perspective. Our membership in our tribes,
gives us a special relationship to each other
as well as those outside of our Tribe. Our
tribal governments have a special government to government relationship with the
Federal Government, as well as with the
state of Alaska.
Tribal Courts have the capability to hear many different types of cases,
such as child protection, adoptions, civil
custody, marriages, divorces, elder abuse,
guardian protection, temporary protection
orders, curfew violations, and other types
of cases.
What happens when there is an
intersection of sorts between breaking
state laws, such as certain types of misdemeanor offenses and our local tribal
government and community involvement?
This is the world we live in today. We are
lucky, in the villages because we all know
each other and we care about the future of
our communities.
Imagine you are a youth; say
around age 20 years young. You are making some choices that are not your best
judgment, you are starting to walk on
the wild side at times and you are getting
caught doing things you know you should
not be doing. The standard state system
is pretty far removed from your day to
day life in the village. When your case, is
heard in front of the Magistrate for let’s say
for repeat minor consuming, or furnishing
alcohol to other minors, do you feel the
presence of your community in that Court
Room? Not likely. You probably have a
public defender you have not met, you are
talking to a Magistrate you may not know,
and your Auntie’s and Uncle’s, your godmother, your grandma or grandpa are not
sitting there with you as you are sentenced
by phone, or in person.
Now imagine a different way.
Imagine that it is your Mom and Dad, your
chief, your godmother, your uncle, or your
grandparents sitting in a circle with you after you broke a law. Imagine the same state
officials involved, but imagine that you
have the opportunity to actually learn from
your mistake, imagine making amends in
a way that is meaningful to yourself, your
family and your community.
Recently, my co-worker, Lisa
Jaeger and I traveled to a community here
in the Interior. We were met at the Airport
and convened with Magistrate Chris McClain from Galena, the Public Defender
– Mr. Biederman and the District Attorney for the State - Mike Gray. The task
at hand: a young man who had 4 charges
in a relatively short amount of time. The
charges included Violating Conditions of
Release, Repeat minor consuming, Contributing to delinquency of a minor (4
counts), and Furnishing alcohol to minors
(3 counts). These types of charges could
have resulted in about 6 or more years in
jail, and some heavy fines for this young
man. His criminal convictions on record
would follow him forever.
These are the types of charges which can
be “sentenced” in a community circle of
justice. There are limitations, such as only
Government Specialist led the Circle and
explained the process to those of us in the
circle. The school allowed about 10 of the
older students to be in the Circle, and there
were other community members. There
were over 25 people in the Circle. As all
Circles are confidential, I can’t go into what
Above: Magistrate McLain at his office in Galena
misdew a s
meanor
said in
o f the
3
fenses
rounds
may go
of sharthrough
ing. I
t h i s
think it
p r o is okay
cess for
to say, a
n o w.
couple
T h e
of obcomservamunity
tions.
actually
First, I
makes
would
recomlike to
Above: Louden Tribal Council Office
mendations
acknowlfor a senedge
our
tence in this type of situation. Magistrate local leaders. When we elect our Chiefs,
McClain is fully behind this concept of in- our Tribal Council members, and our
tervening in a way so that the youth’s fam- Tribal Court Judges, we are asking a lot of
ily and community can have an impact on our leadership. There are many demands
the youth and hopefully influence him, or placed on them. This opportunity adds
her in such a way that he will make posi- an additional layer, but I think we can all
tive changes in life and continue on a good agree, is well worth the effort, time and enpath.
ergy it takes.
The Circle was set up for 1:00 p.m. The
Despite the many different demands
community was aware of the upcoming made on the local leadership; in this siturestorative justice circle, or sentencing cir- ation, they backed up their community and
cle. The Magistrate entered into the court the Chief and another Council member
record the Defendant’s charges and then were in the Circle. The circle is a powerful
he recessed (he turned off the tape: which thing. There are elements of a circle which
is off the record) as Lisa Jaeger, Tribal we as human beings have no control over; I
believe this to be a spiritual realm. That is
okay though, as we are made up of physical, spiritual, emotional and mental dimensions. When we are looking at restoring a
person to balance, we have to look at all of
these dimensions. We are trying to create
an opportunity for a life changing moment
in which balance and some order can return to the person and his or her family as
well.
This particular circle accomplished the
goal of helping to create a “way out” for
this young man. He has numerous things
he will need to do, but the Judge is allowing a SIS, Suspended Imposition of Sentence and if he adheres and does everything recommended to the Magistrate from
the Circle, a year from now, his record of
these charges will be wiped from his criminal record. After the Circle was complete,
Magistrate McClain went back on the record and agreed to the Circle recommendations, he then read the details of what the
Defendant will need to accomplish in the
next year.
This process is very emotional. I have
always heard and believed in this process,
but to see it happen with the state’s “blessing” in such a way that a young man can
actually find his way out and get on a good
path; that is priceless! It is not something
to be rushed, it takes time to talk things out
in a Circle. The benefit of choosing a Circle to help restore one young person’s path
to their future is worth every commitment.
I am very encouraged to see a
person such as Magistrate McClain who
works for the state of Alaska judicial
system who is as enthused and “gets” the
concept and the resulting impact as restorative justice. It is also refreshing to see the
tribal leadership and communities such as
Tanana, Huslia and Nulato believe in this
process as well. You must be proud, as Native people, as communities who truly care
about our young people, and their ability to
change and to learn from mistakes of their
youth. This “way out” is an opportunity
that is not easy, but is beneficial because it
makes for a stronger youth, a stronger family and stronger community.
I will conclude with some words
of encouragement from Traditional Chief
Peter John from Minto: …Same thing with
the tribal court. That came in long before
white people. The court brought everything out in the open, before the people.
They talked to the person making trouble
right in front of him. They just talk. As
peaceful as they can. The Indian way is to
have respect for one another.
Please contact either, myself at Extension 3273, or by email: mishal.gaede@tananachiefs, or Lisa Jaeger by email: lisa.
[email protected] if you would like
more information about restorative justice
circles.
News
People
News for
for Our
Our People
Elders and the Mature Alaskans
Solar Electric and Solar Hot Water
Seeking Skills Training Program
Systems Installed on
By Tom Howard, MASST Program Manager, Adult Learning Programs of
Nenana Recreation Center
Alaska
By Dave Pelunis-Messier, YRITWC Energy Director
The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Watershed the system is the use of new Enphase™ miCouncil’s Energy Department, in partner- cro-inverter technology. Using data-overship with the Nenana Native Council and AC-wave-communication, the Micro-inthe City of Nenana, has installed a 4.4kW, verters allow each individual solar panel’s
twenty panel solar array and a 2-collec- energy production to be monitored. Using
tor solar hot water system on the Nenana the building’s Ethernet connection, this
Rec Center. The project also consisted of information is then uploaded to the world
retrofitting the building’s existing heat- wide web and is visible to the general pubing system to lower fuel consumption and lic at the following site:
completing small weatherization upgrades
http://enlighten.enphaseenergy.com/
to increase overall building efficiency.
public/systems/BTcD7969 .
The need for the project surfaced when
YRITWC staff is working with the Nethe YRITWC learned of the utility costs nana School to involve science classes in
at the Nenana Recreation Center, which monitoring the solar production of these
are paid by the Nenana Native Council panels.
and the City of Nenana. The Rec Center
The third stage of the project was the
houses Nenana’s Head Start Program and installation of two Heliodyne™ hot water
a youth center which is open to members solar collectors. The collectors use energy
of the community and students at the local from the sun to heat domestic hot water
boarding school. Since its construction in through a heat transfer system. The panels
2007, the building has used over $42,000 can heat domestic hot water in the buildin heating
ing’s indifuel and
rect fired
$14,000
hot water
in elecheater up
t r i c i t y,
to 150ºF.
placing
We hope
a
large
that
by
burden on
using enboth the
ergy from
Native
the sun to
Council
heat the
and the
building’s
city
of
hot water
Nenana.
supply
When
instead of
it
was
heating
Above: Nenena Elementary School students
constructed
fuel, signiflearning about solar energy
in 2007 the
icant cost
design of
savings can
the building’s heating system did not al- be attained.
low occupants to control the temperature
The Yukon River Inter-Tribal Waterin individual rooms, which helped account shed Council is an Indigenous grassroots
for the high fuel usage. Some rooms - in- organization, consisting of 70 First Nations
cluding the exercise room which - were too and Tribes, dedicated to the protection and
hot to use and doors and windows were fre- preservation of the Yukon River Waterquently left open in the spring, summer and shed. The YRITWC accomplishes this by
fall to cool down the building.
providing Yukon Territory First Nations
In the first phase of the project, the and Alaska Tribes in the Yukon Watershed
YRITWC plumbed in 12 zone valves and with technical assistance, such as facilitatinstalled 10 corresponding thermostats in ing the development and exchange of inrooms throughout the building to give the formation, coordinating efforts between
Center’s staff the ability to control each First Nations and Tribes, undertaking reroom’s temperature.
search, and providing training, education
In the second stage of the project, a and awareness programs to promote the
twenty-panel photovoltaic array was in- health of the Watershed and its Indigenous
stalled to curb electricity costs. The sys- peoples.
tem is capable of producing 4.4 Kilowatts
The YRITWC Renewable Energy Deof electricity for use in the building and is partment was established in 2008 in an
hooked up to the local GVEA grid, which effort to address the energy challenges of
allows excess power to be sold back to the communities in the Yukon River waterutility during the summer when building shed.
occupancy is low. Adding to the value of
Cora worked most of her life in physically demanding jobs and now has a full
time office job for Tanana Chiefs Conference (TCC). Tim just wanted a steady
maintenance job and now he’s doing just
that at TCC. Daisy worked for years on an
Air Force base as a commander’s secretary using typewriters and dial telephones.
She is now gaining the skills necessary to
function in an office with computers, fax
machines, copiers, scanners, and high-tech
phone systems.
These are typical circumstances of seniors/elders involved in the MASST program. MASST stands for Mature Alaskans
Seeking Skills Training. The MASST program, federally known as the Senior Community Service Employment Program,
provides training and part-time paid work
experience opportunities for low-income
individuals age 55 and older. The program
helps Alaska retain the valuable resources
of older workers while enabling older
workers to maintain an independent lifestyle and make meaningful contributions
to their communities. The program also
assists mature Alaskans with skills training, job search and placement into unsubsidized employment.
In Interior Alaska, the MASST program
is administered by Adult Learning Programs of Alaska a non-profit communitybased organization that has provided adult
education services to Fairbanks and Interior Alaska continuously since 1975. Adult
Learning Programs of Alaska has been
awarded the MASST grant by the state of
Alaska since 2001.
People over 55 have many highly
sought-after skills, and their work ethic is
unparalleled. They are dependable, reliable, and enjoy being a productive part of
the work force. Mature Alaskans receive
their skills training primarily by working
in community host agencies. Host agencies
are community service assignments in public or non-profit agencies such as hospitals,
senior centers, units of local government
and Native American and tribal organiza-
tions. While placed in host agencies, older
workers expand their skills and at the same
time earn income. In addition, the MASST
program utilizes Adult Learning Programs
of Alaska’s many adult education resources such as computer classes, reading, writing, math, GED preparation and testing,
resume writing, and interview workshops.
Many older workers find computer classes
extremely beneficial to prepare them for
work in today’s computer-driven businesses.
Once a person is determined to be eligible for MASST, their employment goals
are discussed. It’s good to know what
people have done for work in the past and
what they would like to do in the future
and it also helps to make a good match for
the host agency. The trainee is then placed
in the host site to work 20 hours a week,
and they receive Alaska’s $7.75 minimum
wage for those hours (rural areas receive
$10.75). The program is a win-win situation: qualified agencies and corporations
have temporary employees helping them
while at the same time mature Alaskans receive skills training and eventually go on
to get jobs.
Right now the MASST program has
many training/job opportunities in Native
organizations especially here in Fairbanks.
The Tanana Chiefs Conference, Morris
Thompson Cultural and Visitors Center,
and Denakkanaaga all have very interesting and exciting training/job positions
for Elders. The MASST program is also
interested in helping Elders re-enter the
workforce in Native Villages throughout
Interior Alaska.
If you are an Elder wishing to help your
community while at the same time gaining
valuable job skills call Tom Howard the
MASST Program Manager located in the
Tanana Chiefs Conference building. His
number is 452-6434 extension 223. Nonprofit agencies, Native organizations or
government entities should also call those
numbers to find out how MASST trainees
can assist their agency.
News for Our People
Frequently Asked Questions:
Student Spotlight: Ashley JamesTribal Enrollment
Woods
By Debbie Mitchell, Tribal Enrollment Specialist
I am already a shareholder in Doyon,
Limited, isn’t that good enough?
Many people confuse Tribal membership with being a shareholder in an Alaska
Native Regional Corporation. A Regional
Corporation such as Doyon, Limited is a
for-profit corporation that is very different
from a Tribe.
What is Tribal membership?
In Alaska , Tribal membership most often refers to being a member of a federally
recognized tribe. There are 229 federally
recognized Tribes in Alaska , 37of which
are in the TCC region.
Why should I be Tribally enrolled?
Proof of Tribal membership is required
for many services that might be available
to those of Alaska Native heritage (Indians, Eskimos, Aleuts). Some examples are
childcare assistance for working parents, to
register at an Indian Health Service Clinic
or educational grants or scholarships.
How do I become Tribally enrolled?
One can apply to the Tribe of one’s parents or ancestors. In Alaska , the Tribe is
in the village where the relatives are from.
Can I be enrolled to more than one
Tribe?
Sometimes. Many Tribes in the Tanana
Chiefs Conference region allow dual enrollment. Most all Tribes allow dual enrollment for minor children under the age of
eighteen if they’re eligible to be enrolled
to both Tribes.
Is there a minimum Alaska Native
blood requirement for Tribal membership in Tribes in the TCC region?
Most Tribes in the TCC region do not
have a minimum Native blood requirement.
What proof is required with the application for Tribal membership?
An original or certified copy of an original birth certificate is the preferred proof of
parentage. An original baptismal record is
also acceptable proof of parentage.
Is having a CIB card sufficient proof to
participate in programs?
A CIB card is a certificate of degree of
Indian blood, available from the Bureau
of Indian Affairs. To participate in some
programs a CIB card is all one needs if the
only requirement is to show Alaska Native
or American Indian heritage. An example
of this is an after school program intended
specifically for Indian children. In other
situations, proof of Tribal membership is
mandatory, i.e. for childcare assistance.
What tribes does TCC’s Tribal enrollment office provide services for?
How long does it take to get a response
once an application has been sent to the
TCC tribal enrollment office?
Tribes review applications for membership at monthly Tribal council meetings,
so it depends on when the council office
receives the applications. Response time is
usually two to four weeks.
My name is Ashley James-Woods, from gained. The continual desire to learn and
Manley Hot Springs. I am the daughter of explore will indeed aid me to confidently
Virginia Rose Woods
address the issues for
of Tanana, Rampart,
what I believe in. This
Manley Hot Springs,
I believe gives me the
and Dwayne James
opportunity,
which
of Fort Yukon, Alaswill enable me to
ka. My grandparents
work harder to reach
are Walter and Judy
my goals.
