Alaska Links
Silverdale, WA, near Poulsbo where I grew up has it's "whaling days" festival, but it is nothing like this TV news story about whaling in Alaska. Click on the "Whaling as a Way of Life" (polished TV blurb) or "Whaling Footage" (lots of video without commentary) links in the box on the left. This will only work when you use internet explorer, and you have to allow cookies. I hadn't seen anything like this before, it is really impressive. Pass the muktuk! Posted 5/15/07
Here is a great site based on the school in Akula (new Kasigluk), Akula Elitnaurvik. Put together by teacher Levi Hoover, I'm impressed with it. Written in English and Yup'ik, and even has a Yup'ik song you can listen to! It is nearly 10 years old, but this is really a fantastic look at life here revolving around the school. Includes lots of photos.
Posted 2/19/07: Here is a similarly fantastic site, but this one all about Nunapitchuk, our neighbor about 2 miles to the east of us. This was designed by a teacher as well, and he talks a lot about the "akulmiut", or the tundra people, which is those inhabitants of Kasigluk, Nunapitchuk, and Atmautluak. Like the Akula site, this one is dated, but has lots of great history and background on life here. These 2 sites will tell you more about living here in straightforward language than just about any other place online.
The Delta Discovery, a weekly paper out of Bethel, ran this fantastic story detailing the author's circle boat trip around the Delta. Humorous and educational, to say the least! I would love to do something like this someday, maybe even by kayak (which would make those portages a loooooot easier!).
Here is an article from the blog of a Bethel-based physician's assistant on tobacco use among Eskimos in this area. Sobering stuff but good to know about. And actually it has been a week or two now and I've read several other posts on her blog as well, covering boils 101 (another one in story form is here), prenatal care, steambaths, and lots of other stuff. This is a great blog for learning about the nuts and bolts of living here from a medical perspective.
Posted 2/19/07: Another story on tobacco use in this area. Informative and interesting, definitely accurate for here.
Posted 9/10/07: A story about alcohol in Alaska and among natives in general. I wish they had talked about the native sobriety movement as well, or given more information on where to go for help if this is you.
2/24/07: Another grim but informative story on sexual crimes in the YK Delta, apparently reported at a rate 25 times that of the nation.
Posted 5/15/07: And a companion story to that one, found on NPR, about a Amnesty International study of rape among Alaska Native and American Indian women. Native women make up less than 10% of Anchorage's population, yet they are the victims of over half of all rapes committed there. Click on the red "listen" icon.
Posted 5/15/07: Lastly, here is a sobering article on suicide among Alaska Natives. We see articles like this over and over, it seems.
Climate & Weather Data for Bethel - answers all of those "So how cold is it..." questions. Posted 3/15/07: Or click here to compare your weather to ours! This is a cool one, you can compare the average high & lows by month as well as the record highs & lows. Keep in mind that these comparisons don't include wind chill, which is a constant factor here.
Posted Feb 07: That last one doesn't show daylight data, which is of equal importance for some folks. Here is a little picture from an Anchorage Daily News article that gives you an idea of the daylight and how it changes in winter.
Alaska Community Database page on Kasigluk. Great overview and a fantastic database for learning about any settlement in Alaska.
Here is a detailed photo of Akiuk from the air.
Here is another photo of Akiuk, centering closely on the school. Tammy and I live in the long, narrow building that lies between the school and the river in this picture.
Here is another great article, this one from the New York Times. It is about interscholastic sports in Alaska. It is a great read for a general idea of what school sports are like in the bush. Make sure to read all three parts. You get to the bottom and it seems like the end, but there are 2 more pages, click on the "2". It appears that now you'll have to create an account to read the article, which is free but annoying.
Here is the often seen image of Alaska superimposed on the lower 48 states. You know, "we're so big you could cut us in half and make Texas the 3rd biggest state!"
Posted 5/15/07: Here is an article about how the tax burden in Anchorage is less than any other city in the country. There is a fanatical, blind opposition to taxes in Alaska, where much of the population is from another state and only living here temporarily to make money and get out. Yes, that would be a highly subjective statement, but I think its sadly true, both now and for the last 250 years.
Google search on "Kasigluk", "Akiuk", and "Akula"
Lower Kuskokwim School District (LKSD), our employer
Alaska Airlines, the world's greatest airline! Well...maybe not. But they are the only airline with jet service to Bethel, our local hub. Don't get us started talking about their mileage plan!
Frontier Airlines, the only other airline with scheduled Anchorage/Bethel flights. They fly medium-sized prop planes for about the same price. This is a fine option if you are beginning your journey in Anchorage or Fairbanks. Ask about their student stand-by rate!
Alaska Christian College - Two year college, primarily for rural Alaskans. Draws First Nations students from all over the country!
Bible Camp - Outside of Unalakleet on the North River, this camp has been serving the kids of the Norton Sound region for more than a generation!
CYAK - Covenant Youth of Alaska, a network of Christian youth leaders from across the state.
The Anchorage Daily News is the state's foremost newspaper, and I rarely miss a day's online edition.
