Kawerak is compiling traditional knowledge of walrus and seal habitats. The Social Sciences division is partnering with OCEANA, an environmental non-profit, to develop an atlas of the region’s seal and walrus habitats—a communications tool for tribes that want to participate in the policy making process.

Lily Ray Gadamus, a social scientist at Kawerak, and her assistant, Freida Moon-Kimotkoak, hope the atlas will help tribes work with policymakers when they want to comment on shipping routes or proposed developments.

Listen here:

Last weekend, Unalakleet hosted the 28th Annual Native Youth Olympics. Over one hundred students from throughout the Bering Straits competed in the district meet, which celebrates indigenous culture and tests athlete’s power, flexibility and determination. Twelve athletes qualified for the State NYO Tournament, led by outstanding performances from Golovin’s Tahnee Esparza and Unalakleet’s Stuart Towarak.

Hear more:

Nome Kennel Club President, Chrystie Salesky, says that it has been a while since a Kennel Club race has occurred in Nome. Salesky hopes this will renew excitement in local races.

Listen here for more from Chrystie Salesky about the race and why it was created.

NSHC President and CEO, Angie Gorn, says the Board of Directors has been advocating for this new facility for a long time. She expressed amazement with the timing, especially in the current economic environment, to have the nursing home and hospital open on the same day.

Listen here for more about Patient Move Day and what to expect from the new hospital.

Esch grew up in the Midwest in Illinois – in a town he says is about the same size as Nome. He graduated college with an undergraduate degree in chemistry and while working with a large company dealing with water pollution, he decided to find other avenues to utilize science degree. Eventually, Esch chose to pursue an interest in patent law and decided to go to law school.

Listen here to learn how law school brought Esch to Alaska and to Nome’s Superior Court Judge position.

The balloon bop exercise from the Community Engagement meeting in Nome on February 7. Photo by Claire Richardson.

This is second part of KNOM’s two-part series on the Community Engagement Initiative. The three-year Nome Public School project aims to increase student success by strengthening adult support of youth. 

About twenty Nome residents gathered in Nome Elementary School Commons last Thursday, February 7, to learn about the Community Engagement Initiative. Parents, teachers and school board members and kids listened to Claire Richardson of the Alaska Association of School Boards talk about issues facing Nome’s youth. Then Richardson turned the meeting over to the audience–and the real meeting began.

What did parents like about Nome? What did they like about schools? And how is keeping a ballon afloat similar to keeping kids from dropping out?

Listen to today’s Profile to find out:

“Community Engagement, Part One: The Initiative and the Issues” airs Tuesday, February 12, after the 9 and 6 o’clock weather. Claire Richardson of the Alaska Association of School Boards addresses problems facing Nome and preventing student success. Listen here:

“Community Engagement, Part Two: Community” airs Wednesday, February 13 after the 9 and 6 o’clock weather. Tune in to hear a handful of parents, teachers, and community members talk about community and adults’ responsibilities to the younger generation.

NSHC is looking to village-based counselors, tribal healers, and elders to help design the program. They’re hoping to incorporate the traditional strengths of the people and the culture into addiction treatment.

Last week KNOM’s Eva DeLappe spoke with the co-chairs of the Wellness Center’s Cultural Committee, Emma Olanna of Brevig Mission and Lucy Apatiki of Gambell. To hear more about the Cultural Committee’s plans for the Wellness and Sobering Center, listen here:

Father John Asanyire was ordained in Ghana in 1999. He entered the seminary missionary to be trained to be a Missionary of Africa, and, upon finishing training, worked in Mali for 8 years and in Ghana for 5 years. This past year Father John applied for and was granted a sabbatical, studying, resting and reading the Bible in Berkeley, California–which is where Father John heard Nome needed a priest for Christmas.

KNOM’s Eva DeLappe sat down with Father John to learn about his life, his faith and Ghana. Listen to the conversation:

KNOM’s Eva DeLappe sat down with the graduates earlier this week. Sarah Weaver, Jessica Mute and Amber Ryan shared their experience with Nome’s nursing program, and their advice to those considering nursing as a career. You can check out the conversation here: