4-1-1 in the 5-3-3
1. This summer IVC hosted a visit from the Moore Foundation, and the President was particularly taken with how all generations are respected and valued in our community – from the little ones to the Elders. He said he wished the larger society could learn from the people of Igiugig.
2. Repatriation of our ancestors to our Kaskanak Village site: this is still a work in progress, and a draft report from the Smithsonian has been completed for review.
3. Our Yup’ik language program is in its second year and we are enjoying the dedication from our elders. I teach two classes at school Monday – Thursday and unglu on the weekends. Hopefully apprentices will start teaching to share the workload. It is our goal to grow two Yup’ik instructors as next year unglu will be held for three hours a day!
4. We have completed our NPS grant “A Yup’ik Under-standing of the Plants Around Us” and now have a locally published guidebook.
5. Our CDBG project with the Lake and Peninsula Borough to construct a sheetpile wall alongside the bulk fuel farm is 80% completed and will be finished in the spring.
Courtesy of Karl Hill.
7. This fall IVC hosted our first Nilavena quarterly meeting in Igiugig. We catered a lunch to benefit the Dan Salmon Education Fund. Quyana for those that brought dishes to share, especially Terek Anelon and Christina Salmon for going above and beyond to ensure enough food was prepared for the occasion. At the moment, we are not issuing any more scholarships until the fund has a chance to grow.
8. Igiugig was mentioned on Channel 2 News for having lead in our water; however, that was a sampling error and not reality. We will be replacing all of the kitchen faucets that are on the waterline as a precautionary measure.
9. Bristol Bay Native Corporation’s leadership training program called Training With Out Walls was hosted in Igiugig October 13-15. Halay and I provided a language workshop one evening; Karl and I provided a presentation on Igiugig’s modus operandi; my Glusna and I hosted a cultural night of making seal skin ornaments. Many thanks to everyone that made their stay enjoyable and to the Hill family for providing additional lodging.
10. Our First Nations Development Institute grant has been completed, and there was a nice write-up on it. It can be found here: http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/5855/t/0/blastContent.jsp?email_blast_KEY=1372910
11. For our Department of Energy grant we will be hosting a technical advisory committee meeting in Igiugig on November 1st. About 7 people will be flying out for that meeting, and thereafter, UAF will be installing ice study equipment on our river.
PFDs are out - please think about paying council and electric bills before winter sets in.
Lastly, on behalf of Igiugig Village, I must offer deepest condolences to our Chief Financial Officer, Sandy Alvarez, as this month she lost her father—may he rest in eternal peace.