Woods of Rampart
I am pleased to inand Tanana, and Maform you that I have
cArthur and Jesse
been selected to attend
James of Fort Yukon. I
The George Washam from the Koyukon,
ington
University’s
and Gwich’in AthbasSemester in Washingcan tribes of Interior
ton Politics as a parAlaska.
ticipant in the Native
I will pursue my
American
Political
education in studying
Leadership Program
for a Political Science
for the Spring 2011
degree by first attendSemester. The full tuing Paradise Valley
ition award will cover
Community College in
Above: Ashley in front of the the costs for the two
Phoenix, Arizona, and
core
SIWP/NAPLP
Washington Monument
then transferring to a
courses and an Internuniversity in Alaska
ship Seminar.
to attain a Bachelors
I am looking fordegree in Political Science. My long-term ward to the internship and the networkgoal is to work for tribal governments and ing events that takes students behind the
Corporation in Alaska.
scenes in Washington, D.C. during the
I believe becoming a leader and tak- many site visits. In addition, I know there
ing part in political affairs in my state will will be a array of perspectives on career degreatly benefit my generation and the fu- velopment, as well as tips on networking,
ture of Alaska. I know it is vital to gain ex- resumes, and job searches.
perience beyond my community and strive
It is truly a blessing, and an experience
to attain my maximum potential in order to of a life time!
give back and share the knowledge I have
Anaa Baasee’,
Ashley
Student Spotlight: Lonnie Dorton
My name is Lonnie Dorton and I am
14 years old and a freshman at Walter
Northway High school. I love to read, play
basketball and I love surfing the internet. I
have 3 other siblings, Kenneth 26, Jennifer
18 and my little baby sister Abigail 3. My
family is from Northway and Tetlin. I have
learned to cook at a very young age, my
mom always taught me how to cook different meals and I also love to bake. I am
more of a “natural” person so I would love
to someday own a restaurant that serves
nothing but healthy, naturally grown ingredients from Alaska.
I attended the Agricultural Conference
in Las Vegas Nevada on December 6th
through the 10th. The focus of this conference was food in our agriculture. We heard
testimonies from different American Indians who grow their own fruits, vegetables
and farm their own animals such as cows,
pigs and chicken. In today’s food market
there are so many dangerous things that is
added to the food in order to produce for
the highly demanded items. Cows are in
high demand for the steaks, pigs for their
bacon, ham and pork chops, chickens for
their eggs and fruits and
vegetables of all kinds.
In today’s society we
find that our foods are
injected with steroids
and pestisides.
I live in a small community and the closest
store that provides all
of the necessary items
is 50 miles one way. I
know they don’t purchase their goods that
are “organic” grown.
It’s all farm grown. The
little convenient store
that we do have has only
quick grab items such
as soda, juice, chips,
some frozen items like
ice cream, frozen meats
and just a few produce items like lettuce
and tomato. Your bare essentials like milk,
bread and eggs. The closest organic option
food market you have
is located in Fairbanks
which is 250 miles one
way from Northway.
In my community
with the short summers
and long winters it’s
impossible to grow our
own food. We can do
pigs because they only
have to have six weeks
before they are butchered but cows and other
animals take much longer. You can get many
things from one pig:
bacon, pork roast, pork
chops & ham.
Vegetables can be
grown in the summer
here in Alaska if you
had a green house to shelter from the cold
if it gets to chilly. If they are planted in the
ground it’s more of a chance for the veggies to freeze. You can grow leaf lettuce,
tomato’s, carrots, zucchini, cucumbers,
potato’s and green onions are a few of the
most popular here in Alaska.
Since it is impossible to harvest all of
these items and eat them we usually can
our veggies. This keeps them fresh until
we are ready to use them. We don’t have a
market to buy “organic” grown meat so my
family relies totally on subsistence wildlife. We eat moose, caribou, rabbits, muskrats, grouse, ducks and fish. We salvage
our wildlife and freeze them or can them.
I learned a lot at this conference because I had no idea of how many agricultural grants there are and who can apply
for them. This makes it especially nice for
the American Indians who grow their own
animals and grow their own vegetables.
Anything you can grow that is not steroid
or pesticides fed is better for human consumption.
News
People
News for
for Our
Our People
The Great American Smoke-Out 2010
A Special Thank-You!
