Survivors, advocates, and community members say the department is headed the right direction but has a long way to go to repair broken trust, especially among Alaska Natives.
Northwest
Selawik issues disaster declaration after outage leaves homes, water treatment plant without power
While many residents said they have a secondary heat source at home, four families stayed overnight at the local school. Selawik officials have ordered a temporary water supply from Kotzebue.
State investment authority joins mining company to put $35M towards controversial Ambler Road
The proposed project would run roughly 211 miles from the Dalton Highway to the Ambler Mining District in the Northwest Arctic Borough.
Nome Native Youth Olympics team holds virtual event to promote traditional games
Last week, the Nome Native Youth Olympics team hosted a virtual event to garner more interest region-wide in traditional games and inspire kids to start practicing traditional games on their own.
‘It brings back memories’: Northwest Alaska health provider cleared to make seal oil and serve it to elders
Seal oil has been a diet staple for Alaska’s Inupiat people for centuries. However, because of federal and state health regulations, you can’t buy it in stores and it can’t be served in restaurants.
Former Kotzebue mayor to lead National Park Service’s Native relations program for Alaska
Maija Katak Lukin is Inupiaq and grew up in Kotzebue and the Sisualik fish camp, where she’s spent her life subsistence hunting, fishing and gathering. She says her work balances the land stewardship of her ancestors with more modern federal protections.