I wanted to send out a very special Thank-You and recognition for those who
helped make the Great American Smoke Out Health Fair a huge success!
Tobacco continues to be the leading cause of preventable death among our
Alaska Native Population. Providing Tobacco education and resources to quit
tobacco use to our patients and TCC employees is crucial to the fight to decrease
the burden tobacco has on our culture. Each one of these outstanding employees
did their part to help change the social norms around tobacco use and provided
education during the GASO Health fair!
Dental-
Ooyuan Nagarak
Barbara O’Donnell
Monica Rueben
Dr. Bird
Diabetes & Nutrition –
Amber Jordan
Adrienne Stanley
TCC Fitness Center-
Bill Miller
IS Department –
Faith Walsh
Employee Health/Infection Control-
Christine Malone
WIC Department-
Ginger Jenkins
Colleen Rein
Julie Kriska
Women’s HealthHeather Harvey
Jeannette Johnson
Behavior Health/Prevention
Medical Records
TCC Administration
Sharita Lewis
Liz Wiedmaier
EJ Moore
Shellie Severa
Melanie Brenner
Eliza Winfrey
Prize Donations!
Tanana Chiefs Conference also had the pleasure to collaborate with other
agencies and individuals from the Fairbanks community. Those agencies and
individuals include:
Kindred Spirits Massage Therapy
Acutribe Community Acupuncture-
Stephanie Maggard
Fairbanks Memorial Hospital-Respiratory Therapy-
Dan Caponera
Also, a special Thank you to Cliff Joseph and his facilities crew for providing
tables for the health fair and to Jonas Poncho for helping with general assistance
during set-up and throughout the event!
Also a special thank you to our GASO planning committee members who
helped to plan all the festivities! Those members include:
Melanie Brenner, Billie Brownlee, Lilly Sommer, Ginger Jenkins, Cathy Dimon, Jeannette Johnson, Christine Malone, Heather Harvey, Shellie Severa, Faith
Walsh
Your time and assistance was greatly appreciated!
Health Services
TCC Fitness Center Member of the Diabetes Corner: Eating Too Few
Month: Yvonne Hayward
Calories While On an
of getting healthy into a realExercise Program
ity!!
Thank you TCC Fitness Center for
nominating me for Member of the Month!
Getting healthy was something I’ve always
dreamed of but finally making it a goal was
the best decision I could have made. It’s
been just over a year since I started working with Bill & Adrienne thru the TCC
Diabetes Program, & thanks to them I’ve
seen many positive changes in my overall
health. By putting the things they’ve taught
me into practice has totally turned my goal
Tips to stay healthy this Flu
season:
Influenza is a virus that is easily transmitted from one person to another through
airborne secretions. The flu is characterized by symptoms such as runny nose,
cough, fever, sore throat, muscle aches,
and headache. Flu season peaks during
late winter and early spring, and while
most adults recover from the flu in one to
two weeks, the very young, very old and
those with compromised immune systems
can develop serious complications. Each
year, according to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), influenza
causes more than 100,000 hospitalizations
and more than 20,000 deaths nationwide.
Here’s what you can do to help yourself
Although its been a challenge to get to the gym regularly, the results are worth
it! Since my initial visit 13
months ago, I’ve lost 48 lbs,
22.5 inches & gained a lot of
strength due to working out
3 times a week along with
doing cardio 5 times a week.
Just in the last three months
my cholesterol went from
213 to 183 , my LDL went
down 16 pts & my HDL went
up 4 pts. My triglyceride level went from 154 to 65!! I’ve
also been able to stop taking
1 of 3 high blood pressure
medicines & if I loose 10
more pounds I can get off the
other two, doctors orders, so
this is my next goal!
To help me make smarter
food choices, I recently attended an 8 week program
called the Full Plate Diet put
on by the CAIHC Dietician
staff & learned how important a fiber rich
diet is. Choosing a healthy life-style by
watching your diet goes hand in hand with
regular exercise & that’s why I highly recommend taking advantage of everything
TCC has to offer when it comes to your
health. After all, your worth it! Thank you
Bill & Adrienne for all the encouragement
& knowledge you’ve shared with me over
the last year, I truly appreciate it!
By Amber Jordan, Diabetes Program Coordinator
The most effective way to lose weight
is create a negative energy balance or consuming fewer calories then you burn on a
regular basis. However if your calorie intake is to low your body will sense this
and will promptly go into “starvation mode” meaning that
your body will hold onto
whatever body fat
you have. Your
metabolism will
slow down considerably meaning
the ability for your
body to burn calories
will drop.
While on an exercise
program you are further
putting your body into a
negative energy balance which
will compound the effect. When
you are at this stage you will notice that
your weight will come to a standstill, you
will feel lethargic and sluggish with very
low energy. The end result usually ends
up with the individual going back to their
past eating habits while ditching their exercise routine usually due to feeling lethargic. With the body’s metabolism at an all
time low and by immediately consuming
way more calories then the body will burn,
body fat accumulates to where you put on
more body fat then when first starting the
low calorie diet and exercise program. This
can result in what is called “the yo-yo effect.”
So, that being said, how do you go about
exercise on reduced calories. You should
set a goal of losing 1 to 1.5 pounds of body
fat per week. A great way to measure this
is to start by getting a body
composition test to measure
lean mass against fat
mass. This can be
done at the TCC
Fitness Center located downstairs
in the Chief Peter
John Tribal Building. While exercising and watching your nutritional
intake you want to
achieve a negative
energy balance of no
more then 500 calories
per day. After 4 – 6 weeks
recheck the body composition to
make sure that you are not losing lean mass
(muscle) while you are losing body fat. If
you are losing lean mass then most likely
you are burning more calories then wanted.
If that is the case then slowly increase your
calories through lean protein and complex
carbohydrates.
Bottom line is when you cut calories
so low that your metabolism slows down
to where you stop losing weight you will
become frustrated that your efforts are not
paying off. This can lead you to overeat
and ultimately gain weight.
and others stay healthy:
of taking a once-daily multi-vitamin.
20 seconds) before eating, after sneezing
or coughing, after using the bathroom,
etc. When soap and water are unavailable,
make use of hand sanitizers.
Stay healthy: Get plenty of sleep.
Rest is important to be able to better ward
off infection.
Manage stress: Our health becomes
more susceptible when under stress, so
manage and control stress with care and
attention.
Stay active: Exercise is a great tool
in maintaining and sustaining our health.
Take a multivitamin: Get into the habit
ter with a well hydrated body fueled with
good nutrients. Foods rich in Vitamin C
(berries, citrus, cabbage, broccoli, etc.),
Zinc (meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, cheese,
milk, peanut butter, etc.), Beta-carotene
(pumpkin, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, spinach, etc.), Omega-3 fatty acids
(wild salmon or other fatty fish) are helpful
in boosting the immune system.
Get vaccinated: Getting a flu shot is
a good idea for most people. The flu vaccine contains killed viruses that stimulate
your body to make antibodies. According to the CDC, the flu vaccine is 60-90
percent effective in preventing the flu in
healthy adults. Check with your health care
provider to see if it is right for your situation.
Drink plenty of fluids and eat
Wash your hands: frequently (15- well: Our immune systems function bet-
Avoid close contact with people
who are sick: If you are sick or have flu
or cold symptoms, be considerate of others and stay at home. Observe the 5-foot
rule by keeping a distance of at least 5 feet
from others who are coughing and sneezing.
For more information, visit:
www.flu.gov
Stay healthy and well this Flu
season!
News
for Our
People
Health
Services
Quitting tobacco for New Year’s!
As the New Year begins, lots of people
are making a resolution to quit tobacco. If
you are planning to stop using your tobacco at the beginning of this upcoming year, the trick is to start
planning as soon as possible! Planning a head
will be key to the
long term success
of quitting tobacco
use.
The Alaska
Tobacco Quit Line
can help you do that!
You can call them at
1800QUIT NOW or
use their web enrollment at www.alaskaquitline.com.
When you are thinking about
quitting tobacco, it is important to re learn
life without tobacco. Nicotine actually
changes your brain, making it harder to
quit. Plan ahead and think about how you
can handle stress differently, what you can
do while you are driving or how to finish a meal without wanting to
use tobacco. These are
called triggers, the
quit coaches at the
Alaska
Tobacco
Quit Line will
help you to make
a plan for these
events.
We know that
quitting is not a
walk in the park and
the stress of the holidays can make it even
more difficult. When times
get tough, remember one thing:
you CAN do this! With the Alaska Tobacco Quit Line and a plan, you will be on the
road to success!
TCC Mourns the Passing of
Dr. Bill James
Tanana Chiefs Conference joins Fair- after 44 years of serving Alaska and the inbanks and the interior in mourning the pass- terior in 2003.
ing of Doctor William “Bill” James. Dr.
TCC Health Services continues
James passed away on August 30th, 2010 to honor Dr. James by having an award
surrounded
named
after
by family and
him. Every year
friends after a
the TCC Health
subdural heServices
Demotoma and
partment staff
complications
will nominate
resulting from
an employee for
chronic lypmthe “Dr. James
phcytic leukeAward”. This is
mia.
the highest TCC
Dr. James
Health Services
had a long
award and is
history workpresented to a
ing within the
deserving staff
interior
and
member each
with Tanana
year at the NoChiefs Confervember Health
ence.
OrigiGeneral Staff
nally
from
meeting. The
Above: Dr. James with Mary Jo Reynolds, award
Warren, Ohio,
speDr. James first
cifically recogat the TCC Health Service Awards in
came to Alaska
nizes someone
2009.
in 1959 and
who is “hard
in 1960 began
working and
work in the old Tanana Hospital. During confident”. Dr. James has been participathis long career he worked all over Alaska ing in this ceremony since it began in 2007.
in many villages and in Fairbanks. Dr.
TCC mourns the loss of a good friend
James became a Tanana Chiefs Confer- and colleague. His hard work and memence (TCC) employee when TCC took ory here will not be forgotten. Our hearts
over the Alaska Native Health Service go out to his family and all of his friends,
Clinic in 1984 and renamed it the Chief many of whom are right here at TCC. He
Andrew Isaac Health Center. He retired will be missed.
Tanana Chiefs Conference will be hosting a
“Suicide Prevention Summit”
February 18th, 2011
At the David Salmon Tribal Hall
The purpose of this meeting is to gather
Tribal input to address the devastating suicides that are occurring. We will review
and initiate short and long term suicide prevention plans for the Interior. These meetings will be open to the public.
For more information, please contact Susie
Frantz at [email protected]
Congratulations to the TCC Health
Employee Award Winners:
Announcements
The Council on
The Council is now on Facebook! Here is the link to the Council
Facebook webpage:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-CouncilNewsletter/139784249125?ref=nf
Become a fan and invite your friends to become fans. Stay
updated with all that is happening at TCC through posts, event
listings and photo uploads!
2012 Calendar
The 2012 calendar is underway! The deadline to submit photos is:
October 1st, 2011.
Submission Guidelines
Digital photo Requirements:
Image quality must 200 dpi/resolutions
4x6 in size
Hard copy Requirements:
4x6 in size
Return Address
Include caption (name and event)
Your phone number
Mail your hard copy photo to:
Agatha Erickson
Tanana Chiefs Conference,
122 First Avenue, Suite 600
Or email your photo to
[email protected].
Tanana Chiefs Conference reserves the right to reject any photo and will
if the dpi/resolutions are too low (200 or less) and/or quality of image is
questionable. The goal will always be to represent as many member Tribes
as possible, as a result, your multiple images may be reduced if there are
too many photos. For more information, contact Agatha Erickson tollfree at 800-478-6822 or locally at (907) 452-8251 ext. 3570

Happy New Year from TCC

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